| Battle Histories > Western Front > The Battle of Le Cateau, 26 August 1914 | ||||||
 '...it
is said by some that through the course of the entire war never
were British troops as heavily outnumbered'
Private John Lucy in his autobiography 'There's a devil in the
drum' |
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This
action followed the
Battle of Mons, 23 August
1914 |
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| Why did the British Army fight this battle? | ||||||
| By nightfall of the 25 August 1914 the retreating II Corps was being closely pursued by the German 1st Army. I Corps was some way away to the east, and although the newly-arrived 4th Division was moving up alongside II Corps it was clear that the disorganised and greatly fatigued units faced a calamity the next day if the withdrawal was forced to continue. Corps Commander Horace Smith-Dorrien ordered II Corps to stand and fight. The units of the Corps were arranged in the open downs to the west of the small town of Le Cateau. | ||||||
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| Despatch | ||||||
| Read Sir John French's Despatch to the Secretary of State for War on this battle. | ||||||
| Order of Battle | ||||||
The Battle of Le Cateau - 26th August 1914 |
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| What
happened? |
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| For long hours during the morning of the 26th August, the British, notably the field artillery, held overwhelming numbers of the enemy at bay and inflicted severe loss. Miraculously, the Corps disengaged and withdrew towards the south during the afternoon. Smith-Dorrien's decision to turn II Corps around from retreat and to stand against the German advance at Le Cateau paid off handsomely. Serious losses were inflicted on the Germans and another delay imposed on their Paris timetable. To the east, I Corps was able to move further away from the advance parties of the Germans. However, a rift grew between Sir John French (who had initially ordered Smith-Dorrien to continue to retreat) and Smith-Dorrien as a result of this action. It was to have serious consequences in 1915. |
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| Tactics | ||||||
| British
tactics were similar to those at Mons. The infantry produced intensive
and accurate rifle fire, while the field artillery fired air-bursting
shrapnel rounds on the unprotected enemy, both causing severe losses
to the Germans. Many field guns were fired at point-blank range over
open sights. Some were withdrawn just as the enemy infantry closed
in. For the second time in three days, the British force engaged
withdrew brilliantly in the face of overwhelming odds and without
flank protection. |
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| Casualties | ||||||
| The total British casualties amounted to 7,812 of all ranks, killed, wounded and missing. 38 guns were lost. | ||||||
| Senior officer casualties | ||||||
Lt-Col. Charles Brett, OC 2nd Suffolks, Lt-Col Alfred Dykes, OC 1st King's Own, and Lt-Col Edward Panter-Downes, OC 2nd Royal Irish Regiment, were all killed in action at Le Cateau. None has a known grave and all are commemorated on the Memorial to the Missing at La Ferté sous Jouarre.
Col. Frank Boileau, of Royal Engineers and on staff of 3rd Division, died on 27th August 1914 of wounds received on the days before this battle and is buried at Terlincthun British Cemetery.
Lt-Col George Ansell, OC 5th Dragoon Guards, was killed on 1st September 1914 at Verberie and is buried in the French National cemetery in that village. Lt-Col the Hon. George Morris, OC 1st Irish Guards, also died on 1st September 1914 in the woods near Villers-Cotterets, and is buried in the Guards Grave there. Lt-Col Ian Hogg, OC 4th Hussars, died the next day and is buried in the communal cemetery at Haramont. |
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| The retreat continues | ||||||
| Over the course of the next week, the BEF continued the long slog of retreat, often fighting sharp rearguard actions. Eventually the force was south of the Seine and effectively our of the battle line. A number of the actions in retreat were identified by the Battles Nomenclature Committee as being worthy of note: this is the list, together with the order of battle. | ||||||
| Rearguard Affair of Le Grand Fayt - 26th August 1914 2nd Connaught Rangers of 2nd Division Rearguard Affair of Etreux - 26th August 1914 Two troops of 15th Hussars of 1st Cavalry Division 2nd Royal Munster Fusiliers of 1st Division Affair of Cerizy - 28th August 1914 5th Cavalry Brigade Affair of Nery - 1st September 1914 1st Cavalry Brigade 1st Middlesex of 19th Infantry Brigade Rearguard Action of Crepy en Valois - 1st September 1914 13th Brigade of 5th Division Rearguard Actions of Villers-Cotterets - 1st September 1914 3rd Cavalry Brigade 4th (Guards) and 6th Brigades of 2nd Division |
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Forward
through the baking hot August days to stand and turn at the Marne |
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