Churchill's Failed Gambit at the Siege of Antwerp

First Lord of the Admiralty Winston Churchill Inspects the
New Royal Naval Division

By Tony Langley

In mid-August of 1914, Winston Churchill created the Royal Naval Division, a new formation consisting initially of some 3,500 naval reservists, later enlarged to around 8,000 effectives. In the excitement of the early days of the war, with patriotic sentiments running high and expectations of an early end to hostilities, there was a clamor to join what might possibly turn out to be a distinguished unit. The prime minister's son, Arthur Asquith, joined up, as did relatives of future prime minister Bonar Law. Yet, the Naval Division was a hurriedly thrown-together unit with little military training and inadequate supplies. Some men received as little as two day's training, ammunition was in short supply, as were medical supplies.

Churchill, always the grand strategist, had already realized the importance of holding Antwerp. It was after all the proverbial "pistol pointed at the heart of England" in the perhaps apocryphal, but still true, comment attributed to Napoleon. On 7 September he stressed to Edward Grey that the city must be held. But at that time the British government felt the danger of the city falling to be vastly exaggerated. It was, after all, protected by three concentric rings of fortifications, one of which was of the very latest design and construction. The Belgian Army consisted of anything between 175,000 and 200,000 effectives, granted not of first-line quality or up to British military standards, but still far more in numbers than the mere 60,000 German troops facing the city.

When the German attack began and it became apparent that despite the favorable odds for the defenders, with the introduction of German and Austrian heavy artillery that outranged anything the Belgians had to counter with, it would be only a matter of time before the fortifications were reduced and Antwerp taken. Foreign Minister Edward Grey received a telegram from the Belgian government on 2 October, signaling their intention to evacuate the city and relocate the government to Ostend the next day. This prompted Churchill to immediately leave for Antwerp, which he reached by noon on 3 October after traveling by steamer and motor car. Upon his arrival, he checked into the city's most elegant and exclusive hotel, the Saint Antoine. The Belgian government and military command, however, heaved a sigh of relief and settled in to hold the line until the British arrived.

Royal Marines Landing at Ostend

An advance detachment of the Naval Division mustered at Dover on 4 October. Mindful of the advantages of dissemination of false information, Churchill had tipped off journalists to their arrival at Ostend. As the men disembarked on the quays to cheers and flags a-waving, they were marched by back streets back onto the quays several times, thus creating the impression of being a far greater force than in actuality. The men traveled by motor transport along the cobblestone roads of the Belgian countryside, often in colorful London double-tier omnibuses still outfitted with advertisements for British whisky and other products. Driving through cities and towns such as Gent or St Nicolaas, photographers were at hand to record their advance. The transports reached the western approaches to the city and crossed over the main pontoon bridge into the city proper on the 5th. With the British in on the game, people took heart.

The British units were brought up to the front lines around Lier to bear the brunt of the German attack. They dug in, constructing very photogenic trenches, once again in the presence of the press, and participated in the defense of the line. On 5 and 6 October, a further 6,000 men of the Naval Division arrived in Antwerp. They too were rushed up to the front lines, taking positions chosen by Churchill himself. Churchill was meanwhile touring the defenses, giving advice, and, according to many of his critics, doing not much more than indulging himself in playing soldier.

However, the additional defenders were nowhere near sufficient. Further British or French reinforcements never reached the city. General Rawlinson arrived in Antwerp, unaccompanied by troops, on the 6th, his men still assembling in Dunkirk and along the Channel ports. He took command of the British forces in Antwerp and thus deprived Churchill of any excuse to remain in the city. Reluctantly, Churchill left for London and arrived the next day, 7 October, just in time for the birth of his daughter Sarah.

RND Troops Along the Nethe River

On the evening of the 8th, the British commander in place, General Paris, decided that all further resistance was futile and ordered the evacuation of all British troops at Antwerp. Shortly afterward, the Belgian military commander, General Deguise, decided to take a similarly prudent course of action. He ordered all units to retreat across the river westward. All second-line fortifications were abandoned with the exception of two forts that were to provide diversionary fire during the evacuation of the front line. Small units of garrison artillery units remained at their posts until the next day, when they too left their positions to make it over the river after nightfall as best they could.