The Mons Myth by Terence Zuber

Author:Terence Zuber
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780752476285
Publisher: The History Press
Published: 2011-12-09T05:00:00+00:00

British Right Flank

The rest of the British 8th Brigade held the Mons–Harmignies road, facing generally east. On the left was 1/Gordon Highlanders, with 2/Royal Scots on the right. Each battalion held a front of about 2.5 km. There was a ditch and bank along the road that provided cover and concealment. Unlike the Middlesex and Irish, who took effective German artillery fire all day, the German gunners could not locate the 2/Royal Scots. The Scots were also able to spend the morning improving their positions. However, the commander of the 2/Royal Irish Rifles said that in front of the Scots’ position there was dead ground between 1,500 and 300 metres.

At about 1400 the Royal Irish Rifles were sent from the 7th Brigade, the 3rd Division reserve, to reinforce the 2/Royal Scots, which was the right-flank battalion of the 3rd Division. Two companies were sent to extend the position even further to the right flank.29

Moving the Irish, the division reserve, in this manner shows that the 3rd Division commander had no idea how the fight was going. The 2/Royal Scots were not even under attack, while the 4/Royal Fusiliers, 4/Middlesex and 2/Royal Irish were being driven back. It also shows that there was no coordination between I Corps and II Corps, because the 2nd Division of I Corps was immediately south of the 2/Royal Scots; indeed, by rights the entire division should have moved up to cover the II Corps right flank.

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