Follow the Story of Mons and the Great Retreat
Discover the Opening Battles of 1914
Learn about the British Expeditionary Force's early encounters with German forces during the First World War.
Follow the Great Retreat
Explore the events and movements that followed the Battle of Mons and shaped the early Western Front campaign.
Explore the opening battle at Mons
The first day links Casteau, Nimy, Obourg, St Symphorien, Mons, Tertre, Pommeroeul, Audregnies and Elouges. In The Footsteps Tours, we explain how British units defended canal crossings and fought rearguard actions as the German advance developed. Our historian connects the locations with named regiments and individual actions, using the route to show how an engagement along a canal formed part of a retreat through northern France. We examine early fighting.
Trace the retreat through northern France
We continue through Landrecies, Etreux and Le Cateau, then visit St Quentin, Peronne, Nery and Villers-Cotterets. In The Footsteps Tours, we connect the march and rearguard actions with the temporary hospital at the Palais de Fervaques and the museum at Peronne. Overnight stops in the Mons and St Quentin areas support the three-day route, which ends at the agreed drop-off location after the sites farther south. We track retreat progress.
Day One: The Battle of Mons
-
Casteau, where the 4th Royal Irish Dragoon Guards made contact with German forces on 22 August 1914
-
The railway bridge at Nimy, defended by the 4th Royal Fusiliers
-
Obourg, and the rearguard action of the 4th Middlesex
-
St Symphorien Military Cemetery
-
Mons, including the Mons War Museum (lunch not included)
-
The canal near Tertre, held by the 1st Royal West Kents
-
The Pommeroeul bridgehead, held by the 1st Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry
-
Audregnies and Elouges, including the cavalry charge of the 9th Lancers and Captain Francis Grenfell's VC
Return to Mons for the evening.
Day Two: The Great Retreat
Check out of the Mons hotel at 09:00.
-
Landrecies, where the Guards were surprised by the German advance guard
-
Etreux, and the stand of the Royal Munster Fusiliers that bought time for I Corps
-
Le Cateau, where General Smith-Dorrien ordered II Corps to stand and fight (lunch not included)
Overnight in the St Quentin area.
Day Three: The Retreat Continues
Check out at 09:00.
-
St Quentin, and the Palais de Fervaques, used as a temporary hospital as II Corps passed through
-
Peronne, including the Historial de la Grande Guerre (lunch not included)
-
Nery, and the stand of 1 September 1914
-
Villers-Cotterets, and the rearguard action of the 4th (Guards) Brigade
Your tour ends at your agreed drop-off location.
Itineraries are subject to change for operational reasons. Any changes will be advised before departure.
Price: From £775.00 GBP per person
Based on: pick-up and drop-off from your tour hotel; six people touring; a dedicated tour vehicle driven by an expert battlefield historian; two people sharing a twin room.
Notes: Costs may vary with hotel availability and selection. Single occupancy supplement £170.00. A supplement may apply for anniversary dates. Deposit is 30% or £200.00 per person, whichever is greater. Booking indicates acceptance of the Standard Terms and Conditions.