WORLD WAR ONE NORTHAMPTON INDEPENDENT SOLDIER NEWSPAPER ARTICLES   

     PTE. B. BLAKE, Oct 1914

                                Among the English marines who assisted in the defence of Antwerp was Pte. Ben Blake.  He was one

                            of a company of 150 marines who left Ostend for Antwerp, of whom 20 came back.  Describing his

                            experiences he states that the Marines took up positions in trenches between the forts of the outer ring

                            of defences at ten o’clock at night.  A captive German balloon soon got the range for the big guns, and

                            shells were quickly flying around, one which fell in the front of the trenches burying scores of men alive. 

                            An attempt to dig them out had to be abandoned on account of the rain of shells on this spot.

                                Commenting on the German artillery Pte. Blakes says, “It was grand”, adding, “We soon found we

                            couldn’t hold on where we were.  We had no guns bigger than maxims, and they were no more use than rifles. 

                            We retired on the outer ring of forts, and then we had to clear quick.  It was like hell, and no force without

                            guns as big as theirs could stand it.  The Belgians have very good artillery, and use it well, but it is not good

                            enough.”

                                Commenting on his experiences Pte. Blakes states, “I am satisfied we were well licked where we were,

                            and I’ve had all I want.”