August 23 - Mons

Mons was the first major action of the BEF in the First World War. It was a subsidiary action of the Battle of the Frontiers, in which the Allies clashed with Germany on the French borders. At Mons, the British Army attempted to hold the line of the Mons–Condé Canal against the advancing German 1st Army. Although the British fought well and inflicted disproportionate casualties on the numerically superior Germans, they were eventually forced to retreat due both to the greater strength of the Germans and the sudden retreat of the French Fifth Army, which exposed the British right flank.

The Battle of Mons

During the battle, the first Victoria Crosses are awarded to Lieutenant Maurice Dease (the first psthumous award) and Private Sidney Godley.

Edward Croft,with the RFA, moves from Cartignies (in France) to Grand-Reng (in Belgium).

British artillery on the march

 
The Belgian town of Namur is evacuated by the Allies. French forces withdraw from Lorraine.

Japan declares war on Germany.

On the Eastern Front, the Battle of Tannenberg begins between Russia and Germany.