Belgian exiles, the British and the Great War: the Birtley Belgians of Elisabethville

Abstract

Located in Birtley, County Durham, the gated community of Elisabethville housed several thousand Belgians from 1916 until the aftermath of the Great War. Most residents were conscripted Belgian soldiers who constituted the workforce at the nearby National Projectile Factory. This article focuses on the complex relationship between the ‘Birtley Belgians’ and their host population. It thus covers issues such as wartime charity, Anglo-Belgian leisure-time interactions as well as debates about the exiles’ moral and socio-economic impact. Moreover, the case of Elisabethville sheds light on several wider issues, from war-related displacement to the intersections between home front and battle front.

Keywords:

• Exiles
• First World War
• home front
• munitions
• intercommunity relations

Acknowledgements

The author wishes to thank Jacqueline Jenkinson, Avram Taylor and the anonymous reviewers for their helpful comments on this article.

Notes

1. Proctor, Civilians in a World at War, 115. See also Gatrell, Making of the Modern Refugee, 19–51; Marrus, The Unwanted; and Kushner and Knox, Refugees in an Age of Genocide.

2. Gatrell and Nivet, ‘Refugees and Exiles’, 190; and Amara, Des Belges à l’épreuve de l’Exil.

3. Kushner, ‘Belgian Refugees in Britain’, 2.

4. Panayi, Immigration History of Britain, 278.

5. University of Portsmouth, ‘Birtley through Time/Population Statistics/Total Population’, A Vision of Britain through Time, http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10,132,307/cube/TOT_POP (accessed 11 May 2015).

6. Entry passes for English people were issued by the Chief Constable of the County of Durham. See e.g. ‘Entry Pass, Elisabethville, Birtley (1917)’, GL002961, Gateshead Library, online via http://www.gatesheadlocalstudies.com (accessed 20 March 2016). On the agreement for the general policing arrangements in Elisabethville, see Bygate, Of Arms, 49.

7. Gatrell and Nivet, ‘Refugees and Exiles’, 197. See also Holmes, John Bull’s Island, 91.

8. Schlesinger and McMurtrie, The Birtley Belgians, 30; and Amara, Des Belges à l’épreuve de l’Exil, 220.

9. Proctor, Civilians in a World at War, 2–3.

10. Amara, Des Belges à l’épreuve de l’Exile, 201; and Cahalan, Belgian Refugee Relief, 247–52.

11. Fabry, Nos ‘Hors-Combat’; Bygate, Of Arms; and Schlesinger and McMurtrie, The Birtley Belgians. See also the informative website http://www.birtley-elisabethville.be (accessed 22 May 2015).

12. Gatrell and Nivet, ‘Refugees and Exiles’, 195. On changing attitudes, see also Holmes, John Bull’s Island, 110; and Marwick, The Deluge, 84.

13. Kushner, ‘Belgian Refugees in Britain’, 11.

14. Amara, Des Belges à l’épreuve de l’Exil, 15. For examples, see Cahalan, Belgian Refugee Relief; and Grant, Philanthropy and Voluntary Action.

15. On British representations of German actions in Belgium, see Gregory, The Last Great War, 40–55 and 63–9. On the actions themselves, see Horne and Kramer, German Atrocities; Zuckerman, The Rape of Belgium; and Lipkins, Rehearsals.

16. Purseigle, ‘A Wave On Our Shores’, 433.

17. Kushner, ‘Local Heroes’, 7. See also Cahalan, Belgian Refugee Relief, 5–6.

18. ‘For the Belgian Refugees’ (Chester-le-Street Chronicle, 23 October 1914); ‘Helping the Belgians’ (Chester-le-Street Chronicle, 6 November 1914); ‘Belgian Friends at Birtley’ (The Illustrated Chronicle, 21 November 1914).

19. ‘Les Nôtres. Réunions, avis, etc.’ (L’Indépendance Belge, 2 March 1916).

20. Jones, ‘Prisoners of War’, 273. For the wider context, see Jones, ‘International or Transnational’.

21. ‘Les Echos’ (L’Indépendance Belge, 15 June 1916). On the fundraising of Elisabethville’s associations, see Fabry, Nos ‘Hors-Combat’, 54–5.

22. Ibid. See also ‘Les Nôtres. Réunions, avis, etc.’ (L’Indépendance Belge, 4 September 1916).

23. Gatrell, ‘Refugees and Forced Migrants’, 94.

24. On the newspaper’s importance in pre-war Belgium, see Van den Dungen, Milieux de presse.

25. ‘Belgian Comradeship to the British’ (Chester-le-Street Chronicle, 15 December 1916).

26. Fabry, Nos ‘Hors-Combat’, 57; ‘Belgian War Relics’ (Chester-le-Street Chronicle, 24 August 1917).

27. ‘Generous Belgians’ (Chester-le-Street Chronicle, 4 January 1918).

28. ‘Belgian Performance and Presentation’ (Chester-le-Street Chronicle, 18 March 1918).

29. ‘Théâtres et concerts. A Birtley’ (L’Indépendance Belge, 16 November 1917); ‘Concerts et Festivités’ (Birtley Echo, 1 December 1917).

30. Amara, Des Belges à l’épreuve de l’Exil, 72.

31. ‘Ingratitude! Soldiers’ Complaints of Unkindness by Belgian Peasants’ (Illustrated Chronicle, 9 March 1916).

32. Proctor, Civilians in a World at War, 129.

33. Anon. [Three of the Birtley Boys, somewhere in Belgium], ‘What Birtley Boys Think of Belgium’ (Chester-le-Street Chronicle, 17 December 1915).

34. See, for example, with a focus on Liverpool: Finn, ‘Local Heroes’.

35. ‘Birtley and Belgians. Soldier Defends Our Allies After 20 Months’ Experience’ (Chester-le-Street Chronicle, 16 June 1916). His letter responded to ‘A Young Man’s Opinion’ (Chester-le-Street Chronicle, 26 May 1916).

36. Ibid.

37. ‘Birtley and the Belgians’ (Chester-le-Street Chronicle, 11 August 1916).

38. Ibid.

39. ‘The Danger Zone’ and ‘The Danger Zone: Further Opinions’ (Chester-le-Street Chronicle, 1 September 1916). A belated contribution to the debate came from Mesopotamia: ‘The Danger Zone’ (Chester-le-Street Chronicle, 3 November 1916).

40. ‘The Danger Zone: Tragic Commentary’ (Chester-le-Street Chronicle, 22 September 1916); ‘PTE. Stephenson, R.A.M.C.’ (Chester-le-Street Chronicle, 14 October 1916); ‘As It Should Be’ (Chester-le-Street Chronicle, 20 October 1916).

41. On this riot, see Bygate, Of Arms, 77–91.

42. A. de Lavaux, ‘Pour nos réformés’ (L’Indépendance Belge, 19 February 1917).

43. Liddle, ‘Britons on the Home Front’, 77.

44. ‘Tidings of Peace. How They Were Received Locally. Great Rejoicings’ (Chester-le-Street Chronicle, 15 November 1918).

45. Ibid.

46. ‘Great Peace Service: United Gathering’ (Chester-le-Street Chronicle, 22 November 1918); ‘Anglo-Belgian Effort’ (Chester-le-Street Chronicle, 6 December 1918); ‘Belgians Welcome Liberators (Chester-le-Street Chronicle, 20 December 1918).

47. ^‘Concerts et théâtres. Birtley-Elisabethville’ (L’Indépendance Belge, 2 November 1917); ‘Un grand concert à Birtley’ (L’Indépendance Belge, 6 April 1918).

48. Raoul le Brun, ‘A Birtley: Un heureux changement’ (L’Indépendance Belge, 24 March 1917).

49. ‘Belgian Independence: Enthusiastic Ceremony’ (Chester-le-Street Chronicle, 27 July 1917). See also Fabry, Nos ‘Hors-Combat’, 90.

50. ‘Comité des fêtes Elisabethville Birtley’ (L’Indépendance Belge, 20 July 1917).

51. ‘Football’ and ‘Le Boxe’ (Birtley Echo, 24 November 1917); ‘Football’ and ‘Le Boxe’ (Birtley Echo, 15 December 1917).

52. ‘Belgian Gala. For War Prisoners’ Benefit’ (Chester-le-Street Chronicle, 9 August 1918). See also Fabry, Nos ‘Hors-Combat’, 78–9.

53. ‘A Elisabethville (Birtley)’ (L’Indépendance Belge, 8 August 1918).

54. Kushner, ‘Local Heroes’, 22; and Gatrell, ‘Refugees and Forced Migrants’, 91.

55. Cahalan, Belgian Refugee Relief, 402.

56. ‘Police Court’ (Chester-le-Street Chronicle, 13 July 1917); ‘Police Court’ (Chester-le-Street Chronicle, 27 July 1917).

57. ‘Police Court’ (Chester-le-Street Chronicle, 6 April 1917); ‘Police Court’ (Chester-le-Street Chronicle, 5 October 1917).

58. ‘Police Court: Englishman and Belgian at Blows’ (Chester-le-Street Chronicle, 18 May 1917) .

59. ‘Police Court: Belgian Assault Case’ (Chester-le-Street Chronicle, 23 March 1917); ‘Police Court: Assault on Belgian’ (Chester-le-Street Chronicle, 29 June 1917).

60. Bertram Bolam, ‘Act as Comrades’ (Chester-le-Street Chronicle, 2 June 1916).

61. Amara, Des Belges à l’épreuve de l’Exil, 346; Kushner, ‘Local Heroes’, 16–7. On tensions in this period, see also Purseigle, ‘A Wave On Our Shores’, 441.

62. Purdue, Newcastle, 256.

63. Jean Meganck, ‘Croquis et silhouettes: Le “plaisir” d’aller à Newcastle’ (Birtley Echo, 24 November 1917). The Birtley Echo had been founded in 1917 as a publication specifically for the Birtley Belgians: ‘Les Echos’ (L’Indépendance Belge, 30 June 1917).

64. Meganck, ‘Croquis et silhouettes’.

65. Schlesinger and McMurtrie, The Birtley Belgians, 16.

66. Anon. [A Britisher], ‘A Grumble’ (Chester-le-Street Chronicle, 9 June 1916).

67. Ibid.

68. Grayzel, ‘Men and Women at Home’, 101. On representations of refugees, see Gatrell, Making of the Modern Refugee, 35–41.

69. ‘Belgian and Soldier’s Wife’ (Chester-le-Street Chronicle, 21 September 1917); ‘Police Court’ (Chester-le-Street Chronicle, 22 February 1918); ‘Birtley’s Morality: Hard Labour for Belgians. Soldiers’ Wives in Trouble (Chester-le-Street Chronicle, 24 August 1917); ‘Encouraging Belgians: Magistrate’s Strictures. Hard Labour for Soldier’s Wife’ (Chester-le-Street Chronicle, 24 August 1917).

70. ‘Local Morality: Drastic Action Required’ (Chester-le-Street Chronicle, 31 August 1917).

71. Cahalan, Belgian Refugee Relief, 401; and Amara, Des Belges à l’épreuve de l’Exil, 360.

72. ‘A Belgian and an English Woman’ (Chester-le-Street Chronicle, 24 August 1917).

73. Amara, Des Belges à l’épreuve de l’Exil, 316.

74. 1916–1919: Register of Baptisms, Marriages and Deaths kept from 1916 to 1919 at the church established at Birtley for Belgian Catholics [C/B13/23], Tyne and Wear Archives, Newcastle upon Tyne.

75. Schlesinger and McMurtrie, The Birtley Belgians, 32.

76. Gatrell and Nivet, ‘Refugees and Exiles’, 199.

77. For these quotes, respectively: Purdue, Newcastle, 245; and Lendrum, ‘An Integrated Elite’, 46.

78. Vall, ‘The Emergence of the Post-industrial Economy’, 49. See also Purdue, Newcastle, 266–7.

79. ‘Notes and Comments’ (Chester-le-Street Chronicle, 3 September 1915); ‘Notes and Comments’ and ‘Around Birtley’ (Chester-le-Street Chronicle, 17 September 1915); ‘Notes and Comments’ (Chester-le-Street Chronicle, 1 October 1915).

80. ‘Notes and Comments’ (Chester-le-Street Chronicle, 22 October 1915); ‘Belgians at Birtley’ (Chester-le-Street Chronicle, 29 October 1915).

81. Anon. [Birtleyite], ‘Birtley Belgian Colony’ (Chester-le-Street Chronicle, 5 November 1915).

82. Mitchell Street, ‘Birtley Belgian Colony’ (Chester-le-Street Chronicle, 14 November 1914). See also idem, ‘The Proposed Belgian Colony at Birtley’ (Chester-le-Street Chronicle, 29 October 1915).

83. Anon. [Within the Parish], ‘Birtley Belgian Colony’ (Chester-le-Street Chronicle, 12 November 1915); letter by J. Clark (Chester-le-Street Chronicle, 26 November 1915).

84. ‘Notes and Comments’ and ‘Birtley Belgians: Plea to Fairplay. Immigrant Interviews’ (Chester-le-Street Chronicle, 3 December 1915).

85. Prost, ‘Workers’, 331.

86. Editorial statement (Chester-le-Street Chronicle, 28 April 1916).

87. Anon. [A Birtley Lad], ‘Birtley or Belgium’ (Chester-le-Street Chronicle, April, 28, 1916).

88. On these tensions, see Cahalan, Belgian Refugee Relief, 257.

89. ‘Interview de M. W.T. Kelly’ (L’Indépendance Belge, 17 March 1917).

90. Amara, Des Belges à l’épreuve de l’Exil, 213.

91. ‘Birtley Belgians: Chairman’s Strong Allegations’ (Chester-le-Street Chronicle, 4 February 1916). On Elisabethville’s hospital, see Bygate, Of Arms, 140–1; and Fabry, Nos ‘Hors-Combat’, 26–7.

92. ‘Birtley Council Growls and Grumbles’ (Chester-le-Street Chronicle, 12 January 1917).

93. ‘Rural Food Control’ (Chester-le-Street Chronicle, 22 February 1918). On meat rationing in this period, see Marwick, The Deluge, 236.

94. ‘Rations Not Exceeded: Rural Food Committee’s Statements Denied’ and ‘The Belgian Colony: Interesting Visit’ (Chester-le-Street Chronicle, 18 March 1918).

95. ‘Fuel Rationing: Belgian Village Deadlock’ (Chester-le-Street Chronicle, 15 November 1918).

96. Gatrell, ‘Refugees and Forced Migrants’, 105. See also Kushner, Remembering Refugees.

97. De Schaepdrijver, La Belgique et la Première Guerre mondiale, 106.

98. Belgian exile during the Second World War is discussed in seven chapters of Conway and Gotovitch (eds), Europe in Exile.

99. Fabry, Nos ‘Hors-Combat’, 48–9; also cited in Schlesinger and McMurtrie, The Birtley Belgians, 31–2.

100. Letch, Gleanings from the History of Birtley, 60.

101. ‘Project Revives First World War Tale of Birtley Belgians’ (Evening Chronicle, 18 February 2014).

102. ‘Birtley “Boot Hill” Shame – Who Is to Blame?’ (Gateshead Post, 26 January 1978).

103. Schlesinger and Murtrie, The Birtley Belgians, 3.

104. Bygate, Of Arms. See also Mike Amos, ‘The Birtley Belgians’ (Northern Echo, 10 April 2006).

105. Chris Lloyd, ‘A Corner of an English Field Forever Belgium’ (Northern Echo, 8 November 2013); ‘Project Revives First World War Tale of Birtley Belgians’ (Evening Chronicle, 18 February 2014); Barbara Hodgson, ‘Remembering a Brave Family’ (The Journal, 12 August 2014); Birtley, Tyne and Wear: A Village for 6000 Belgians,” World War One at Home, http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p01qcrzq (accessed 15 May 2015).

106. ‘Elisabethville – The Belgian Community in Birtley’, via http://collections.beamish.org.uk/pages/elisabethville (accessed 24 May 2015). See also ‘Looking Back at the Life of the Birtley Belgians’ (The Journal, 27 May 2009).

107. Educational Resource for Teachers (Beamish Museum, 2009), via http://www.beamish.org.uk/file/uploaded/BeamishElisabethvilleResource.pdf.(accessed 3 May 2015).

108. Schlesinger and McMurtrie, The Birtley Belgians, 33.

109. Dodds, ‘The Story of Elizabethville’, 52. I am grateful to Jennifer Howkins for sharing this article with me.

110. Gatrell, ‘Refugees and Forced Migrants’, 105.

111. Proctor, Civilians in a World at War, 9.

112. Amara, Des Belges à l’épreuve de l’Exil, 381.