Erik Westerman

As a lay historian, I’d appreciate any feedback or comments on my research and findings, as well as any questions that you might have.

There are very few sources for the 11th and 13th Line Regiments, and any new sources would always be appreciated!

Thanks!

In 1927, Col Baudrihaye passed away, succumbing to the respiratory ailments that he contracted on the front.

He was buried in a lot reserved for heroes of the First World War in Schaerbeek Cemetery.

After the war, he attended only one ceremony with the King in honor of the battle in 1922 when Touring Belgium set up milestones all along the western front. He was invited to the inauguration of the milestone set up at the site of the famous Minoterie (Flour Mill) on the outskirts of Dixmude.

In a letter I found sent to the Minister of Defense, my great grandfather explained that Col Jacques wanted him to receive the French Legion of Honneur, but alas, they only issued it to the Col Jacques.

King Albert issued Beaudrihaye with the Order of Leopold in Furnes in Nov 1914.

The Battle of Dixmude was over, at the expense of thousands of souls.

French losses totalled over 3,000, Belgian losses 1,250.
T
he German forces, numbering over 30,000, suffered 10,000 dead and 4,000 wounded.

Many more died in other villages during the Battle of the Yser, from Nieuport to Ypres.

Eventually the Germans overran Dixmude in early November.
By November 15, all of the allied forces retreated to the west bank of the Yser.

Beaudrihaye remained the official commander of the 11th Line Regiment until the 30th November with the arrival of Lt. Col Lorent.

Heavy bombardment by the Germans carried on until the 29th when they finally realised that they needed to retreat before the lands around them flooded.

By the 30th, the 11th & 12th Line Regiments were pulled out of Dixmude, retreating back north to defend Pervyse.

By Oct 26, the French Tirailleurs Senegalais arrived, allowing for the relief of the 11th and 12th Line Regiment.

By that time, HQ knew that allies would have to retreat back to Yser river.

On the 25th the sluice gates at Nieuwpoort were opened, and they spilled into the lowlands in between Nieuwpoort and slowly down to Dixmude, creating an impassable flooded zone.

German artillery and raids created confusion in Allied lines, with commanders unsure of troop positions.

Admiral Ronarc’h and Major Beaudrihaye found themselves at loggerheads in the heat of the moment, before deciding to hold their own respective sectors for as long as possible.

Shortly after town hall bombing, Lt. Col. Leestmans was also severely wounded by shrapnel on the main square. As chaos reigned, German forces briefly invaded Dixmude but were repelled by Belgian troops.

Belgian command of the 11th shifted to Major Beaudrihaye.

Before leaving, Colonel Jacques designated Lieutenant Colonel Sults of the 2nd Chasseurs a Pied regiment as his successor to lead the Brigade, as well as the 12th Line regiment.

Lt. Col. Leestmans was still in command of the 11th Line Regiment.

Colonel Jacques' command center in Dixmude was based in the town hall.

On Oct 21st, at around 14h00, two 210 mm shells hit the town hall, killing 20 men in the HQ staff room and wounding dozens more. Col. Jacques was injured but continued commanding until evacuated.

On the 16th the bombing campaign began.

By the 19th, unfortified Dixmude faced relentless artillery strikes. The German 4th Army had 75mm guns, as well as heavy artillery in the form of 150mm & 210mm guns.

The heavy bombing rained down at a rate of 15 artillery rounds per minute over 10 days.

On the 14h October 1914, the 11th and 12th was positioned on the Yser river and in the town centre, with alternating reserves and battalions positions roughly 1 km away in Caeskerke.

Trenches were hastily dug at the city limits.

On the 15th, the Fusiliers Marins arrived and set up defenses.

Dixmude was held by Belgium’s B Brigade commanded by Col Jacques and France’s Brigade de Fusiliers Marins commanded by Admiral Ronarc’h.

B brigade was composed of the 11th and 12th Line Regiments.

Major Beaudrihaye was commanding officer of the 1st Battalion with the 11th.

On October 21, 1914, my great-grandfather found himself as the commanding officer of his Belgian Army regiment, defending Dixmude during the Battle of the Yser in World War I.

When I said last of the "originals", I was referring to others of his rank (Major in 1914) & his commanding officers.
Based on my findings so far, this hierarchy structure of the 11th Mixed Brigade shows how many officers & commanding officers were out of action by November 1914.
Work in progress..

On this #ArmisticeDay , I’ll remember my great grandfather, Col. Beaudrihaye, one of the few original commanding officers of the 11th Line Regiment who survived 34 months on the lines of the Belgian Western Front in #WWI.

This photo of him was taken in Reims in 1917.