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With the successful opening days of the German attack at Mons 1914. The British feared being out flanked by the collapsing French army & fought a fighting retreat.
Capt Arthur Osborn, 4th Dragoon Guards, the Cavalry Division BEF gave the following account. "We seemed to spend the greatest part of that day, (25th August) intercepting German cavalry and horse artillery coming apparently from Venenciennes.
They kept pressing in towards the left flank of our retiring infantry at Beaudignies, where we lost our Colonel and Adjutant.
We must delay the enemy advance at all costs, we must prevent a frontal attack developing, lest our sun wearied and footsore infantry, unable to continue their retreat, should be routed, perhaps entirely scuppered by German Cavalry".
Rifleman E Gale No 3774 of the 1st Bttn. The Rifle Brigade 11th Brigade, 4th Division, BEF gave this account,
"I don't suppose we had more than an hours sleep at the time during the whole ten days, I tell you, us drivers going along the road with the transport got so sick and tired of riding in the saddle that we got off and walked at the head of our horses, your backside was so sore with riding all day.
You were saddled up 24 hours a day. Of course the infantry, they where in a worse condition than we were. On transport we did have a chance to ride they didn't. They had to hoof it all the way and the same as us if they stopped anywhere they only got a few minutes sleep, that's all and away they go again."
Source
"1914 Days of hope" Lynn MacDonald.
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