British and Belgian soldiers retreating from the defense of Antwerp. The Belgian Army and the British forces that had come to defend the city evacuated on October 7 and 8, 1914.
Cliché Chasseau-Flaviens1914.. Blessés Anglais à la défense d'Anvers1914.. English wounded from Attwerp's defense16me Série16th SeriesLogo: ELD
"The Government have decided to leave to-morrow for Ostend, acting on advice unanimously given by Superior Council of War in presence of the King. The King with field army will withdraw, commencing with advanced guard to-morrow in the direction of Ghent to protect coast-line, and eventually, it is hoped, to co-operate with the Allied armies. The Queen will also leave.It is said that town will hold out for five or six days, but it seems most unlikely that when the Court and Government are gone resistance will be so much prolonged."
After the falls of the forts of the Meuse River — Liège, Namur, and Dinant — the Belgian Army had fallen back first to Louvain, then to Antwerp. During the Battle of the Marne, they had sortied several times, and had pinned down German troops. British First Lord of the Admiralty Winston Churchill wanted to save the port of Antwerp. French Commander Joffre had little faith any fortress would long endure a German siege, but wanted to preserve a Belgian fighting force. Belgian Commander King Albert wanted to preserve his Belgian Army.
The World Crisis 1911-1918 by Winston Churchill, page 192, copyright © by Charles Scribner's Sons 1931, renewed by Winston S. Churchill 1959, publisher: Penguin Books, publication date: 1931, 2007
Seige of Antwerp, Antwerp, October, 1914, 1914-10-02
