Home / War and Conflict / Belgian Heroes Honored in UK Factory Plaque
Belgian Heroes Honored in UK Factory Plaque
15 Sep
Summary
- Plaque unveiled for Belgian soldiers and civilians at a British factory.
- Belgians staffed a factory producing artillery shells during World War One.
- The Belgian community in Birtley numbered 6,000 strong during the war.
A commemorative plaque now stands to honor Belgian soldiers and civilians involved in a British ammunition factory during World War One. In 1916, Britain faced a critical shortage of artillery shells, prompting the establishment of a factory in Birtley, Gateshead. Wounded Belgian soldiers, recuperating in Britain, were employed to staff this vital facility.
They worked alongside refugees who had fled their war-torn homeland. The Belgian community in Birtley flourished, reaching a population of 6,000, with the majority contributing to the war effort. This community even established its own village, named Elisabethville, in honor of the Belgian queen.
Writer Dirk Musschoot emphasized that this was a story of "ordinary people playing their part in a much bigger story," underscoring the significance of their contributions even if they were not on the front lines.
