Beauloye Farm

Beauloye château farm: an important staging point

Situated half-way between Cognelée and Marchovelette forts, Beauloye château farm formed an important staging point during the battles of 22nd and 23rd August 1914, with the Belgian and German enemy forces to the north-east of the position of Namur. Moreover, the Germans occupied this strategic point during the four years of war. During the Belgian army's restructuring between the two wars, this point was reinforced, in particular by the creation of a number of bunkers in the area.

From 20th August, Belgian solders from the 8th and 10th line regiments permanently occupied the trenches dug at the beginning of August in the gaps between Cognelée and Marchovelette forts. They were on a high state of alert, several groups of Uhlans having stormed the area of the ring of forts. From the morning, Marchovelette fort was bombed and by the end of the afternoon the first shells crashed onto the village; the people panicked and fled.

On 22nd August Beauloye Farm was taken by storm by the enemy and seized. Immediately a Belgian counter-attack was initiated by Major Holon in command of two companies, but it failed... Major Petit tried again with the help of the French 148th infantry regiment and finally the château farm was recaptured. Nevertheless, German supremacy was overwhelming and the enemy re-took all the defensive sites once and for all. On the evening of 23rd August General Michel ordered the retreat of the Belgian contingent.