Le Cateau - 26th August 1914 'When men are too tired to march, they must lie down and fight' Gen Sir Horace Smith-Dorrien, GCB, DSO. Commanding II Corps. The British lost 8,000 casualties and 38 guns but managed to break contact with the pursuing army. This lone tree at Point 138 was used as a marker by German artillery and 15th Brtigade had its HQ in the sunken lane: orders were given to cut the tree down but the 1st Norfolks did not manage the job before they were ordered to withdraw.