About this site
As I live on the actual battlefields in between the fortress lines of Antwerp, it is not very difficult to see the traces of the Siege of 1914. I got interested in the actions of the Royal Naval Division in the area, and it soon dawned on me that its complete story was never written in detail as one complete text.
This website is a short study and a combination of articles from various British sources on the RND at the time of the fall of Antwerp in October 1914. Little research has been done on a rather important action that ensured that the Belgian Army could withdraw to positions on the IJzer River and was able to get the necessary rest. The unit also gained a week of time for the Allied cause.
This website is a short study and a combination of articles from various British sources on the RND at the time of the fall of Antwerp in October 1914. Little research has been done on a rather important action that ensured that the Belgian Army could withdraw to positions on the IJzer River and was able to get the necessary rest. The unit also gained a week of time for the Allied cause.
The Royal Naval Division during the Siege of Antwerp, 3 – 12 October 1914
From September 29, 1914 the Germans deployed their heavy artillery and silenced the forts in the 3rd sector of the National Reduit. The Belgian army was under heavy pressure and withdrew towards the Nete-Line. It became clear that the fall of Antwerp was only a matter of a few days. King Albert decided in early October 1914 that the field army was to retreat as soon as possible to the west through the corridor of the Waasland.
When the news reached the British government, an urgent meeting was organised, with Lord Kitchener, Winston Churchill, Sir Edward Grey, Prince Louis of Battenburg and Sir William Tyrrell attending. It was decided that Winston Churchill immediately travelled to Antwerp to ask the Belgian Government to hold the national redoubt for a few days more. The Belgian government agreed on the condition that the British Royal Naval Division would be send as reinforcements to Antwerp.
It was agreed that after three days, the Belgian General Headquarters was to evaluate the situation and if necessary then to evacuate Antwerp. Those three days were necessary for the British and French to block the entrance to the channel ports against a German attack.
At that time, the Royal Naval Division was one of the few reserves that the British army could throw into battle. The division had no artillery or field ambulances and had no combat experience. It consisted of two Naval Brigades and one Marine Brigade, composed of men from the reserve of the Royal Navy, consisting at the outbreak of the war of between 20,000 and 30,000 men.
The two Naval Brigades were still undergoing training in England and the Marine Brigade was located at that time in France to defend the port of Dunkerque. The Brigade was equipped with new material and uniforms after the Ostend action in late August 1914, where the unit defended the port and secured the return by ship of the Belgian 4th Army Division from Namur. It consisted of 2600 men.
Order of Battle, October 1914 – Antwerp
1st Royal Naval Brigade: 1st (Drake), 2nd (Benbow), 3rd (Hawke), 4th (Collingwood)
2nd Royal Naval Brigade: 5th (Nelson), 6th (Howe), 7th (Hood), 8th (Anson)
Royal Marine Brigade: 9th RMLI (Chatham), 10th RMLI (Portsmouth), 11th RMLI (Plymouth), 12th RMA (Deal)
