The Retreat from Mons
Reading edition
BY ONE WHO SHARED IN IT
BY A. CORBETT-SMITH (Major, R.F.A.)
With Three Plates and Map
For who is he, whose chin is but enrich'd With one appearing hair, that will not follow These cull'd and choice-drawn cavaliers to France?
CASSELL AND COMPANY, LTD London, New York, Toronto and Melbourne 1916
To
GENERAL SIR H. L. SMITH-DORRIEN, G.C.M.G., G.C.B., D.S.O., ETC.
DEAR GENERAL SMITH-DORRIEN,
When, some few months ago, you honoured me by your acceptance of this dedication I had in mind to make a single volume which should trace the course of the War during the period of your command of the Second Army, the unforgettable days from Mons to Ypres.
Since then I have found that there is one phase of the operations which has gripped the imagination of the public more than any other event of the past two years: the "Retreat from Mons." It is, indeed, almost incredible how little the people know of this, and how splendidly they respond to the telling of the story.
But it seems to me that the story can never be told as it should be. Only those who actually experienced the horror and the splendour of those ten days could hope to tell it, and for them the facts are blurred and distorted by the nightmare through which they passed.
Still, I am rashly making the attempt, and in doing so I try to write of the big, human side of things. For it is the trivial, homely incidents in the daily life of the British soldier, and the stories of noble devotion and chivalry of gallant gentlemen like Francis Grenfell and Bradbury, which fire the imagination. I know that you will understand and appreciate my motives.
For the rest, should the public be kind to this trivial volume I shall hope later to continue the narrative as I had originally intended.
Will you, then, accept my book, not in tribute of a Command which must remain indelibly scored in letters of gold on the page of our country's history so long as Britain endures, but as a memory of the two or three years of peace when I was privileged to work with you and of the year of war when I had the honour of serving, one of that "band of brothers," in your Command?
I am, Very faithfully yours, A. CORBETT-SMITH.
THE MIDDLE TEMPLE, LONDON.
AUTHOR'S ACKNOWLEDGMENT
I tender my very grateful thanks to GENERAL SIR HORACE SMITH-DORRIEN for his kindness in reading the proof-sheets of the book and for several most valuable items of information.
My thanks are also due to CAPTAIN C. T. ATKINSON, of the Historical Section, Committee of Imperial Defence, for his courteous help in the task of compiling the Roll of Honour. Also to the SECRETARY, K.A. Institution, for the loan of material for the same purpose.
I have availed myself to some extent of the researches of MR. HILAIRE BELLOC in my estimates in Chapter V.; while my details of the German Army are taken from German sources, "Deutsche Land- und Seemacht," by Rabenau, and other volumes.
To my comrades-in-arms (few, alas! remain), whose deeds and experiences have contributed to the writing of the story, I hold out a hand of greeting. I salute in reverence the immortal souls of the gallant dead.
A. C.-S.
CONTENTS
Roll of Honour
CHAPTER
1. Mobilisation 2. The Sailing of the Force 3. The Landing of the Force 4. Up Country 5. The Marshalling of the Armies 6. Mons 7. Mons (continued) 8. The Retreat Begins 9. The Second Day 10. An Interlude 11. Wednesday, the 26th of August 12. Wednesday, the 26th of August (continued) 13. The Retreat Continues 14. Past Compiègne 15. The Final Stages
Appendix I. Appendix II.
LIST OF PLATES
General Sir H. Smith-Dorrien . . . Frontispiece
Field-Marshal Viscount French
General Sir Douglas Haig
Map of Country from Mons to Paris
The Roll of Honour OF THE FIRST EXPEDITIONARY FORGE
General Officer Commanding-in-Chief the British Forces: FIELD-MARSHAL SIR J. D. P. FRENCH.
Chief of the General Staff: LIEUTENANT-GENERAL SIR A. J. MURRAY.
Adjutant-General: MAJOR-GENERAL SIR C. F. N. MACREADY.
Quartermaster-General: MAJOR-GENERAL SIR W. R. ROBERTSON.
FIRST ARMY CORPS
General Officer Commanding-in-Chief— LIEUTENANT-GENERAL SIR DOUGLAS HAIG.
1st DIVISION
General Officer Commanding—MAJOR-GENERAL S. H. LOMAX.
1st Infantry Brigade
Brigade Commander—BRIGADIER-GENERAL F. I. MAXSE. 1st Batt. Coldstream Guards. 1st Batt. R. Highlanders. 1st Batt. Scots Guards. 2nd Batt. R. Munster Fusiliers.
2nd Infantry Brigade
Brigade Commander—BRIGADIER-GENERAL E. S. BULFIN. 2nd Batt. R. Sussex Regt. 1st Batt. Northampton Regt. 1st Batt. N. Lancs. Regt. 2nd Batt. K. R. Rifle Corps
3rd Infantry Brigade
Brigade Commander—BRIGADIER-GENERAL H. J. S. LANDON. 1st Batt. R. W. Surrey Regt. 1st Batt. Gloucester Regt. 1st Batt. S. Wales Borderers. 2nd Batt. Welsh Regt.
CAVALRY (attached) C Squadron 15th Hussars.
ROYAL ENGINEERS 23rd and 26th Field Companies.
ROYAL ARTILLERY R.F.A. Batteries—113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 46, 51, 54; (Howitzer) 30, 40, 57. Heavy Battery R.G.A.—26. An Ammunition Column and an Ammunition Park.
2nd DIVISION
General Officer Commanding—MAJOR-GENERAL C. C. MONRO.
4th Infantry Brigade
Brigade-Commander—GENERAL R. SCOTT-KERR. 2nd Batt. Grenadier Guards 3rd Batt. Coldstream Guards 2nd Batt. Coldstream Guards lst Batt. Irish Guards.
5th Infantry Brigade
Brigade Commander—BRIGADIER-GENERAL R. C. B. HAKING.
2nd Batt. Worcester Regt. 2nd Batt. Highland L.I. 2nd Batt. Oxford and Bucks L.I. 2nd Batt. Connaught Rangers
6th Infantry Brigade
Brigade Commander—BRIGADIER-GENERAL R. H. DAVIES. 1st Batt. Liverpool Regt. 1st Batt. R. Berks Regt. 2nd Batt. S. Staffs. Regt. lst Batt. K. R. Rifle
CAVALRY (attached) B Squadron 15th Hussars.
ROYAL ENGINEERS 5th and 11th Field Companies.
ROYAL ARTILLERY
R.F.A. Batteries—22, 50, 70, 15, 48, 71, 9, 16, 17; (Howitzer) 47, 56, 60. Heavy Battery R.G.A.—35. An Ammunition Column and an Ammunition Park.
CAVALRY
A Division (Four Brigades)
General Officer Commanding—MAJOR-GENERAL E. H. H. ALLENBY.
1st Brigade
Brigade Commander—BRIGADIER-GENERAL C. J. BRIGGS.
2nd Dragoon Guards. 5th Dragoon Guards. 11th Hussars.
2nd Brigade
Brigade Commander—BRIGADIER-GENERAL H. DE B. DE LISLE.
4th Dragoon Guards. 9th Lancers. 18th Hussars.
3rd Brigade
Brigade Commander—BRIGADIER-GENERAL H. DE LA POER GOUGH.
4th Hussars. 5th Lancers. 16th Lancers.
4th Brigade
Brigade Commander—BRIGADIER-GENERAL HON. C. E. BINGHAM.
Household Cavalry (composite Regiment). 6th Dragoon Guards. 3rd Hussars.
And—
the 5th Brigade
Brigade Commander—BRIGADIER-GENERAL SIR P. W. CHETWODE. 12th Lancers. 20th Hussars. 2nd Dragoons.
ROYAL HORSE ARTILLERY Batteries "D," "E," "I," "J," "L."
SECOND ARMY CORPS
General Officer Commanding-in-Chief— GENERAL SIR H. L. SMITH-DORRIEN.
3rd DIVISION
General Officer Commanding—MAJOR-GENERAL H. I. W. HAMILTON.
7th Infantry Brigade
Brigade Commander—BRIGADIER-GENERAL F. W. N. McCRACHEN.
3rd Batt. Worcester Regt. 1st Batt. Wilts Regt. 2nd Batt. S. Lancs. Regt. 2nd Batt. R. Irish Rifles.
8th Infantry Brigade
Brigade Commander—BRIGADIER-GENERAL B. J. C. DORAN.
2nd Batt. R. Scots. 4th Batt. Middlesex Regt. 2nd Batt. R. Irish Regt. 1st Batt. Gordon Highlanders.
9th Infantry Brigade
Brigade Commander—BRIGADIER-GENERAL F. C. SHAW. 1st Batt. Northumberland Fusiliers. 1st Batt. Lincolnshire Regt. 1st Batt. R. Scots Fusiliers. 4th Batt. R. Fusiliers.
CAVALRY (attached) A Squadron 15th Hussars.
ROYAL ENGINEERS 56th and 57th Field Companies.
ROYAL ARTILLERY
R.F.A. Batteries—107, 108, 109, 6, 23, 49, 29, 41, 45; (Howitzer) 128, 129, 130. Heavy Battery R. G. A.—48. An Ammunition Column and an Ammunition Park.
5th DIVISION
General Officer Commanding—MAJOR-GENERAL SIR C. FERGUSSON.
13th Infantry Brigade
Brigade Commander—BRIGADIER-GENERAL G. J. CUTHBERT. 2nd Batt. K. O. Scottish Borderers. 1st Batt. R.W. Kent Regt. 2nd Batt. Yorks L.I. 2nd Batt. W. Riding Regt.
14th Infantry Brigade
Brigade Commander—BRIGADIER-GENERAL S. P. ROLT. 2nd Batt. Suffolk Regt. 1st Batt. Duke of Cornwall's L.I. 1st Batt. East Surrey Regt. 2nd Batt. Manchester Regt.
15th Infantry Brigade
Brigade Commander—BRIGADIER-GENERAL COUNT A. E. W. GLEICHEN.
1st Batt. Norfolk Regt. 1st Batt. Cheshire Regt. 1st Batt. Bedford Regt. 1st Batt. Dorset Regt.
CAVALRY (attached) A Squadron 19th Hussars.
ROYAL ENGINEERS 17th and 59th Field Companies.
ROYAL ARTILLERY R.F.A. Batteries—11, 52, 80, 119, 120, 121, 122, 123, 124; (Howitzer) 37, 61, 65. Heavy Battery R.G.A.—108. An Ammunition Column and an Ammunition Park.
19th Infantry Brigade
Brigade Commander—MAJOR-GENERAL L. G. DRUMMOND. 2nd Batt. R. Welsh Fusiliers. 1st Batt. Middlesex Regt. 1st Batt. Scottish Rifles. 2nd Batt. Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders.
ROYAL FLYING CORPS
Aeroplane Squadrons Nos. 2, 3, 4 and 5.
ARMY SERVICE CORPS
Horsed and Mechanical Transport.
ROYAL ARMY MEDICAL CORPS
There came into line at Le Cateau on August 25th the—
4th DIVISION
General Officer Commanding—MAJOR-GENERAL T. D. O. SNOW.
10th Infantry Brigade
Brigade Commander—BRIGADIER-GENERAL J. A. L. HALDANE. 1st Batt. R. Warwickshire Regt. 1st Batt. R. Irish Fusiliers. 2nd Batt. Seaforth Highlanders. 2nd Batt. R. Dublin Fusiliers.
11th Infantry Brigade
Brigade Commander—BRIGADIER-GENERAL A. G. HUNTER-WESTON. 1st Batt. Somersetshire L.I. 1st Batt. Hampshire Regt. 1st Batt. E. Lancs. Regt. 1st Batt. Rifle Brigade.
12th Infantry Brigade
Brigade Commander—BRIGADIER-GENERAL H. F. M. WILSON. 1st Batt. R. Lancs. Regt. 2nd Batt. R. Inniskilling Fusiliers. 2nd Batt. Lancashire Fusiliers. 2nd Batt. Essex Regt.
CAVALRY (attached) B Squadron 19th Hussars.
ROYAL ENGINEERS 7th and 9th Field Companies.
ROYAL ARTILLERY
R.F.A. Batteries—39, 68, 88 (xiv. Brigade); 125, 126, 127 (xxix Brigade); 27, 134, 135 (xxxii. Brigade); 31, 35, 55 (xxxvii. Brigade).
Heavy Battery R.G.A.—31.
LINES OF COMMUNICATION AND ARMY TROOPS
1st Batt. Devonshire Regt. 1st Batt. Cameron Highlanders
The Retreat from Mons