Action of Elouges

The Action of Elouges 24 August 1914, was fought during the First World War. Following the Battle of Mons the British Expeditionary Force, was withdrawing, closely followed by the advancing German Army. The British 5th Division assisted by the 2nd and 3rd Cavalry Brigade.

During the action the 4th (Royal Irish) Dragoon Guards and 'A' Squadron, the 9th (Queen's Royal) Lancers charged the German guns. Major Ernest Wright Alexander of the Royal Artillery and Captain Francis Octavius Grenfell of the 9th Lancers were awarded the Victoria Cross for saving the artillery battery guns while under fire. Eventually the 1st Battalion Cheshire Regiment were surrounded and destroyed.