British troops had staged a fighting retreat in the early days of the war, delaying the Germans in their advance towards Paris but suffering heavy casualties in the process.

[4] The Imperial German Army, though badly beaten, fought a fierce rear-guard action as it retreated towards Mons.

On the night of 10 November at around 11:00 pm, platoons from the 42nd Battalion and the Royal Canadian Regiment made it through the southern defences of the city.

Canada is traditionally assigned the tragic distinction of having suffered the last fatality among British Commonwealth forces during the First World War.

Private George Price was hit in the chest by a sniper shot in the town of Ville-sur-Haine near Mons.

[citation needed] The news of the Armistice on 11 November 1918 was ill-received by former Canadian Minister of Militia and Defence Sam Hughes, who felt Currie had stolen the glory of victory was rightfully his.

[11] In fact, it was Garnet Hughes who encouraged him to reconsider and accept the position of commanding officer of the regiment after he initially declined.

[12] On 4 March 1919, in a speech before the House of Commons, Sam Hughes accused Currie of "needlessly sacrificing the lives of Canadian soldiers".