Tag Archives: Antwerp

Diary entries referring to the siege of Antwerp in 1914 written by Arthur Linfoot and by Arthur Hawes, a guest diarist.

7 October 1914; Wednesday

October 1914, , , ,

Got up early and drilled. Not much to do at work. Went to Patriotic Concert in Victoria Hall1 with Willie Whittaker and Alf Wright and his sister. Very good concert. The Sunderland Vocal Union were the chorus and Mr L A Nicholson’s orchestra accompanied. Mrs Vincent and Miss Spain, and Mr William Hendry were the singers and a lady recited.

Germans commence to bombard Antwerp2 at midnight with heavy guns & 6 Zeppelin Airships drop bombs3.

  1. Victoria Hall: see note on 10 January. ↩

  2. Winston Churchill rather controversially went personally to take part in the defence of Antwerp, on the arguably slender grounds that Royal Marine troops were involved; he was First Lord of the Admiralty – not an operational appointment – and no longer a serving officer in the Army. ↩

  3. This presumably means “on Antwerp”: the first Zeppelin raids on England are said to have been in January 1915. ↩

6 October 1914; Tuesday

Guest

This is a guest post from the diary of Leading Seaman Arthur Hawes.

About 9 o/c got in our train & travelled all night in darkness, as we did not know but what our train would be attacked. However this was not so and at 6 o/c in the morning of October 6th we arrived at Antwerp. Here we had a terrific reception from the people, who showered cigarettes, cigars and all kinds of food on us. We were very grateful for these & also for the coffee, Bovril & tea which they had ready for us at the station. We marched from the station to a small village about five miles outside the town. Here we were billeted in an empty house, where a dinner was given us by the Belgian soldiers. (This was Wilrijk.) We had not been here more than two hours though when we once more had to fall in & had more ammunition served out to us, together with identification discs. In a short stirring speech the Commodore told us that the Germans were at Lierre (we could hear that by the gun fire) & that we were to go at once to the trenches to help the Belgians who were pretty tired. We marched off but found it was impossible, owing to the heavy shell fire the Germans were pouring in, to take up our intended position. Accordingly we turned our steps in another direction & halted in a new line of trenches. We did not stay here more than about an hour however, as we had once more to be on the move. This time we had a long march, passing on our way evidences of the German shells in burning houses & others all in ruins. At night we halted in a country lane, had some food (bully beef1, tea & biscuits) & then turned in on some straw which we took from a farm near by. We were now just outside Lierre.

  1. “Bully Beef”: more commonly known as corned beef, a staple of troops in WW1 and all later conflicts until quite recently. ↩

6 October 1914; Tuesday

October 1914, , ,

Got up about 7.30. Drilled again. Not much to do at work. Further news about Allies check. Russian Victory in East Prussia. German destroyer sunk by Submarine E91 off the mouth of the Ems.

Belgian King2 & ministers leave Antwerp. Garrison retires to inner ring of forts.

  1. The destroyer was the S116. It was the E9 which sank the Hela (see 13 September); she was scuttled off Helsinki on 3 April 1918 to avoid capture, and was salvaged for breaking up (in Finland) in 1953. ↩

  2. “Belgian King”: Albert I of Belgium ↩

5 October 1914; Monday

Guest

This is a guest post from the diary of Leading Seaman Arthur Hawes.

On going on deck found we were off the coast of France & also discovered that our troop ship was guarded on either side by a British destroyer. We were met outside Dunkirk harbour by a French destroyer & then piloted in. Arrived along side at about 10 o/c & finally landed in the afternoon. After being served out with some grub & also ammunition we found we were off to Antwerp. We spent some hours on the quay amusing ourselves with the French people who came to have a look at us. About 9 o/c got in our train & travelled all night in darkness, as we did not know but what our train would be attacked.

4 October 1914; Sunday

Guest

This is a guest post from the diary of Leading Seaman Arthur Hawes.

Early this morning we were aroused by the sound of the réveillé, & hurriedly dressing we were all soon on parade, where we were told by our Commander that the camp life we had been enjoying at Walmer had come to an end, & we were to pack up at once as we were to leave for Dunkirk at mid-day. We had none of us the faintest idea what we were going to do when we got to Dunkirk, but everyone was overjoyed to think that we were going to make a move anywhere. The camp was soon in a great state of excitement & after a hurried breakfast we packed up & finally at 1.30pm we started off & marched to Dover. Our kits were sent on by train. We arrived at Dover soon after 4 o/c & marched on to the pier, where we had a glorious wait until 11 o/c for the boat to arrive. However we got on board at last, & at 3.30am Monday morning started off. Slept for a few hours in the hold on some cases of provisions & about 5 o/c went on deck.

4 October 1914; Sunday

October 1914, , , ,

Chapel as usual. Mr Mathews conducting the services. Better than last time but not much use†. Instead of Sunday School the children went into the chapel and sang the songs Mr Mathews had taught them and he spoke a short while. Had usual walks. Mrs Cooke & Bella Spain to tea. Mother and Gertie went with them to the Grange1. Germans bombard Lierre again at night with heavy howitzer.

  1. The Grange: probably the Grange Congregational Church, in Stockton Road. ↩

3 October 1914; Saturday

October 1914, , , , ,

Got up 6.15. Had walk along Hendon beach and cliff with Alf before breakfast. Had a bit of a row with Willie about a football. Sent 5/-­ to Everyman1 for Persian relief fund. Went to Porteous and had another tooth out. Went to Roker at night with Willie and Charlie. Walked as far as Whitburn.

British troops in Antwerp2. Germans attack with artillery only.

  1. Everyman: see Everyman and Arthur Linfoot’s Library. ↩

  2. “British troops in Antwerp”: See upcoming guest posts by Leading Seaman Arthur Hawes, which offer a first hand account of these events. ↩

29 September 1914; Tuesday

September 1914, , , ,

Not much to do at work. Stayed in at night and read some grammar up. Had short walk up the town at night with Charlie. Rather cold night. Received news that the Emden had sunk other four British ships in the Bay of Bengal. Nothing fresh from the front

Magazine of Waelhem blown up. Wavre & Saint Catherine put out of action. Lière1 bombarded.

  1. Lière: spelled Lierre on 5 October; now Lier (S. of Antwerp.)  ↩

26 September 1914; Saturday

September 1914, , , ,

Finished in good time. Finished about 1.30. Went up the town in the afternoon with Charlie and he got measured for a suit at the Store1. I called at Porteous the dentist and he examined my teeth and agreed to take 2 out next Wednesday. Went to Roker at night with Willie Whittaker. Came back on the car2.

The Belgians retired from Malines to line of outer Antwerp forts.

  1. Store (if correct reading) would mean Co-operative Retail Store ↩

  2. Car means tram-car, as usual. ↩

22 August 1914; Saturday

August 1914, , , , , ,

Busy at work. Finished about 2.15. An aeroplane passed over the town in the afternoon. Trial football match played. Took Histories1 up to Hills’ to be bound. Went to Roker at night with Willie Whittaker and Charlie. Discussed war news. Belgians retire to Antwerp & Germans occupy Brussels. They demand 8 million indemnity for the town. Various rumours from Austria & Russia. Charlie heard of the movement of the German fleet to Ostend.

  1. “Histories”: presumably History of the Nations; see note on 11 April ↩