Mons, 23rd August 1914

The first Victoria Crosses of the Great War were awarded to Lieutenant Maurice Dease and Private Sidney Godley for action at Mons.

Climbing up the south bank of the Nimy railway bridge, we found ourselves near their position almost 105 years later. A truly historic location where the British Army made their first major contact with European forces on the continent since Waterloo.

Brave men. Lt Dease VC lies in St Symphorien. Pte Godley chucked his machine gun in the canal and withdrew, before he was captured.