The Battle that Saved the BEF: Le Cateau, 26 August 1914
The British Expeditionary Force faced disaster in August 1914. Driven from Belgium after the Battle of Mons, it found itself isolated from its French allies and closely pursued by numerically superior German forces. At the darkest moment of the retreat General Sir Horace Smith-Dorrien made the bold decision to turn his forces and fight.
This presentation tells the story of how and why this decision was made and examines the events of the Battle of Le Cateau, 26 August 1914. Although bitterly controversial, it would prove to be the battle which saved the army.
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