The Belgian Army

[Will O'Brien]

I have read many interesting accounts involving the Belgian Army during the first days of the war in August 1914 & am familiar with the much seen photos of ill equipped, Shako wearing soldiers who would have not looked out of place on a Napoleonic battlefield........................however, it has struck me that I know next to nothing about their participation in the remainder of the war, other than that a small part of the line running to the coast was held by them............ Please can anyone enlighten me.................. Did the Belgian army act independently post 1914 or under British &/or French control? Were they reorganised?, Where did they recruit from considering the majority of Belgium was under occupation. Did they make any sort of contribution after their heroics of 1914?

[AOK4]

The Belgian Army did not want to get involved in futile offensives and therefore was under direct of command of the King of Belgium. It was not until September 1918 that they wanted to participate in allied offensives. The King of Belgium stayed in command but he was given some kind of a watchdog in the form of a French general.

Nonetheless there were quite a lot of raids etc. in the Belgian sector. Also don't forget the action of the Grenadiers during the German gas attack in 1915. Their performance was at least as good as that of the Canadians but is often forgotten. Also the Belgians managed to hold the Germans at Merkem during the offensive in 1918. Also the Final Offensive in September-October 1918 was an important victory for the Belgian Army, they captured Passendale and Houthulst Forest on Day 1.

The Belgian Army recruited from the Belgian refugees in France and the UK, from Belgians in the French and British colonies and the populations of the Westhoek that was still there. There were also people that fled from occupied Belgium to the Netherlands and then to the UK to serve in the Belgian Army.

Regards,

Jan

[Robert Dunlop]

Here is a list of the battles or operations in which the Belgian army took part after the Yser battle (October-November 1914)

1914

15/20-12-1914 The French & Belgian troops, supported by British, fought at Lombardzijde. They gained 100 meters of German territory

24/27-12-1914 New French & Belgian attacks on Lombardzijde.

1915

January 1915 Combat in the dunes of Lombardzijde by French & Belgian Troops.

2/14-04-1915 Fighting between German & Belgian troops around Driegrachten &

Diksmuide.

22-04-1915 Right Belgian flank involved in the German first gas-attack.

19&21-06-1915 Belgian advance NW of Diksmuide.

06-08-1915 Belgian troops leaving their position at Heernisse (right bank of the

IJser-river, South of Diksmuide)

1916

02-05-1916 Small german actions North of Diksmuide

1917

20-01-1917 Heavy artillery fire on Diksmuide

26-01-1917 Germans took a Belgian outpost SW of Diksmuide

15-04-1917 Belgian troops advance at Diksmuide into the second German line.

27-07-1917 Allied intelligence discovered that German trenches at Boesinge were

empty. Allied troops advanced, Belgians up to Noordschote.

1/15-08-1917 Heavy artillery fire along the intire front

27-10-1917 Belgian troops take part in the allied attack, they took Luigem,

Kippe, Merkem & Aschloop.

28-11-1917 Germans attack Belgians at Merkem

1918

18-02-1918 British & Belgian troops attack at Houthulst Forest

26-02-1918 German counterattach on the Belgian lines

5/6-03-1918 During the night German troop try to take 2 belgian outposts NW of

Diksmuide

07-03-1918 German attack on Merkem

12-03-1918 Belgians attack at Lombardzijde

18/20-03-1918 German attack on Nieuwpoort & Diksmuide defended by Belgian

troops.

27-03-1918 Belgian troops holding the line from the sea up to Langemark (40 km.)

27-08-1918 Belgian troops take a 4 km stretch of German 1st line near Langemark

07-09-1918 Germans attack the Belgians once again at Merkem

09-09-1918 Small Belgian advace at Merkem

11-09-1918 Belgian attack NE of Bikschoote

12/13-09-1918 German counterattack NE of Bikschote

18-09-1918 once again German counterattack NE of Bikschote

20-09-1918 Belgian attack on Merkem

28-09-1918 The Offensive of Libiration started and Belgian soldiers keep up

fighting until the Armistice.

Source: Le Front de Flandres, Tome II, par Jean Massaert (Touring Club de

Belgique, 1919)

This information was provided courtesy of Patrick De Wolf, moderator of the ABL_History Yahoo Group.

It should be noted that while many of these actions were limited in scope, the Belgian Army did participate in planning larger scale offensives prior to 1918. For example, in 1916 Joffre wanted the Belgians to be involved with the Somme

battles. The Belgian Army Command drew up 2 options; an advance in the Boesinghe-Steenstraat sector with a limited objective, and the other for a general advance in case the Germans fell back. Neither eventuated. The Belgian Army were 'limited to destructive shoots by the artillery, and raids and reconnaissances into the enemy lines. The Germans replied by similar action' (British Official History).

Similarly, the Belgians would have been involved in the break-out from Nieuwport and the landings at Middelkerke had these eventuated.

Robert

[Will O'Brien]

Jan/Robert.....................That's great, thanks very much for all the info. The picture is much clearer for me.

[andigger]

Don't forget the defense of Antwerp in Aug/Sept 1914.

My thought has always been, if I could go back in time with hindsight, I would have enough troops to link the BEF to the Belgian Army in Antwerp during the battle of the Marne. Imagine how different the war would have been, if there had been no Race to the Sea.

[healdav]

There were about 1000 Luxembourgers in the Belgian army as well.

If you come across any names or other info. please pass it my way (see the long list of places to go and see on the WFA website for my mail address, etc.)

[BottsGreys]

Although of poor quality, the photo postcard below may be of interest. I found it here in the States. There are no hometown addresses on it, but given the style of English in its message, I'm assuming it is from an American who volunteered into the Belgian Army before America entered the War.

Dear Friend:

I am sending you my photo as a Belgian soldier. It isn't nice taken as there is no photographer here in the trenches, it taken from a friend a amateur that don't know much about it. But as soon as I get a chance to get a good one taken, I will send you another won.

your friend,

Benjamin --hill (first 2 letters illegible)

D.81 - 4Cce armee Belge EnCompany

[Annie]

My great uncle, Julien Dondeyne, 2nd Grenadier, was wounded during the defense of Antwerp and died on 27.08.1914.

This picture was taken during winter 13/14.

It's the 5th, from the left, at the top.

[Desmond7]

Remarks on Belgian soldiers

From 'Ballymena Observer' NI weekly Jan 1915

Lt. S. J. Bell 2btn R. Irish Rifles has been at home at Ballymena on a flying visit from the front on seven days' leave and returned to France on Christmas Day.

He states that the Rifles sustained their greatest losses during the retreat from Mons. Lt. Bell spoke highly of the gallantry of the Belgian soldiers.

The Gurkhas, he said, when bringing in a prisoner, walked alongside theGerman gripping him firmly by the wrist with one hand and carrying an unsheathed kurkri (their spelling) in the other.

[healdav]

It's just occurred to me that in fact the first British men killed in WW1 were in fact in the Belgian army!

They were a part of the garrison of Fort Loncin at Liege, presumably doing their military service. They must have had Belgian fathers. Both men came from the south east. I think one came from Southend.

Foolishly, last time I was there I didn't take a photo of the memorial.

Apparently the fort commander told them they were free to leave just before the siege started, but both chose to stay with their mates.