In August 1914 the French Fifth Army was in position between the River Sambre to its north and the River Meuse to its west. The German Second Army were starting to wheel south west and looking to force crossing points over the Sambre.
The French occupied the high ground above the Sambre with outposts guarding the bridges. Poor intelligence and bad planning left some bridges unsecured. German patrols found the unsecured bridges and the Germans crossed in strength establishing a bridgehead.
The French counter attacked, very much in the style of the battle of Waterloo
The French sustained heavy losses, and subsequent German attacks drove them back 20 km from the Sambre.
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| French Army Memorial Sambreville |
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| French Army Memorial Sambreville |
