Stories of the Forgotten Heroes

The Heroism of Lions: The Siege of Antwerp

Theo had turned 19 when the news erupted across all the radio stations and newspapers in Europe that the continent was once again embroiled in war. It was almost 50 years from the Franco-Prussian War, and for a while, it seemed that peace would reign supreme over Europe. After all, each crisis had been averted through diplomacy, had it not? Shattering the tranquility was the brutal assassination of Franz Ferdinand, Theo heard some of the men in the bar he worked whilst studying say, but he knew nothing about this character and why his death was that important.

His homeland, the small Kingdom of Belgium had kept to its business since they had gained their independence from the Dutch. The people lived relatively comfortably and with a king like Albert I, every Belgian felt safe. Theo had had a nice childhood, full of joy and older brothers eager to dot on the youngest of the brood. As the son of a textile shop owner, he had benefited not only from a good education but also a more privileged upbringing, but no one would have guessed it. That is because growing up in Antwerp as a French-speaking Walloon had been at times difficult, a reality that made him aware since he was a child that there were certain things one could not say aloud. Their parents had done their utmost to shield them from the political turbulence which always found a way to creep into their personal life, and it seemed that the sacrifice was worthwhile.

As Theo cleaned the glasses, he eavesdropped on how the city surrounded by its magnificent fortress walls, and the expertly placed artillery positions, Antwerp, was a gateway for any invading army intent on subduing the country. To the old man's statement, he would have loved to add, who in the end would have any business with them. Their neutrality was unambiguous and their desire for peace was great. The young man also knew that due to the city being quite far from the German border, this made most of its inhabitants confident in their assessment that they were safe from any harm so life went about as usual.

All of that changed when the rumors about the attack on Liege were confirmed. This sent shockwaves throughout the nation. Young men rushed to volunteer whilst the reservists were called to mount a defense against this act of aggression. Theo went to the nearest recruitment office and enlisted in the Belgian army, leaving his job like many others, feeling that this was his patriotic duty. Despite his parents' worries and reluctance to see their youngest son now go off to war too, he felt that the shame would be greater than the danger.

Theo received minimal training in the barracks near Brussels, just enough so the new recruits knew how to safely shoot and take cover. It was nonetheless critical for them to have at least this basic knowledge, and allowed some camaraderie to form between the men in the meantime. Three weeks and a half later, with a uniform that hung loosely on his slender frame, and a rifle that felt much heavier than he had thought in his hands, he joined the ranks of brave young men who were determined to stand against the German onslaught if they were to reach Antwerp. Their orders were to keep the city safe, and if needed, an evacuation but the British guarantees and support gave them confidence.

When he reached his hometown, it had been decided that Theo's post was to be within the sprawling fortifications of Antwerp, where he and his comrades were relatively safe when the Germans commenced the offensive on the 28th of September. Credible reports had poured in the week prior, giving enough time to the Belgian Army and the Antwerp Garrison to properly prepare for what was to come. The German artillery kept a relentless bombardment of the fortresses, their shells shaking the earth and crumbling the concrete, rendering some unusable. The enemy had finally reached their gates and it seemed that in a day or two they would break.

Other units had gone on sorties meant to harass and push the German lines, aided by the British and the French, but they had been unsuccessful. For those in Antwerp, due to the terrain and the positioning of the German army this was quite unfeasible.

One fateful October morning, as the sun rose on the horizon, a new sense of urgency filled the fortress. The enemy was launching a full-scale assault on Antwerp, and Theo's unit was ordered to push back the enemy. In his sector, they managed to stave off the onslaught but other redoubts had fallen. Now, it was only a matter of time until they would be pushed out from their defensive positions if Allied troops could not muster a relief force, strong enough to push the German Army.

As days went by, the Belgian troops were forced to fight with their backs to the wall, and the situation grew even more dire. They fought with extreme courage and determination but after almost two weeks of titanic effort, Theo and his comrades would have wanted to take a moment to catch their breath, but that was impossible. They had to defend their beloved city against all odds. As they had dinner, news came that they were to retreat. The British would cover their flanks, thus allowing the Belgians to reach the designated lines.

Orderly packing commenced almost immediately, everyone with a look of exhaustion and a heavy heart. As Theo crossed the Scheldt, he thought about how lucky he was for having managed to escape unscathed from the horrendous battle despite the fact that by now most of his fellow comrades in the garrison were probably Prisoners of War. A powerful rage began filling him to the core, swearing he would not rest until his beloved homeland was once again free. As they retreated to the Yser, the people of Antwerp could not hail the proud defenders as heroes, but their sacrifice and bravery were forever etched into the city's history.