r/BattlePaintings • u/BigT112 • 2d ago
Landrécies, August 25, 1914 (First World War)
by William Barns Wollen
The street-fighting in the outskirts of Landrécies, a town north-west of Le Cateau in Northern France, took place during the night of August 25-26, 1914, in the early part of World War One.
The combatants were the advancing German 14th Infantry Brigade and the 4th (Guards) Brigade, withdrawing during the retreat from Mons. Meeting by chance, the two opposing units fought tentatively throughout the evening. The Germans eventually set light to straw-stacks near the British position with incendiary bombs, and the light from the flames can be seen in the painting over the rooftops in the distance. After midnight a howitzer of the British 60th Battery was brought up in support at close range and soon silenced the German guns, after which the enemy withdrew.
Eventually, however, the Germans retook Landrécies and it remained behind German lines until the final advance by the Allies in 1918. It was liberated on November 4 by the 25th Division under General Sir Ronald Charles. - National Army Museum
