Reckoning up, then, we get an approximate total of, say, 240,000 men, 960 field- and 288 machine-guns.
The British Forces
A British Army Corps, of two Divisions, contains about 36,145, all ranks, with 152 field- and 48 machine-guns.
A Cavalry Division contains about 9,270, all ranks, with 24 field- and 24 machine-guns; a Cavalry Brigade about 2,285, all ranks, 6 field- and 6 machine-guns.
This is not revealing State secrets, because the numbers may be obtained from any military reference books.
Now it was, I believe, originally intended that the Expeditionary Force should be about 120,000 strong, or half the strength of the army with the colours.
The force actually present at Mons on August 22nd consisted, nominally, of two Army Corps, a Cavalry Division and a Cavalry Brigade. But several authorities, including Mr. Hilaire Belloc, assert that one of these corps was considerably below strength, and that, in round numbers, the strength of the Force was no more than 75,000, with 250 guns.
If we calculate up the official strength the numbers should work out at 83,845 all ranks, 334 field- and 126 machine-guns.
Another Infantry Brigade came up on the 23rd and joined the Second Corps, and another Division (the 4th) also arrived.[[1]]
Taking everything into account it is, I think, reasonable to put the British strength at about 80,000 men, 300 field- and 100 machine-guns when battle was first joined.