The Battle of Le Chateau
August 26th, 1914
After retreating from the Battle of Mons and being chased by the German first army and their commander Von Kluck, General Smith-Dorrian and his II corps were pursued near to the town of Le Chateau on August 25. Being seperated from his partner Haig and his men by eight miles to the east, Smith-Dorrian found himself unable to continue the retreat without an inimate attack by the Germans.
With his three divisions and a small calvary unit, Smith-Dorrian decided to fight against his pursuers the next morning. Smith-Dorrian was convinced both mentally and tactically that fight was necessary because they had been retreating for a few days and the exausted position of his men. But the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) commander Sir John French ordered a continued retreat on the night of August 25 and disliked Smith-Dorrian's decision to fight. Later an intence arguement arose between both Sir French and Smith-Dorrian and resulted in the removal of Smith-Dorrian as commander.
Only three German division were able to fight against Smith-Dorrian while Von Kluck and the rest of the German first army were too far behing to asist in the battle. On the morning of August 26, the Germans started the battle with a barrage of artillery fire across eight miles of open land that was being held by Smith-Dorrian and his men. The Artillery fire lasted till noon when the German's then started their advance. By firing from shallow quick prepared trenches and with most rifles, the British managed almost halt the advancing Germans. After great slowing down the Germans, Smith-Dorrian was able to organized a retreat by the afternoon and escaped against the odds and without protection on his flanks. Including 7,812 casualities for the British, both sides suffered heavy casulities but not only did the Germans lose men, but they were further delayed in capturing Paris.
With his three divisions and a small calvary unit, Smith-Dorrian decided to fight against his pursuers the next morning. Smith-Dorrian was convinced both mentally and tactically that fight was necessary because they had been retreating for a few days and the exausted position of his men. But the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) commander Sir John French ordered a continued retreat on the night of August 25 and disliked Smith-Dorrian's decision to fight. Later an intence arguement arose between both Sir French and Smith-Dorrian and resulted in the removal of Smith-Dorrian as commander.
Only three German division were able to fight against Smith-Dorrian while Von Kluck and the rest of the German first army were too far behing to asist in the battle. On the morning of August 26, the Germans started the battle with a barrage of artillery fire across eight miles of open land that was being held by Smith-Dorrian and his men. The Artillery fire lasted till noon when the German's then started their advance. By firing from shallow quick prepared trenches and with most rifles, the British managed almost halt the advancing Germans. After great slowing down the Germans, Smith-Dorrian was able to organized a retreat by the afternoon and escaped against the odds and without protection on his flanks. Including 7,812 casualities for the British, both sides suffered heavy casulities but not only did the Germans lose men, but they were further delayed in capturing Paris.