Battle of Mons

The British Expeditionary Force (BEF) encountered the German First Army at Mons, Belgium, in the first major British engagement of the war. Despite inflicting heavy German casualties through rapid rifle fire (Germans initially mistook it for machine guns), the BEF was forced to retreat due to the French Fifth Army's withdrawal on their right flank. The Angel of Mons legend—soldiers reporting supernatural beings protecting British troops—emerged from this battle.