Rearguard Affair of Étreux facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rearguard Affair of Étreux |
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| Part of the Great Retreat on the Western Front of World War I | |||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||
 United Kingdom |
 German Empire |
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Sir Horace Smith-Dorrien |
 Alexander von Kluck Karl von Bülow |
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| Strength | |||||||
| around 800 with two field guns | 4,000–5,000 | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| around 600 killed and wounded, 240 men and 4 officers (POW) | as many as 1,500 | ||||||
The Rearguard Affair of Étreux was a small but important battle. It happened at a place called Étreux in France. British soldiers fought against German forces during a time known as the Great Retreat in World War I. This battle took place on the Western Front in 1914.
Contents
What was the Battle of Étreux?
The Battle of Étreux was a rearguard action. This means a small group of soldiers fought to protect the main army as it was pulling back. Their job was to slow down the enemy. This gave the larger army time to escape safely.
Why did the Battle Happen?
In August 1914, the German army was moving very fast. They had just fought big battles against the French and British armies. The German commanders wanted to chase the retreating Allied forces quickly. They hoped to surround them.
The German 2nd Army was ordered to keep pushing forward. They met strong resistance in some areas. Because of this, a German corps, the X (Reserve) Corps, was told to keep advancing.
The Brave Stand at Étreux
A British unit, the 2nd Royal Munster Fusiliers, was given a tough order. They had to hold their ground at all costs. This was their very first battle in France.
The Munsters' Fight
The 2nd Battalion of "The Munsters" was much smaller than a full battalion. Only three companies, supported by two field guns, faced a much larger German force. They managed to stop the German advance for 14 hours. This happened near the villages of Oisny and Étreux on August 27.
The German attacks were constant. The Munsters slowly fell back to an orchard near Étreux village. As night came on August 27, they found themselves completely surrounded. They had used up all their ammunition. With no way to fight back, they had to surrender.
The Outcome
Only four officers and 240 other soldiers from the 2nd Munsters survived the fight at Étreux. They were greatly outnumbered, facing more than six German soldiers for every one of theirs. Even though they were defeated, their bravery was recognized. The German soldiers who fought them congratulated the survivors.
The Munsters' stand was very important. It delayed the German pursuit of the British I Corps. This gave the rest of the British Expeditionary Force precious time to get away. After the battle, the German X (Reserve) Corps continued its advance. They reported that they had "scattered a British battalion."
