The Retreat from Mons 1914: North is the first of two volumes in Pen & Sword’s Battle Lines series to cover the opening campaign of the Great War. They are the essential companions for every visitor who is keen to retrace the path taken by the British Expeditionary Force immediately after the outbreak of the conflict. All the important battle sites of the first stage of the retreat, including Mons and Le Cateau, are featured here.

Expert guides Jon Cooksey and Jerry Murland take visitors over a series of routes that can be walked, biked or driven, explaining the fighting that occurred at each place in vivid detail. They describe what happened, where it happened and why and who was involved, and point out the sights that remain for the visitor to see.

Their highly illustrated guidebook is essential reading for visitors who wish to enhance their understanding of the fast-moving campaign that preceded the war in the trenches. It gives a fascinating insight into the experience of the troops, the terrain over which they fought and the character of the fighting itself.