The Rest Is History 595. The First World War: The Battle of the Frontiers (Part 2)
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Aug 27, 2025 Discover Britain's first military moves in WWI and the pivotal role of the Battle of the Ardennes. Explore the life of Aubrey Herbert, who chose battle over a royal title, and the complexities of British and French forces facing tension and camaraderie. Delve into leadership challenges, including tragic miscalculations by a French general and the overconfidence of British commanders. Revel in tales of unexpected heroism at the Battle of Mons, where grit clashed with overwhelming odds, all set against the chaotic backdrop of a besieged Paris.
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Aubrey Herbert's Mons Memoir
- Aubrey Herbert, a British officer and MP, described being wounded and briefly taken prisoner at Mons and treated kindly by German soldiers.
- His diary captures personal front-line experience and a humane encounter with enemy troops early in the war.
Industrial Scale Of The Western Front
- The Western Front mobilised enormous industrial armies, far exceeding colonial-war experience, reshaping expectations of casualty scale.
- On 22 August one French day's deaths exceeded British losses in the entire Crimean War or Boer War.
Why Britain Sent The BEF
- Britain debated sending an expeditionary force despite a tiny professional army and global commitments.
- Political and diplomatic promises to France tipped the decision to deploy the BEF of ~80,000 men.
