WORK OF THE ROYAL ENGINEERS IN THE EUROPEAN WAR 1914-1918: Inundations

Flooding, or in military terminology ‘inundation’,formed part of the Belgian defence plan, and in the first three months of the war inundations were formed at Antwerp in accordance with that plan and had some success in interfering with the German advance. The opening of the sea gates at Nieuport, which allowed the tides to flood the country between Nieuport and Dixmude covered the main defensive line in the coastal area right up to the German retreat in 1918. This book provides an account of the use of inundations by the BEF or preparations for their use at the time of the German advance in 1918. It also describes the German use of inundations. For the benefit of the Royal Engineers it gives advice on the information required for forecasting inundations and it lists a number of deductions on their use drawn from the experience of 1914-18. The map is of the Western Front from the North sea down to the Oise (south of St Quentin) illustrating inundation schemes.