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Post Info TOPIC: Belgian Armoured Cars in Russia
Robert Robinson

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Belgian Armoured Cars in Russia
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Looking for something else a Google search turned up a first hand account of his units escape to Vladivostock via the Trans Siberian railway (courtesy of the Czech Legion) by a member of a Belgian armoured car squadron. It appears they had to destroy their cars first but doesn't say what they were nor what a Belgian armoured car unit was doing in Russia (I'd have thought the Belgians had enough problems with the Germans at home). Anybody know more?

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Roger Todd

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This site explains all:


http://www.greatwardifferent.com/Great_War/Russia/Russia_00.htm


And it has dozens of photos on several pages.


The main page says:


After the fall of Antwerp in October 1914 and the retreat to the Yser, the front line stabilised and since a breakthough was not forthcoming, there was little use for a highly mobile armoured car force. The Russian military attaché to the Belgian armed forces suggested that the armoured car force could be of use on the Eastern Front. Following protocol, Czar Nicholas made an official request to King Albert of the Belgians. It was decided to send a force of several hundred Belgians to Russia. Since Belgium and Russia were co-belligerents and not official allies, for legal reasons the Belgian soldiers were to be considered as volunteers in the Russian army.


The Belgian force sailed from Brest on September 22nd 1915 and reached Archangel on October 13, 1915. By way of Petrograd, they were sent to Galicia where they mainly saw action against Austrian forces. The Belgian armoured cars came to be known as effective machine gun destroyers. They continued fighting after the Russian Revolution until the treaty of Brest-Litovsk was signed. The Belgian armoured car force was recalled but had a difficult time returning home. The trip back to Archangel being unfeasible, the Belgians, much like the Czech Legion, followed the Trans-Siberian railway, crossed northern China and ultimately arrived in Vladivostok. On April 18th, 1918 they boarded an American vessel, the SS Sheridan and sailed to San Francisco. From there they travelled on a much acclaimed and widely publicized trip through the US and sailed from New York on June 15th 1918, finally reaching Paris two weeks later. Thet were disbanded shortly afterwards. The last member of the Belgian Expeditionary Corps in Russia died in 1992.


When it first set sail, the Belgian armoured car force numbered 333 Belgians, all volunteers. In Russia 33 Russians joined its ranks. Counting reinforcements and replacements, 444 Belgians passed through the ranks. There were 58 vehicules of which 12 were armoured cars plus 23 motor-bicycles and 120 bicycles. 16 Belgians were killed in action in Russia. Only one armoured car was lost. It was captured by German forces and is said to have been used in Berlin during the insurrections in 1919.


Blimey!



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Mario Wens

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The now defunct Belgian (French language) magazine Véhicules Militaires ran a series on the Belgian Armoured Car Squadron in Russia many years ago. I have at least one of the issues and can provide scans if need be.


Mario



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Tim Rigsby

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Mario


   That would be great and very much appreciated.


All the Best


Tim R.



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Hello Tim

My Grandfather was one of the original 333 soldiers sent to Russia and made that marvelous trip home. I think that my brother has some magazines from the veterans group thatwasset up after the war in Belgium, I know he was still recieving magazines uptill his death in 1973.

I'll try to get copies if you want.

best rgds

stuart.B



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