HANDBOOK OF THE BELGIAN ARMY 1914

This Intelligence Directorate publication consists of two parts: the Handbook of the Belgian Army of 1906 and a supplementary ‘Field Notes on the Belgian Army, 1914,’ which updates the order of battle and organisational details. The contents actually show this second part as including field notes on the French and German Armies, but only the Belgian Army is featured. All the relevant information is provided on the 1906 Army, conditions of service, infantry, cavalry, artillery etc with unit locations, uniforms, badges of rank, arms, equipment and supply. There is also a chapter on the Gendarmerie and Civic Guard. The Belgian Army was made up of two forces: the Field Army and Fortress Troops. In 1914 the Field Army consisted, like the BEF, of six infantry and one cavalry division and its strength, too, was similar at 150,000. Fortress Troops numbered 130,000.