The Retreat from Mons is the name given to the long, fighting retreat by British Expeditionary Force sometime referred to as the ‘Old Contemptibles’, to the River Marne, on the Western Front at the start of the Great War, after their holding action against the Imperial German Armies at the Battle of Mons on 23 August 1914 when Maurice Dease of the Royal Fusiliers was awarded the first VC of the Great War defending Nimy Bridge. The Allies were closely pursued by the Germans, acting under the Schlieffen Plan.
When the Germans first encountered the British Expeditionary Force, the reported coming under fire from machine guns. What the didn’t appreciate is that the British Tommy got a high a rate of pay for being a marksman, so it paid to be a good shot. The minimum qualification with a SMLE .303 bolt action rifle was to get 15 rounds on a target at 200 yards in 1 minute. This was required of any cook or clerk. Infantry soldiers averaged 20 to 30 rounds in 1 minute. The record is held by Sgt. Snoxall of the British Army School of Musketry in 1914, who allegedly got 38 rounds on a 12″ taget at 300 yards in 1 minute.
The phenomenon that was the ‘Angel of Mons’ was experienced by British troops retreating of the Battle of Mons. Numerous soldiers claimed to have seen visions in the sky of St. George surrounded by angels, horsemen and cavalry. The visions actually originated in a story published by Arthur Machen in the London Evening News at the close of the month following the battle, entitled The Bowmen. The only link between the Mons retreat and Machen’s story was that the British Expeditionary Force were in retreat: Mons itself was not mentioned. However the BEF was saved in Machen’s story by the appearance of St. George.
Itineray
Below is an example itinerary. As each tour is bespoke, you will receive confirmation of your personal itinerary with your booking confirmation.
- Casteau
- Nimy
- Obourg
- Mons
- Elouge
- Audregnies
- Le Cateau
- Laundrecies
- Etreux