The Pursuit to Mons, spanning from November 1 to November 11, 1918, marked the final campaign of the Canadian Corps in the First World War. Under the command of Lieutenant-General Sir Arthur Currie, Canadian forces advanced relentlessly through Belgium, pursuing German forces in a race that would end in the liberation of Mons just hours before the Armistice. This pursuit, characterized by rapid advances and intense skirmishes, symbolized the culmination of Canada’s commitment to the Allied cause. For the Canadians, reaching Mons was more than a military objective; it was a poignant return to the site where the British Expeditionary Force had first encountered German troops in 1914, and it was a fitting end to Canada’s role in a long and brutal war. Historian Tim Cook wrote, “The liberation of Mons was the final act in a journey marked by courage and sacrifice, a last victory achieved as the guns prepared to fall silent” (Shock Troops).
Strategic Context: The Final Push of the Hundred Days Offensive
By early November 1918, the strategic situation on the Western Front had shifted decisively in favor of the Allies. The German Army, weakened by years of attritional warfare, the failed Spring Offensive of 1918, and the relentless pressure of the Hundred Days Offensive, was in full retreat. The Allies had broken through the Hindenburg Line, and German forces were withdrawing through Belgium, attempting to delay the Allied advance long enough to reach an armistice on more favorable terms.
For Currie and the Canadian Corps, the pursuit was part of a broader Allied effort to maintain pressure on the retreating German forces and prevent them from regrouping. Currie understood that speed and aggression were essential, and he prepared his troops for a relentless advance. The Canadian Corps, battle-hardened and renowned for its discipline and effectiveness, would lead the charge, their objective clear: push the Germans out of Belgium and reclaim Mons. Historian G.W.L. Nicholson observed, “The pursuit to Mons was a final test of endurance and resolve, a race against time to end a war that had cost so many lives” (Canadian Expeditionary Force: 1914–1919).
Currie’s Strategy and the Tactics of Pursuit
Lieutenant-General Currie approached the pursuit with a tactical flexibility that was well-suited to the fluid nature of the retreating battlefield. Unlike the trench warfare that had dominated much of the war, the pursuit to Mons required rapid advances, decisive skirmishes, and a relentless pace. Currie divided his forces into spearhead formations, each unit tasked with capturing specific towns, railways, and roads, pushing German forces back step by step.
Currie’s plan relied heavily on artillery support, which would advance in conjunction with the infantry to suppress German positions and prevent counterattacks. Unlike previous battles, the Canadians could not rely on the massive creeping barrages that had characterized earlier offensives; instead, Currie implemented a more mobile form of artillery support, with gun batteries moving forward alongside the infantry to provide immediate fire support as needed. The 1st Canadian Division, under Major-General Archibald Macdonell, took the lead, supported by elements of the 2nd and 3rd Canadian Divisions.
Canadian troops employed a mix of conventional infantry tactics and more open, flexible formations that allowed them to advance quickly through rural areas and towns. Cavalry units, often used sparingly in earlier battles, played a crucial role in scouting and securing key positions along the route. Historian Pierre Berton noted, “The pursuit to Mons was a campaign where the lines blurred, where Canadians moved like hunters through Belgium, always a step ahead of the retreating enemy” (Vimy).
The Advance Through Belgium: November 1 – November 9, 1918
The Canadian advance began on November 1, 1918, with the 1st Canadian Division spearheading the assault toward the Belgian town of Valenciennes. The Germans, though in retreat, fought determined rear-guard actions to slow the Canadian progress. At Valenciennes, the Canadians encountered fierce resistance, with German machine-gun nests and artillery positions barring the way. Currie ordered a series of flanking maneuvers, allowing Canadian troops to encircle the German defenders and capture the town by November 2. Historian C.P. Stacey described the fighting at Valenciennes as “a battle fought with the urgency of victory, each advance a step closer to ending the war” (A Very Double Life).
Following the capture of Valenciennes, the Canadians pressed forward, advancing toward Mons with remarkable speed. The pace of the pursuit strained supply lines, and Currie’s forces often had to operate with limited resources. Despite these challenges, the Canadians maintained their momentum, moving through towns and villages, greeted by cheering Belgian civilians who saw the Canadians as liberators.
The 3rd Canadian Division, commanded by Major-General Frederick Loomis, engaged in skirmishes with German rear-guard units, who attempted to delay the Canadian advance with intermittent artillery fire and occasional ambushes. However, the Canadians’ experience and discipline enabled them to adapt to these tactics, using cover and mobility to outflank German positions. By November 8, Canadian forces had reached the outskirts of Mons, the final objective of their pursuit.
The Liberation of Mons: November 10 – 11, 1918
The final advance into Mons began on November 10, 1918. Currie understood the symbolic significance of the town, which had been one of the first battlegrounds of the British Expeditionary Force in 1914. The Canadians entered Mons cautiously, aware that the war was nearing its end but determined to secure the town and prevent any last-minute German resistance.
The 2nd Canadian Division, under Major-General Henry Burstall, led the assault on Mons, supported by elements of the 1st and 3rd Divisions. Canadian troops encountered sporadic resistance from German machine-gun positions, and there were intense skirmishes as the Canadians moved through the narrow streets and alleys of Mons. However, the Germans, aware that an armistice was imminent, offered only token resistance in most areas. Historian Tim Cook noted, “Mons was a battle fought in the shadow of peace, each shot a reminder of the imminent end of a long and bloody war” (Shock Troops).
By the evening of November 10, Canadian forces had secured Mons, greeted by jubilant Belgian civilians who celebrated their liberation from German occupation. The scenes in Mons were both triumphant and poignant, as Canadian soldiers realized that they had achieved the final victory just hours before the end of the war. Pierre Berton wrote, “In the streets of Mons, Canada’s soldiers found not only victory but a sense of closure, a moment to remember the sacrifices that had brought them to this place” (Vimy).
The Armistice: November 11, 1918
At 11:00 a.m. on November 11, 1918, the guns fell silent, marking the end of the First World War. For the Canadians in Mons, the end of hostilities came with a mixture of relief and solemnity. The soldiers who had fought their way through Belgium, liberating towns and villages, now found themselves in a place of historic significance, having completed the journey that had begun for the British forces at Mons in 1914. For Canada, reaching Mons symbolized both a return to the beginning and a final triumph.
The final days of the pursuit to Mons were not without cost. Canadian forces sustained casualties in the last hours of fighting, a stark reminder of the war’s relentless toll. Historian G.W.L. Nicholson wrote, “The cost of Mons was paid in the final hours, as men gave their lives for a peace that lay just beyond the horizon” (Canadian Expeditionary Force: 1914–1919). These losses weighed heavily on the soldiers, who knew that they had come so close to the end, only to see comrades fall in the last moments of the war.
The Legacy of the Pursuit to Mons
The liberation of Mons and the Canadian Corps’ role in the final days of the war left a lasting legacy. The Canadians had proven themselves as a highly effective and disciplined force, capable of rapid advances and decisive action even as the war neared its end. The pursuit to Mons highlighted the Canadian Corps’ resilience and adaptability, traits that had defined their service throughout the war.
For Canada, the capture of Mons was a symbolic victory, a moment that encapsulated the nation’s sacrifices and achievements over four years of conflict. The soldiers who entered Mons on November 10, 1918, represented a young nation that had earned its place on the world stage through courage and determination. Historian Desmond Morton reflected, “Mons was Canada’s farewell to a war that had shaped its identity, a victory that belonged to a nation emerging from the shadows of empire” (When Your Number’s Up).
The legacy of Mons would live on in Canada’s national memory, a testament to the courage and endurance of the Canadian soldiers who had fought their way to victory. The pursuit to Mons was a final chapter in a story of resilience, sacrifice, and unwavering commitment, a chapter that would define Canada’s role in the Great War and its emerging identity as an independent nation.
Conclusion: Mons and the End of the First World War
The Pursuit to Mons was more than a military operation; it was the culmination of Canada’s contribution to the Allied victory in the First World War. Under Currie’s leadership, the Canadian Corps had advanced relentlessly through Belgium, overcoming obstacles and securing a final victory just as the war reached its conclusion. For the soldiers of the Canadian Corps, Mons was a place of closure and reflection, a town that symbolized both the beginning and the end of the conflict.
In the words of historian C.P. Stacey, “Mons was a fitting end to Canada’s journey in the Great War, a moment where courage met triumph on the eve of peace” (A Very Double Life). The capture of Mons remains a defining moment in Canadian history, a testament to the resilience and bravery of a nation that had proven itself on the world stage. The legacy of Mons endures as a reminder of the sacrifices made and the victory earned, a symbol of Canada’s emergence as a strong and independent nation forged in the fires of war.
References
Morton, Desmond. When Your Number’s Up: The Canadian Soldier in the First World War. Random House Canada, 1993.
Berton, Pierre. Vimy. McClelland & Stewart, 1986.
Nicholson, G.W.L. Canadian Expeditionary Force: 1914–1919. Queen’s Printer, 1962.
Stacey, C.P. A Very Double Life: The Army in Canada and the Half Century of Conflict. Queen’s Printer, 1960.
Cook, Tim. Shock Troops: Canadians Fighting the Great War, 1917–1918. Viking Canada, 2008.