British Expeditionary Force completes its landing in France
- Category:
- Military
- Front:
- Western Front
- Date:
- 16 August 1914
- Author:
- Łukasz Skowroń
On 16 August 1914 the landing of the original British Expeditionary Force in France was completed. Four infantry divisions and a cavalry division crossed to the Continent, together with their artillery, transport and supplies. The completion of the crossing was made public only on 18 August, so as not to reveal troop movements to the enemy.
An operation without loss
Moving an army across the English Channel was one of the largest transport operations of its time. The ships sailed mainly from Southampton and put in at Le Havre, Rouen and Boulogne. The crossing was covered by ships of the Royal Navy, and naval aircraft patrolled over the Channel. Not a single transport was sunk or attacked. For a long time the Germans did not even know where and when the British had arrived on the Continent.
On the French left wing
From the ports the soldiers were taken by rail to the area of Maubeuge near the Belgian border. There the force was to take up positions on the left wing of the French army, next to General Lanrezac’s Fifth Army. Command was taken by Field Marshal John French, who had arrived in France on 14 August. The force was divided into two army corps: I Corps under General Douglas Haig and II Corps, whose commander, General James Grierson, died suddenly on a train on 17 August. He was replaced by General Horace Smith-Dorrien.
First engagement
The Expeditionary Force was small compared with the multi-million armies of France and Germany, but it consisted of superbly trained professional soldiers. Just a week after the landing was completed, on 23 August, it fought its first battle at Mons, in the path of the extreme right wing of the German advance.
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Meanwhile
(04)Elsewhere in the same days.
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Related events
(04)The same battle, people or subject.
- 7 August 1914 · Western FrontFirst units of the British Expeditionary Force in FranceOn 7 August 1914 the first British units landed in France. The main body of the expeditionary force crossed the Channel over the following days.
- 26 August 1914 · Western FrontBattle of Le CateauOn 26 August 1914 Smith-Dorrien's II Corps stood and fought at Le Cateau against the wishes of GHQ. It paid a high price but halted the German pursuit.
- 12 September 1914 · Western FrontBattle of the Aisne beginsOn 12 September 1914 the British and French, pursuing the Germans after the Marne, reached the Aisne. The Germans dug in on the heights beyond the river.
- 23 August 1914 · Western FrontBattle of MonsOn 23 August 1914 the British Expeditionary Force fought its first battle at Mons. It inflicted heavy losses on the Germans but had to begin a retreat.