I wish to take this opportunity of expressing the great obligations under which I lie to the many officers who have so kindly assisted me in the compilation of this work. CONTENTS PAGE PREFACE v BEFORE MONS 1 THE BATTLE OF MONS 12 THE RETREAT FROM MONS (LANDRECIES AND MAROILLES) 33 THE LE CATEAU PROBLEM 50 LE CATEAU 55 THE RETREAT FROM LE CATEAU (VILLERS-COTTERÊTS AND NÉRY) 66 THE ADVANCE TO THE AISNE 84 THE PASSAGE OF THE AISNE 96 TROYON (VERNEUIL AND SOUPIR) 103 THE AISNE 120 MANUVRING WESTWARD 141 FROM ATTACK TO DEFENCE 159 THE BIRTH OF THE YPRES SALIENT 162 THE STAND OF THE FIFTH DIVISION 180 NEUVE CHAPELLE 192 PILKEM 203 THE SECOND ADVANCE 209 THE FIGHTING AT KRUISEIK 218 THE LAST OF KRUISEIK 230 ZANDVOORDE 249 GHELUVELT 257 MESSINES AND WYTSCHATE 265 KLEIN ZILLEBEKE 278 THE RELIEF OF THE SEVENTH DIVISION 285 ZWARTELEN 294 THE PRUSSIAN GUARD ATTACK 303 EPITAPH 310 The following abbreviations are used:-- The C. in C. = Field Marshal Sir John French A.C. = Army Corps C.B. = Cavalry Brigade K.O.S.B. = King's Own Scottish Borderers K.O.Y.L.I. = King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry K.R.R. = King's Royal Rifles (60th) LIST OF MAPS Showing the first seven days of the _Facing Title Page_ retreat from Mons, with the routes followed by each division. Showing disposition of troops at _Facing page_ 12 the battle of Mons. Showing line occupied by British 102 troops after the battle of the Aisne. Ypres and district 162 THE FIRST SEVEN DIVISIONS BEFORE MONS