The action is likely to become the classical example of the performance of its functions by a rear-guard: the battalion not only held up the attack of a strong hostile force in its original position, thereby securing the unmolested withdrawal of its Division but in retiring drew on to itself the attacks of very superior numbers of the enemy. It was finally cut off at Etreux by five or six times its numbers but held out for several hours, the remnant only surrendering when their ammunition was practically exhausted and only a small number of men remained unhurt. The survivors were warmly congratulated by the Germans on the fine fight they had made. No other claim to a memorial near Etreux is likely to be advanced and certainly nothing which would not take second place to the Munsters. The Battle Exploits Memorial Committee response to a 1919 proposal to erect a Regimental Memorial at Etreux An Etreux 1914 Prisoner of War and Army Order 193 M.I.D. group of four awarded to Staff Sergeant H. W. Jordan, B Company, 2nd Battalion Royal Munster Fusiliers, who was wounded and taken a Prisoner of War on 27 August 1914 during his Battalions epic rearguard action at Etruex Together with one Platoon of 15th Hussars and two guns from 118th Battery Royal Field Artillery, it covered the rear-guard of the 1st Army Corps for six hours over a distance of five miles Opposed by an entire German Army Corps advancing in an arc from the North-East on a three mile front, this small force carried out a fighting withdrawal until late in the afternoon when, with their ammunition almost exhausted, the remaining survivors lined the four sides of a walled orchard and fought to a finish By the end of the day, the enemys advance had been successfully delayed and a distance of twelve miles separated the 1st Army Corps from the German vanguard 1914 Star, clasp (9990 Pte. H. Jordan. R. Muns: Fus.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (9990 Pte. H. W. Jordan. R. Mun. Fus.); Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue, (7658070 S. Sjt. H. W. Jordan R.A.P.C.), mounted as worn, nearly very fine (4)
