CHAPTER I.
OPENING EVENTS.
(Sec Map I and Sketches A and F.).
Great Britain having declared War on Germany, on August 4, mobilisation was at once earned out ; and shrouded in secrecy the small B.E.F. crossed over to France between August 9 and August 151. In accordance with the plan arranged the B.E.F. now trained northwards and on August '21 had assembled in the concentration area about Landrecies. On that day it advanced towards Mons, forming practically the Left Wing of the French Armies in Northern France.
The results of our air reconnaissance’s on August 22 (see Sketch F) established the following facts- -a heavy action was in progress along the Sambre near Charleroi, and the French had retired from their first position. Large German forces, well covered by Cavalry Divisions, were moving through Southern Belgium. Indeed they were in close proximity to the British Expeditionary Force, of which the Second Division had not yet come into line. The information indicated that the Germans had formed the ambitious plan of effecting the double envelopment of the French Fifth Army and the
B.E.F.2
On Sunday, August 23rd, the Germans advanced against the B.E.F. and a general action commenced with dramatic suddenness along the line of the Canal. Fighting was severe from Obourg westward, almost to Conde, the German attacks in massed formation being heavily punished by the rapid fire of the Infantry outpost line. Through the lack, however, of any suitable positions from which the Artillery could give support, the Infantry had, towards evening, to retire to a second position farther to the Southward. Owing to the news received about 5 p.m. on August 23, concerning the situation of the French Armies on the right, Field Marshall Sir John French ordered a retirement of the B.E.F. which would otherwise have been exposed to an annihilating defeat in detail.

On Monday, August 24th, the retirement began. The First Corps fell back southward of Maubeuge, covered by the Second Corps which at first had taken up a position along the line of the mining villages -Frameries- Wasmes - Dour -about three miles to the southward of its original position along the Mons Canal.
Here the German advance was rudely checked and despite heavy fighting, which fell hardest on the Fifth Division, the Second Corps was withdrawn by nightfall and bivouacked in the neighborhood of Bavai.

On the morrow the retirement was to be continued, the First Corps moving to the east of the Forest of Mormal and the Second Corps to the west.
At this time Field-Marshal Sir John French contemplated fighting- a delaying action in the neighborhood of Le Cateau and some trenches were prepared to the west of that place and south of the Cambrai chaussee.

The forced marches from detrainment stations to the concentration area; the constant digging to strengthen the positions; the heavy and continuous fighting against the great numerical superiority of the Germans : the disheartening change in the plan of operations the retirement, for which the troops could not appreciate the necessity, as they had inflicted such heavy losses on the foe; the lack of rest; the disorganization of the supply service, owing to the change of plan; the great heat and the paves — all these things naturally were a great ordeal to all.

On the comparatively large proportion of reservists present in the ranks, too little inured to physical exertions, the strain must have been tremendous. But the old regimental traditions stood the grim test and esprit de corps carried through many a worn-out man until the dawn broke on September 6, and the great advance began.

Meanwhile a welcome reinforcement reached the B.E.F. ; for on this same day, August 24th
the Fourth Division ( 32 Brigade was part of this Division) began to arrive to the west of Le Cateau and on August 25th it moved out towards Solesmes to cover the withdrawal of the Second Corps and the 19th Infantry Brigade.

Chapter 11
RETIREMENT TO THE LE CATEAU POSITION
Maps 1 and 5 and sketches A and AA
As a result of the general south westerly retirement on August 24th and the pressure on the left (west) flank, which fell on the fifth division, the third division passed behind the fifth which had covered its retirement; and thus after this day their positions in the line are reversed - the fifth being now to east, and the third to west. General Sir H. Smith Dorrien decided to retire his corps, screened by the Cavalry division, at one bound to the Le Cateau position, the first division moving south along the straight Roman Road that runs past the west boundary of the forest of Mormal, whilst the third division retired on Caudry in two columns, via Le Quesnoy and Solesmes. The fourth division moved out to Solesmes to cover this retirement.

That night (Tuesday, August 25th the forces reached the following line :
Fifth Division—East of Le Catcaii- -Troisvilles.
Third Division—Audencourt- -Cnizcfry.
Fourth Division- -Ligny-Fontaine an Pire- Haucourt

Chapter 111
SECOND CORPS ON TUESDAY AUGUST 25th
SEE MAP 5

Fourth Division
This Divisional Field Artillery had a very different experience, the Batteries spent August 24th in the train on the way to the front, detraining well to the south of what became on August 26th the Battlefield of Le Cateau.
During august 25th, X1V, XX1X, XXX11 and XXXV11 concentrated in the neighborhood of Briastre: as they gradually finished their several detrainments, they made a rapid march to join the Infantry of the Fourth Division, who were waiting in the neighborhood of Solesmes ready to take the pressure off the retiring troops.
At night the Divisional Field Artillery concentrated at Ligny, and the B.A.Cs also seem to have been in the same neighborhood
XXX11 having been on rearguard with the 10th Infantry Brigade reached Ligny much later than the rest.
The C.R.As HQ was at Harcourt, at which place were also the HQ of the Fourth Division.
The entry of the Fourth Division into active operations had been uncomfortable, the delay at home whilst the other Divisions left, then the concentration at Harrow, the hurried and crowded passage and train journey to the north of France, the swift detrainment followed by a rapid march into action had imposed a severe trial on all. But on the night of August 25.26 the CRA had his Brigades well under his hand though in the existing circumstances it had not been possible to make any reconnaissance of this section of the field.

CHAPTER IV
THE ORDER OF BATTLE OF THE R.A SECOND CORPS
ON AUGUST 26th
Royal Horse Artillery
111 RHA / D & E Batteries
V11 RHA / I & E Batteries
Fifth Division
XV / 11- 52 & 80 Batteries
XXV11 / 119 - 120 - & 121 Batteries
( Lt Foljambe from 120 went on to serve with 135 Bty 32 Brigade in 1917.
XXV111 / 122 - 123 - &124 Batteries
V111 / 37 - 61 - & 65 Batteries & 108 Battery
Third Division
XX111 / 107 - 108 & 109 Batteries
XL / 6 - 23 & 49 Batteries
XL11 / 29 - 41 & 45 Batteries
XXX / 128 - 129 & 130 Batteries & 48 Heavy Bty

Fourth Division
X1V / 39 - 68 & 88 Batteries
XX1X / 125 - 126 & 127 Batteries
XXXII Brigade the forerunner of 42 Regiment in 1947
Lieutenant Col. M. J. MacCarthy .
27 Battery Major H. E. Vallentin
134 Battery Major H. Ward
135 Battery Major C. H. Liveing
XXXII B.A.C. Capt. J. Carruthers, M.V.O.
XXXV11 / 31 - 35 & 55 Batteries

The full contingent of Guns were;-
13 Pdrs - 24
18 Pdrs - 160
4.5 Hows - 54
60 Pdrs - 8