2nd Bn

Le Cateau
23-28th August 1914.

At the battle of Le Cateau, 55,000 British troops
opposed 140,000 German troops

".... it is said by some that through the course of the entire war
never were British troops as heavily outnumbered "


George Holland
(one of 'The Old Contemptibles')

George Holland, son of Alfred & Eliza Holland, was born in 1897 in Weston Street
Bermondsey London He enlisted in The Lancashire Fusiliers in 1914

Extracts from the Regimental Journal for 1914/15 vols XXIV and XXV for the
2/20th dated 24th - 26th August 1914 show that George on the:

22nd Aug 1914 sailed from Southhampton with other men of the 2nd Bn Lancashire
Fusiliers on board the SS Saturnia

23rd Aug 1914 am they arrived at Boulogne and entrained from there at 11 pm to
Bertry From there they marched to Ligny and bivouaced there

25th Aug 1914 early am they marched toQuievy NNE of Caudry and entrenched
Tropical rain fell towards evening and the sky was illuminated by burning Mons
A few German shells landed near the 2/20th's trenches No one was hit

This was George's last night of freedom for the next 4 years He was captured next
day the 26th August during The Battle of Le Cateau 4 days after leaving England

The 2/20th casualties at the end of the day on the 26th August 1914 were:
2 Officers killed
3 Officers wounded
10 officers wounded & Missing, 2 of these rejoined later
402 NCOs & men failed to answer the roll call that night 143 of these rejoined later
259 NCOs & men were killed, wounded or missing on 26th August George
although taken prisoner was very lucky to have survived during the Mons retreat

George was captured during the Battle of Le Cateau near Longsart
Farm between Solesmes and the Cambrai to Le Cateau Rd


War Diaries of POWs
2441 Pte George Theobald
Captured Wounded at Harcourt Nr Cambria
26th August 1914
9357 Pte William Price
Captured not wounded Cambrai
26th August 1914