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| German troops marching through Belgium 1914 |
As the 2nd A&SH headed to Valenciennes by train the Allies were fighting the Germans in and around the town of Mons in Belgium. On the 24th the British were in full retreat from Mons heading south west back towards France. On the same day the 2nd A&SH were fighting skirmishes with German infantry in the St Homme area to the north east of Valenciennes. At 12.30pm on the 25th August John's Battalion marched south-east to Haussy, approx 40 miles from Valenciennes. They were fed a hot meal and at 2pm they headed off to Solesmes and finally on to Le Cateau. The initial plan of the British had been to retreat further into France, but with their men increasingly exhausted General Smith-Dorrien recognised that this could become a bloodbath unless the men stood their ground and delivered a stopping blow to the Germans. On the evening of the 25th August General Smith-Dorrien ordered the BEF halt and face the advancing Germans. On the following day all hell was to break loose as the mass of the German Army descended upon Le Cateau.
Wednesday August 26th, 1914
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| The battle of Le Cateau, 26th August 1914. The 2nd A&SH are on the extreme right flank of the formation |
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| A more detailed map of the battle - 2nd A&SH's position marked in yellow |
At 4am on
the morning on 26th the soldiers of the 19th Brigade were issued with Tea
and Bully Beef and a “meagre breakfast cooked”. The 2nd A&SH were given the
honour of being at the head of the Brigade as they marched into the town square
of Le Cateau. “A” Company were detached
from the formation and ordered to fix bayonets as there were reports that
German Cavalry (Uhlans) had breached the perimeter of the town. The entire brigade vacated the town at 5.30am in the direction of Estrees arriving there around 615am. At 9am that morning the A&SH were witnessing a heavy artillery dual between the Birtish and German gunners and at 11am they were ordered to take the position shown in the above map, just south of the Cambrais to Le Cateau main road. By 12pm they were under artillery fire and rifle fire. The War Diary notes that "B" Company were suffering from enfillade and reverse rifle fire meaning, as the diagram shows, the Germans had not only taken their right flank but were also gaining territory behind behind them. Unlike later in the First World War where the soldiers fought from the trenches, this battle saw the soldiers in open fields, albeit they may have created slit trenches to afford some cover.
I have included here a clip from You Tube of Dan Snow explaining the Battle Of Le Cateau far better than I ever possibly could.
John Minnery records that they were told they would be relieved by noon of that day. However, by 3.30 no relief had arrived and they were forced to retreat. It was whilst retreating that John was wounded. He later told his story to a Glasgow Herald reporter whilst recovering at home in Barrhead.
As the story relates, John finally made it back to a "place of safety". From there he was shipped off to Netley Miltary Hospital near Southampton, England. His presence there is confirmed in this newspaper article detailing all the A&SH casualties arriving there August 29th
As the Glasgow Herald reporter records, John was then shipped back to Barrhead to recuperate with his family.
Official records give the casualties from the Battle of Le Cateau as 7892 killed, wounded or captured. In recent years this has been contested to have been lower at 5000. Whilst technically the Germans can be viewed to have "won" this battle it is widely recognised that the British Regiments involved managed to slow the German's down enough to allow a disciplined retreat to take place. In addition the Germans realised that the British Expeditionary Force were not the weak force they had assumed - they were now in no doubt that the BEF were well trained, disciplined professionals with excellent knowledge of battlefield tactics.
I have included here a clip from You Tube of Dan Snow explaining the Battle Of Le Cateau far better than I ever possibly could.
John Minnery records that they were told they would be relieved by noon of that day. However, by 3.30 no relief had arrived and they were forced to retreat. It was whilst retreating that John was wounded. He later told his story to a Glasgow Herald reporter whilst recovering at home in Barrhead.
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| John's story as told to the Glasgow Herald |
As the story relates, John finally made it back to a "place of safety". From there he was shipped off to Netley Miltary Hospital near Southampton, England. His presence there is confirmed in this newspaper article detailing all the A&SH casualties arriving there August 29th
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| John is listed (bottom right) at Royal Victoria Hospital, Netley on August 29th, three days after being wounded at the battle of Le Cateau |
As the Glasgow Herald reporter records, John was then shipped back to Barrhead to recuperate with his family.
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| Royal Victoria Military Hospital, Netley |
Official records give the casualties from the Battle of Le Cateau as 7892 killed, wounded or captured. In recent years this has been contested to have been lower at 5000. Whilst technically the Germans can be viewed to have "won" this battle it is widely recognised that the British Regiments involved managed to slow the German's down enough to allow a disciplined retreat to take place. In addition the Germans realised that the British Expeditionary Force were not the weak force they had assumed - they were now in no doubt that the BEF were well trained, disciplined professionals with excellent knowledge of battlefield tactics.
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| Men of the Yorkshire Light Infantry Fighting at Le Cateau |
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| The battlefield of Le Cateau now |
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