Battle of Le Cateau

For the battle during the War of the First Coalition, see Battle of Le Cateau (1794).

Battle of Le Cateau
Part of the Great Retreat on the Western Front of the First World War

British dead at the Battle of Le Cateau.
Date26 August 1914
Location
Le Cateau-Cambrésis, France
50°06′15″N 03°32′40″E / 50.10417°N 3.54444°E / 50.10417; 3.54444
Result German victory
Belligerents
 German Empire  United Kingdom
Commanders and leaders
German Empire Friedrich Sixt von Armin
German Empire Georg von der Marwitz		 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland Sir Horace Smith-Dorrien
Units involved
German Empire IV Corps
German Empire Höhere Kavallerie-Kommando 2		 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland II Corps
Strength
23 infantry battalions
18 cavalry regiments (9 at half strength)
6 divisional cavalry squadrons
162 guns (27 batteries)
84 machine-guns		 40 infantry battalions
12 cavalry regiments
2 divisional cavalry squadrons
246 guns (41 batteries)
c. 80 machine-guns
Casualties and losses
2,900 7,812 (700 killed, 2,600 captured)
38 guns

The Battle of Le Cateau was fought on the Western Front during the First World War on 26 August 1914. The British Expeditionary Force (BEF) and the French Fifth Army had retreated after their defeats at the Battle of Charleroi (21–23 August) and the Battle of Mons (23 August). The British II Corps fought a delaying action at Le Cateau to slow the German pursuit. Most of the BEF was able to continue its retreat to Saint-Quentin.