In the [FORMATIONS] sub series we've talked about army of 1914.
An army that was overwhelmed by the German onslaught that started in August 1914
when WW1 broke out. Soon most of Belgium came under German control except for
a small portion of land near the Yser River. Here Belgian King Albert I stood fast with his
army. The Belgian uniform changed dramatically in that period and in this video you're gonna learn
about the the transformation of the Belgian soldier from 1915 till 1918. Keep watching.
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On 4 August German troops crossed the German-Belgian border. The German Schlieffen Plan
was put into action and it was all about speed. The Germans marched on Liège, which was surrended
by heavy fortresses. With their siege howitzers Big Bertha these fortresses were pulverized.
Next was Namur which was soon taken by the same tactics. The French that wanted to help
the Belgians in their defence were halted at the Battle of Charleroi and the British were stopped
at the Battle of Mons after which they retreated. The Belgians retreated further to Antwerp.
Towards the end of September the Germans laid siege to Antwerp. The
city would hold out for less than two weeks. That month the so-called Race to the Sea
commenced. The goal was not to reach the sea as soon as possible, the goal of the Germans and
the British & the French was to outflank the other party. It led to several severe clashes
at Ypres and here, at the the Yser. It was October 1914 and the Battle of
the Yser was about to begin. The Belgians quickly erected barricades and laid plans
what to do if the lines were broken. There were plans to inundate the surrounding countryside.
German shellfire was murderous and more than a third of the Belgians were put out of action.
King Albert I than played his last trump card on 27 October. He opened up the sluices. In
some places dynamite was used. The advancing Germans they thinking a victory was in sight,
noticed they were now wading in ankle-deep water. They believed this was due to the rain
and went on. Later the water was knee-deep and kept rising. Eventually they had to pull back.
As elsewhere on the Western Front the war became a stalemate with trench warfare
for years to come. In order to stand strong the Belgian army needed a new uniform. A quick recap.
The Belgian Army of 1914. The soldier's appearence had not changed much since the major changed from
1853. The tunics were dark blue, as we saw in many other European armies
long before WW1 and some armies even in the First World War. Woolen trousers,
with woolen tunics and on top of that a greatcoat. The rank-and-file soldier wore black ancle
boots provided with black leather gaiters. Much like the French army of that time.
Then, in September 1914 a new headgear appeared: nicknamed the Yser Cap. Funny detail is that it was
named after a battle the headgear was barely worn. Made from blue fabric it replaced the old shako.
New cartidge belt with six pouches were purchased from a firm in Argentina.
The Belgian switched to corduroy breeches with dark blue puttees which have been made from former
French greatcoats as the French switches to blue uniforms. In 1915 the khaki uniform was introduced
to the Belgian army. Now did you know that before that the Belgian colonial soldiers *in China
already wore khaki and there were plans to change the uniform colour to khaki before the outbreak of the First World War.
The colour of khaki was chosen because its production required less indogo than the usual
fabric. Also khaki was worn by the British, allies of Belgium, and proved effective. War Minister
Charles de Broqueville issued his orders. And here is an interesting fact from a Belgian veteran.
“[A]ccording to the recollection of the Belgian veteran Antoon
Visser (101 years of age in 1999), these first deliveries of straight
wool trousers were in fact former red French trousers re-dyed khaki.”
At first the khaki uniforms were only worn by the frontline troops as many
troops in the rear still wore the old blue uniforms. This was till the summer
of 1915. By the end of 1915 most Belgian troops were dressed in the new colour.
Puttees were also introduced and many Belgian officers were fond of this:
“Keen to imitate the British officers, who were considered the epitome of military elegance,
certain officers continued to obstinately wear puttees despite repeated proscription.”
Also leather gaiters were worn. And the M1915 tunic (referred to as 'Jas', Dutch/Flemish word
for coat which became the collective nickname for the Belgian soldier).
This 'jas' had two breast and two waist pockets. It had a stand-up collar. It was provided
with a greatcoat. And for the summer there was the canvas peacoat uniform.
There were some interesting pieces of headgear. M1915 Cap – Similar to the British
model made of canvas or of woollen fabric. Provided with a metal cockade.
M1915 Side Camp – This became the rest headdress for all troops from April 1916
and it replaced the German-looking headgear. M1915 Adrian Helmet – Towards the end of 1915
the French model Adrian helmet was introduced to the Belgian Army. It would take till the spring
of 1916 before all the Belgian soldiers got it. Therefore it was handed over from
soldier to frontline soldier. It had a stamped front insignia in the form of a lion's head.
Knitted woolen skullcaps were issued late November because of health problems which were accentuated
by the contact of metal directly on the head. Later canvas helmet covers were introduced.
Another interesting piece of equipment was the M2 gas mask that was introduced. This is the
earlier model and this the later ARS mask. Also the British-made Mills webbing was introduced
later in the war. As for weaponry the Belgian M1889 Mauser rifle was being used. In 1916 they
got a longer bayonet. In 1917 a trench knife was introduced, made from the M1889 bayonet.
After the inundation of the landscape ordered by King Albert I and the Battle of the Yser the
Germans and Belgian troops were seperated by a five-mile-wide
shoulder-deep lake between Nieuwpoort and Diksmuide.
During the war King Albert I remained close to the front. He refused to let his Belgian Army fight
in the Allied offensives. On 28 September 1918
the Belgian army joined the Allied offensive. Army Group Flandres crossed the Yser and began
the liberation of Belgium. The war would come to an end with the armistice on 11 November 1918.