Red Web Hundreds of Soldiers Claimed to See Angels Descend on the Battlefield | Angels of Mons
Jan 19, 2026
During World War I, British soldiers reported seeing angels descending on the battlefield, sparking debates about reality and myth. The hosts explore the origins of this legend, linked to Arthur Machen's story 'The Bowmen,' and details of the infamous Battle of Mons. Eyewitness accounts, including a nurse's experience, fueled the narrative, while skepticism arose from investigations. Is it a case of collective hallucination or a tale born from desperation? The discussion weaves through propaganda, spiritualism, and the lasting impact of legends in times of crisis.
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Fiction Sparked The Legend
- Arthur Machen published a fictional story, The Bowman, that explicitly used the Battle of Mons as its setting and imagery.
- That story provided the exact visuals later repeated as eyewitness claims and seeded the Angels of Mons legend.
Author's Denial Couldn't Stop The Myth
- Macken repeatedly insisted his story was invented, but public belief ignored his denials and amplified the tale.
- The story's spread shows how a narrative can escape its author and become accepted truth during crisis.
Nurse's Secondhand Account Of St. George
- Nurse Phyllis Campbell wrote that two soldiers claimed to see St. George after Mons while recuperating in an army hospital.
- Arthur Machen publicly disputed Campbell's account and insisted his story remained fictional.
