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We shall never get there. [WWI]

posted by LockeProposal on TheGrittyPast

[The following takes place during the British retreat before the German assault following Mons, in the opening stages of the First World War.]

[…] Sir John French on August 28 evacuated his forward base at Amiens, which was now menaced by von Kluck’s westward sweep, and on the following day gave orders for moving the main British base back from Le Havre to St. Nazaire below the Normandy peninsula. In the same spirit as the order jettisoning ammunition, the move reflected the single urgent desire that now possessed him – to leave France.

Partly sharing it, partly ashamed to share it, Henry Wilson, as described by a fellow officer, “walked slowly up and down the room, with that comical, whimsical expression on his face, habitual to him, clapping his hands softly together to keep time, as he chanted in a low tone, ‘We shall never get there, we shall never get there.’ As he passed me I said, ‘Where, Henry?’ And he chanted on, ‘To the sea, to the sea, to the sea.’ “

Source:

Tuchman, Barbara W. "Retreat." The Guns of August. New York: Macmillan, 1962. 409. Print.

Original Source Listed:

Macready, 206.

Further Reading:

Field Marshal John Denton Pinkstone French, 1st Earl of Ypres KP, GCB, OM, GCVO, KCMG, ADC, PC / Sir John French / The Viscount French

Alexander Heinrich Rudolph von Kluck

Normandie / Normaundie (Normandy)

Field Marshal Sir Henry Hughes Wilson, 1st Baronet, GCB, DSO

Great Retreat / Retreat from Mons

[**The following takes place during the British retreat before the German assault following Mons, in the opening stages of the First World War.**] >[…] [Sir John French](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/90/John_French%2C_1st_Earl_of_Ypres%2C_Bain_photo_portrait%2C_seated%2C_cropped.jpg) on August 28 evacuated his forward base at Amiens, which was now menaced by [von Kluck](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/35/Bildnis_Alexander_von_Kluck.png)’s westward sweep, and on the following day gave orders for moving the main British base back from Le Havre to St. Nazaire below the Normandy peninsula. In the same spirit as the order jettisoning ammunition, the move reflected the single urgent desire that now possessed him – to leave France. >Partly sharing it, partly ashamed to share it, [Henry Wilson](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1d/Henry_Hughes_Wilson%2C_British_general%2C_photo_portrait_standing_in_uniform.jpg), as described by a fellow officer, “walked slowly up and down the room, with that comical, whimsical expression on his face, habitual to him, clapping his hands softly together to keep time, as he chanted in a low tone, ‘We shall never get there, we shall never get there.’ As he passed me I said, ‘Where, Henry?’ And he chanted on, ‘To the sea, to the sea, to the sea.’ “ _________________________ **Source:** Tuchman, Barbara W. "Retreat." *The Guns of August*. New York: Macmillan, 1962. 409. Print. **Original Source Listed:** Macready, 206. ___________________________ **Further Reading:** [Field Marshal John Denton Pinkstone French, 1st Earl of Ypres KP, GCB, OM, GCVO, KCMG, ADC, PC / Sir John French / The Viscount French](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_French,_1st_Earl_of_Ypres) [Amiens](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amiens) [Alexander Heinrich Rudolph von Kluck](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_von_Kluck) [le Havre](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Le_Havre) [Saint-Nazaire](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint-Nazaire) [Normandie / Normaundie (Normandy)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Normandy) [Field Marshal Sir Henry Hughes Wilson, 1st Baronet, GCB, DSO](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sir_Henry_Wilson,_1st_Baronet) [Great Retreat / Retreat from Mons](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Retreat)

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