On this day in history – 23rd August 1914 – the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) engaged in its first major battle with German forces in the opening months of the First World War.
On the morning of 23rd August, units of British II Corps under General Smith-Dorrien came under attack from units of General von Kluck’s First Army along the Mons-Condé canal in Belgium. Large infantry formations from the 17th and 18th Divisions, with artillery support, launched repeated attacks on the British positions.
This picture depicts the view of the 1st Battalion, The Gordon Highlanders, as they attempt to defend the British right flank from continuous attacks by the German 75th and 76th Infantry Regiments. Based on an area of high ground southeast of the canal known as Le Bois Haut, the battalion, with support from men of the Royal Scots and a brigade from the Royal Field Artillery, successfully broke up the flank assault. But as the battle around the canal itself continued it was becoming clear that II Corps could no longer impede the German advance, and all units were soon forced to withdraw.
By Ibrahim Zamir
Empire of History 