Current Information:

Age-22

Born-Bermondsey

Enlisted-New Cross

Maubeuge-Centre Cemetery, France

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 24 hours and outnumbered two to one, the BEF dug in along the Mons-Conde canal. The battle commenced at 9 am and lasted all day. By nightfall the BEF had withdrawn to the Valenciennes-Maubeuge road, a position from which the Great Retreat began the next day.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. 

41 Brigade of the Royal Field Artillery were part of 2nd Division which in turn were part of II Corps and as such had not been directly involved in the Battle of Mons. Nevertheless during the following days, they retreated, along with the rest of the BEF, coming under fire from the pursuing enemy forces as they did so. It is likely that it was this shell fire that caused the death of William Harman on 25th August.