Angels of Mons

The Angels of Mons: An extraordinary legend of the earlier days of the war was to the effect that the British Forces in the Retreat from Mons had been supernaturally aided. It was widely declared that many men at the front owed their escape from death or capture to Angelic interventions, and widespread public interest in England was aroused, a newspaper controversy also starting. The “Angels of Mons” became an article of faith to hundreds of people. The legend, it finally came out, originated with a contribution to the Evening News under the title of The Bowmen, a piece of realistic fiction by Mr. Arthur Machen. Apparently the idea was suggested by the chronicled narratives of supernatural appearances in the sky before old-time battles; as, for instance, before the Battle of Edgehill in the Civil War, and, according to local legends, on several occasions during the Wars of the Roses.

References / notes

The above term is listed in our Compendium of the Great War on this day.

Included are trench slang, service terms, expressions in everyday use, nicknames, the titles and origins of British and Commonwealth Regiments, and warfare in general. These words and phrases are contemporary with the war, which is reflected in the language used. Sources include: Soldier and Sailor Words and Phrases, The War Book-of-Facts and Odhams' A.B.C. of the Great War. Feel free to expand upon and improve this content.

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