Battle of Le Cateau

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Battle of Le Cateau

Part of the Great Retreat on the Western Front (World War I)

Image:British casualties at Le Cateau.jpg
British dead at the Battle of Le Cateau.

Date	26 August –27 August 1914
Location	Le Cateau, France
Result	Successful retreat by the Allies

Combatants

Image:Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom
Image:Flag of France.svg France
Image:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Belgium

Image:Flag of the German Empire.svg German Empire

Commanders

Image:Flag of the United Kingdom.svg John French
Image:Flag of France.svg Michel-Joseph Maunoury

Image:Flag of the German Empire.svg Alexander von Kluck
Image:Flag of the German Empire.svg Karl von Bülow

Strength

40,000

Unknown

Casualties

7,812 men (including about 2,600 prisoners) 38 guns

Unknown

v • d • e Retreat to the Marne
Maubeuge – Le Cateau – St. Quentin – 1st Marne – 1st Aisne

The Battle of Le Cateau occurred on 26 August 1914, after the British, French and Belgians retreated from the Battle of Mons and set up defensive positions in a fighting withdrawal against the German advance at Le Cateau-Cambrésis on 26 August.

In the morning on 26 August, the Germans arrived and heavily attacked the British. By the afternoon, the right, then left flanks of the British, began to break. The arrival of Sordet's French cavalry protected the left flank.

That night, the Allies withdrew to Saint-Quentin. Of the 40,000 Allied men fighting at Le Cateau, 7,812 were injured, killed or taken prisoner. Several British regiments had even disappeared from the rolls altogether.^{[citation needed]} 38 artillery guns were lost also.

[edit] See also

La Ferté-sous-Jouarre memorial

[edit] Further reading

Becke, Major A. F. The Royal Regiment of Artillery at Le Cateau (Reprinted D P & G Military Publishers, 2002, ISBN 1-90397-216-7 ISBN-13: 978-1903972168. Reprinted Naval & Military Press Ltd (July 2003, paperback) ISBN 1-84342-545-9 ISBN-13: 978-1843425458; (June 2006, hardcover) ISBN 1-84734-275-2 ISBN-13: 978-1847342751)
Brown, Malcolm, The Western Front, (1993), Sidgwick and Jackson
Cave, Nigel and Sheddon, Jack Le Cateau Pen & Sword Books Ltd, 2008, ISBN: 0-85052-842-9 ISBN-13: 978-0850528428
Evans, M. M. (2004). Battles of World War I. Select Editions. ISBN 1-84193-226-4.
Gavaghan, Michael Illustrated Pocket Guide to Mons, Le Cateau 1914 (Forgotten Battles Series, Book 3) M&L Publications ISBN 0-95244-645-6
HMSO Battle of Le Cateau 26th August, 1914. Tour of the Battlefield HMSO (By Command of the Army Council), 1934 (reprinted Naval & Military Press Ltd, 2005, ISBN: 1-84574-033-5 ISBN-13: 978-1845740337
Jones, Nigel H, The War Walk, (1983), Robert Hale Ltd.