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Born-Lambeth

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 By nightfall the BEF had withdrawn to a position along the Valenciennes-Maubeuge road, a position from which the Great Retreat began the next day.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

7 Brigade of 3rd Division, including the 3rd Worcestershire battalion, were in reserve around the village of Ciply on 23rd August and had not been in action, but on the following day at 6am they came under heavy attack. This was repelled and later that morning the brigade moved back to Genly. One of their casualties on 24th August was Thomas Evans.