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2 unusual facts about Siege of Maubeuge


Siege of Maubeuge

The BEF began marching north from Maubeuge towards Mons - reconnaissance reported that strong German forces were heading straight for it, but the reports were discounted by the confident Sir Henry Wilson.

August 12: At a British War Council 15:00–18:00, Field Marshal Lord Kitchener predicted a major German drive through Belgium, but was compelled to agree to send the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) to Maubeuge as planned instead of further back to Amiens.



see also

Jean Augustin Ernouf

It was also by his advice that the commander in chief, Jean-Baptiste Jourdan, discovered Josias, Prince of Coburg's unfortunate position behind the Wattignies forest, compelled him to retreat across the Sambre and subsequently lifted the siege of Maubeuge: Ernouf's part in this action, the Battle of Hondschoote, earned him his promotion to Major General on 23 frimaire an II (13 December 1793).