Line Of Fire: The Retreat From Mons (2001) DVD
 
This the story of the first major clash of arms during World War I, the brilliant strategic fighting retreat by the British Expeditionary Force in 1914 earned its place in British military folklore. The tiny British force – just four infantry divisions, one cavalry division and a cavalry brigade – arrived in Belgium as part of the Anglo-French ‘Plan W’ initiative, under the command of Sir John French. Even at this early stage of the war, High Command was adept at under-estimating their enemy and mistrusting their allies and the orders given to French must have made him pause and reflect. Not only were the BEF were expected to expel the German army – of nearly 1,000,000 strong – from Belgian soil, but to restore Belgian independence and work with but not under French command, they were also asked to avoid ‘unnecessary casualties’ while doing so. In the event, the BEF performed heroically. After the battle of Mons on August 23rd, during which nine BEF battalions beat off four German divisions for most of the day, the British began their fighting retreat. This was no shambolic escape, but a well-planned rear-guard action that saw the British arrive at a pre-planned position. Immortalised by the famous “Angels of Mons”, the retreat saw many instances of collective and individual bravery, marked by the award of the first Victoria Crosses of the war to Lt. Maurice Dease and Pte Sydney Godley for their magnificent defence of the bridge at Nimy.
 
The LINE OF FIRE series is history with a difference. For the first time, the great battlefields of the war are presented in a unique animated environment, providing new insights into military history's most compelling events. Each powerful episode combines unrivalled graphics with atmospheric re-creations to analyse every facet of famous battles from medieval times to World War II.