The Naval Brigades at Antwerp
On 5.15am of October 4, 1914, the Naval Brigades are alarmed. The playing of the band in the camps awakens the sleeping men. Many of them are feverish from the vaccinations they have received the day before.
A couple of hours later, the units are ready to leave by train. In the early afternoon they arrive in the port of Dover. Most of the day is spent loading the ships. The rumor mill is in full swing. Once on board, the majority of the men is provided with canteens, overcoats and other material. From 9pm on, the ships leave for Dunkirk.
In the morning of October 5, 1914 they arrive on the French coast. Some ships have to remain moored off the coast of Dunkerque for several hours while the other ships are being unloaded. Towards evening unloading is done. The situation is quite chaotic. For example, the Medical Officer of the Anson Battalion has to search for medical supplies. Eventually he gets 350 bandages and gauze from the French military hospital of Dunkerque. The first trains leave around 19h for Antwerp. Ammunition is distributed and the troops are ordered to be ready at all times and look out for German ambushes along the way.
On October 6, 1914 at 5am the first trains carrying the Benbow and Hawke Battalions of the 1st Naval Brigade arrive in Antwerp Station. From 7.30am on they are followed by the trains of the 2nd Naval Brigade. The units take up rest positions in the vicinity. The 2nd Naval Brigade goes to Antwerpen-Kiel, while the 1st Naval Brigade is wrongly lead to a country road on the outskirts of Antwerp. This position seems to be located much too close to the German positions and the unit must move again, this time to positions in the trenches between Fort3 and Fort4 between Borsbeek and Mortsel. They are ordered to rebuild the trenches.
RMLI in action on the extreme Northern flank of the
Intermediate Line, Cijnshofweg Vremde |
About noon, The 2nd Naval Brigade receives the order to move to Mortsel Oude God. In the afternoon, the unit takes positions between Wilrijk and Fort4. The Anson Battalion is ordered in the trenches at Wilrijk at 3.30pm. The new position of the Anson Battalion is 1000m long and located between the brick forts of the inner line. The redoubts are occupied by Belgian fortress-artillerists and the trenches are wide and shallow. The unit immediately begins to deepen the existing trenches. In front of the trenches are large wire barriers and the field of fire is at least 500m.
By nightfall the 1st Naval Brigade receives the command to occupy the Intermediate Line between Hove and Vremde. It takes positions to the right of the Royal Marine Brigade, between Hove and the Antwerpsesteenweg. Around the same time, the retreating RM Brigade takes up positions from the Antwerpsesteenweg over Boshoek to Vremde, from right to left with the Chatham, Plymouth, Portsmouth and Deal Battalion. |
Positions of the Royal Naval Division on the Intermediate Line, October 6, 1914
On October 7, 1914, the Belgian government decided to withdraw the field army to the west. The Fortress troops and the 2nd Army Division, along with the Royal Naval Division, stay in Antwerp as a rear guard. Retreating Belgian troops put fire to the oil tanks in Hoboken. The Germans are bombing the city of Antwerp incessantly. The British trenches come under sporadic fire, mostly intended for the forts of the inner position.
At 2.30am on October 7, 1914, General Paris gives the order for the division to fold back to the old fort line. 1st Naval Brigade take up positions north of the Mechelsesteenweg from Redoubt VII (Mortsel) to Fort2 (Wommelgem). The 2nd Naval Brigade occupies positions from Redoubt VII (Mortsel) to Fort6 (Wilrijk). Later, the Nelson Battalion extends the line through the Schoonselhof to Redoubt XVI and the South Battery on the bank of the Scheldt in Hemiksem.
Benbow Battalion is the reserve of the 1st Naval Brigade, Nelson Battalion is the reserve of the 2nd Naval Brigade. The headquarters of the 1st Naval Brigade is located in Castle Drakenhof at Deurne, the headquarters of the 2nd Naval Brigade is located in Castle Elsdonk in Berchem and is later moved to Wilrijk Station.
Supplies are stored in the old linoleum factory behind the Church of Berchem and in a train at the station in Wilrijk. 50 ratings from 'A' Company of the Nelson Battalion, commanded by SubLieutenant Clark, guard the plant and load stocks on buses for 12 hours.
Positions of the Royal Naval Division on the inner fortress line, October 7-8, 1914
1st Naval Brigade receives supplies by London bus. These buses had followed the division to Antwerp. The brigade is in poor condition due to the continuing marches and lack of water. The Royal Marine Brigade spends the night in reserve in the old cinema works at Waasdonk. After the retreat of the Belgian fortress troops, Chatham Battalion takes positions alongside Nelson Battalion between the Scheldt and Fort7. A platoon of Marines under command of Lieutenant Curtin gets orders to guard the southern boat-bridge at Burcht.
The situation of Fortress Antwerp changes drastically on October 7, 1914 when the Germans, after heavy fighting, are able to form a bridgehead over de Scheldt at Schoonaarde, to the west of Dendermonde. During the night they build a floating bridge and their reserves threaten the Railway line from Ghent to Antwerp.
In the early morning of October 8, 1914 General Dossin reports to General Paris that Forts1, 2 and 4 have fallen to the Germans. However, this is a false rumor. General Paris contacts General Rawlingson, whose 7th Division advances towards Ghent. Paris explains that he will probably have to withdraw overnight.
The day of October 8, 1914 passes rather quiet, with sporadic gunfire and a continuous bombardment of Antwerp. Fort5 (Edegem) receives a concentrated bombardment The Belgian fortress troops abandon their positions in late afternoon.
Naval Brigade in the trenches of the inner fortress line. In the background, one of the redoubts of the inner line.