Current Information:

Upper Holloway

Born-Islington

Hautrage Military Cemetery, Belgium

The Battle of Mons  August 23, 1914

This was the first battle fought by the British Army (BEF) in the war. Since landing in France ten days earlier the four infantry divisions and five cavalry brigades of the BEF had advanced to a position on the left flank of the French Armies only to find themselves directly in the line of the advance of the German First Army as they swept through Belgium and headed for Paris.

With orders to hold the German advance for 24hours and outnumbered two to one, the BEF dug in along the Mons-Conde canal. The battle commenced at 9am and lasted all day. By nightfall the BEF had withdrawn to a position along the Valenciennes-Maubeuge road, a position from which the Great Retreat began the next day. British casualties, killed, wounded or missing, amounted to 1600 for the battle. German casualties were higher. 

The 15th Hussars landed at Rouen on 18 August 1914 and were soon split up to provide Squadrons for various Cavalry Divisions: A Squadron went to 3rd Division. B Squadron to 2nd Division and C Squadron to 1st Division. Robert Wraight was killed in action during the first day of the battle but as yet there is no further information concerning his death.