HMS Timbertown, from Henk de Groot

[Henk de Groot]

As I've pointed out before, the Netherlands was neutral during World War I, the only real war casualties were merchant marine personnel.

But we did have something to deal with foreign soldiers, especially when they crossed our borders.......

Because the Belgian Army was pushed back in the beginning of October 1914 to Antwerp, help was called in from the British.

What happened next is well known to you.

Winston Churchill came to the rescue with his "little army", consisting of naval soldiers, but they were outnumbered by the Germans and soon beaten back.

About 1500 men of the First Royal Naval Brigade failed to catch a train heading for the city of Gent after being outmanoeuvered by the Germans.

Their CO, Commodore Wilfred Henderson, was determined for him and his men not to be taken prisoner by the Germans, so the only option

was, handing themselves over to the mercy of the Dutch authorities.

They've crossed the border and entered the region called Zeeuws-Vlaanderen.

This group of 1500 men were troops from three bataillons: Hawk, Benbow, and Collingwood's.

On arrival in Holland they were interned (in accordance with International Law).

At first they were "locked in" in a old barracks, and during that period a wooden internment camp was build, as a more  permanent place because,

they had to be kept for the duration of the war.

The old barracks was named Rabenhaupt-kazerne. During their stay there an internment camp was build, consisting of wooden huts.

The camp had facillities for sports, health care, security and relaxation.

Dutch locals called it Het Engelse Kamp.

The Britons soon nicknamed it Timbertown or HMS Timbertown.

 

To be continued......

 

Yours, Henk