1914_0826_02s: Unwritten Valor - FWWC 01 France '14

Cambrai, France, 26th August 1914: As the desperate battle around Le Cateau was being waged, another battle that history has largely ignored was taking place northwest of there: the clash of D'Amade's 84e Division d’Infanterie Territoriale (DIT) and the German II.Armeekorps. The full story of this clash has yet and may never be written, but sufficient evidence is known that the 84e DIT accounted for the absence of the II.Armeekorps at Le Cateau. Even in the French Official account this action only received one line and a half of recognition (i. (ii.) p.50): "...in the afternoon the enemy attacked Cambrai and drove back the 84e DIT, which retired on Marquion." The battle around Cambrai deserves much more recognition than that; the German II.Armeekorps was making a long westerly sweeping movement in an attempt to outflank the British when they ran into the 84e DIT, which had been faithfully covering the BEF's flank since the first clash at Mons, and was yet again faithfully covering their flank northwest of Le Cateau. The ensuing battle saw the men of the 84e DIT fight with exceptional valor as they successfully held off the II.Armeekorps advance for the entire day. Had the 84e DIT not put up such stubborn resistance, von Kluck would have been able to bring the full weight of the II.Armeekorps against Smith-Dorrien's left flank at Le Cateau in what could have had a catastrophic effect. This unwritten valor displayed by the 84e DIT undoubtedly saved Smith-Dorrien's II Corps from total annihilation. [Size: small] *See the notes document for information on scenario design decisions and historical notes.