Current Information:

Enlisted-Stratford

Estinnes-au-Mont Communal 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 By nightfall the BEF had withdrawn to a position along the Valenciennes-Maubeuge road, a position from which the Great Retreat began the next day.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.

9 Battery of 41 Brigade, Royal Field Artillery were attached to 2nd Division at the start of the war and on 23rd August, 1914 they were in action to the south-east of the heavy fighting on the canal. Albert Bassford was killed in action but as yet there is no further information concerning his death