I – From the Declaration of War to the Stabilization of the Belgian Army on the Yser river:

Aware of the potential of the automobile, on August 1, 1914, King Albert signed the creation of a volunteer automobile corps whose purpose was to provide service to automobile columns, drive automobiles assigned to headquarters, transmit orders and intelligence, provide certain reconnaissance services, provide postal services, facilitate the rapid transfer of combat troops, and carry out major construction projects. To be a full member, one had to own a car or motorcycle, possess the required practical and technical knowledge, have passed a military test that included map reading and a topography test, be at least 18 years old, be fit for military service, and possess a driving certificate. Members were then issued a uniform. As of August 1, 1914, the Belgian automobile fleet totaled 12,500 cars, trucks, and coaches. At first, the vehicles were supposed to be voluntarily made available to the army by their owners, but the Army quickly moved to requisition. From the beginning, the CAV showed its limits: driven by sometimes inexperienced drivers, the vehicles were mistreated, overloaded and therefore quickly out of use. Due to the lack of repair workshops, this situation worsened. This is why on 10/08/1914, it was decided to create the Reserve Automobile Park, the aim of which was to collect, store, manage and repair automotive equipment in the Antwerp area under the authority of Colonel Count de Hemricourt de Grunne, President of the Automobile Club of Belgium. When the Belgian forces withdrew from Antwerp, what remained of the volunteer automobile corps moved to the Parc du Charroi in Calais with the mission of selecting and repairing the remaining chassis, and selecting and purchasing new vehicles required for the army’s needs (this task was later eliminated due to the scarcity of available vehicles). The CAV took the name ARCA (automobile campaign repair workshop) and was distributed either in Calais or in the divisional campaign repair workshops. Unfortunately, the French need for vehicles was such that there were only a few vehicles available and most of them were in poor condition. Therefore, the Belgian Minister of War instructed Deputy Major Collon, military attaché at the Belgian legation in Bordeaux (where the French government was located), to proceed with vehicle purchases, including armored cars, since the Belgian plan was to create 6 to 8 groups (one per Cavalry Division and per Army Division). Major Collon therefore placed an initial order on September 13, 1914, for 50 automobiles to be selected from the Montluçon fleet. On October 20, 1914, a second, larger order was placed for 4 to 500 trucks (1, 2, 3, 4 tons), 100 ambulances chassis, 200 to 300 limousines and torpedos, and 100 armored automobiles chassis.

II – Equipment:

On October 7, 1914, Collon attended the Renault auto-cannon trials. While not convinced by the vehicle, but impressed by its use, he immediately requested an option for 50 auto-cannons on the vehicles ordered. He then met with French Captain Tiget, who was handling an order for Peugeot 18CV auto-cannons at the Montluçon plant, and even though the auto-cannon did not suit him, contact with the Sochaux firm was established. By October 31, the number of groups having been reduced to three, his organizational chart was ready: the first group was to be equipped with Peugeot 40CV auto-cannons and Peugeot 20CV auto-machine guns. The second group with de Dietrich 20CVs, and the third with Panhard et Levassor 20CVs. On November 17, orders were placed for 30 de Dietrich chassis for auto-cannons, 35 Panhard et Levassor chassis for auto-cannons and 43 Peugeot chassis for auto-machine guns, trucks and 4 auto-projectors. It was also at this time that the contract with the Kellner brothers (Parisian coachbuilder) was placed to body 64 trucks and 10 limousines. At the end of November, Major Collon also received 50 Minerva chassis including 5 of 38 CV for armored cars, 18 CV and 25 CV for ambulances and 14 CV for small taxi-type bodies, that is to say, probably all that remained of the Minerva and FN chassis and engine stock. On December 29, 1914, following a conspiracy orchestrated by his opponents and despite his desire to command an infantry regiment, Major Collon was tasked with forming and organizing the future auto-cannon-machine gun groups (ACM).

III – The Orders:

As we have seen, the initial project called for the formation of six to eight auto-cannon-machine gun groups. Unfortunately, following the bogged down of the armies in the trenches and the reduced role of these vehicles, as well as internal conspiracy orchestrated by Major Collon’s many opponents, the project was reduced to three groups in October 1914, and ultimately only one group was formed. On December 4, 1914, Major Collon prepared a summary table of all the contracts he had awarded, partly to quantify expenses, as his budget was under attack at the time.

On January 9, 1915, Major Collon left a handwritten table of the chassis selected for conversion into armored vehicles, following the reduction in the number of groups. But even this plan was only partially implemented.

After the restrictions imposed by political will, only the followings models were actually built:

Mors prototype in double sheet metal by Kellner

Mors 28/35 HP prototype in mild steel by the Imphy steelworks, later converted to hardened steel

Mors 28/35 HP autocannon or auto-cannon-machine gun

Mors 28/35 HP group auto-chef

Mors 20/30 HP Battery auto-chef

Peugeot 40 HP Auto-machine gun, double then single armor

Peugeot 18 HP Auto-machine gun (incomplete double armor)

Peugeot 18 HP Section auto-chef

IV – The Organizers:

The feedback from the more or less improvised use and success of the first armored cars during the months of August to October 1914 persuaded the high command to create a truly first armored car unit, operating together as part of a pre-planned operation. Starting in November 1914, the men and vehicles that had distinguished themselves were assigned to a detachment to defend Dunkirk and hunt Zeppelins. Baron Pierre de Caters was then ordered, assisted by the Crawhez brothers, to complete the training of this small unit. On December 30, he received orders to go to London to study armored car management with the Belgian military attaché. Upon his return to France, he was tasked with recruiting volunteers for the future unit, preferably athletic and, if possible, with technical skills. The first detachment consisted of one hundred men. Baron Caters was then ordered to travel to Paris and contact Major Collon. This was accomplished on December 1, 1914. From the outset, Major Collon planned to use powerful, fast, but not overly heavy automobiles. He considered speed of execution as important as armor protection. Innovative, he also wanted armor made of hardened sheet metal resistant to German « S » bullets, which could protect the entire vehicle except the roof. Firing was to be permitted in a 360-degree radius. Crew members were to be interchangeable, able to drive, fire cannons, and fire machine guns. Unfortunately, his vision of a completely independent corps acting on its own, with an esprit de corps instilled by himself (Collon), conflicted with that of Baron de Caters, who envisioned small units integrated into a combat system. This conflict ended with the departure of Baron de Caters. Now having his hands free, he set to work with enthusiasm. Gathering the best information, he decided on the composition of this corps with auto-cannons, auto-machine guns, a cyclist company, a motorcycle company, command cars, box cars, food and baggage trucks, tire trucks, workshop trucks, ambulances and all the personnel to operate this unit. He was assisted in this task by Baron de Crawhez, Lieutenants Roze and Gonzée as well as by Second Lieutenant Capploen who arrived on December 12, 1914, Captain Delporte who arrived on January 8, 1915. Three French officers also came to his aid on the technical level, Captain d’Aie Renault, Lieutenant Desbruyère and especially Captain Tiget.