Armand De Ceuninck Armand Leopold Theodore , Baron de Ceuninck ( 27 May 1858 in Malines – 12 April 1935 in Brussels ) was the Minister of War of Belgium , serving in the last year of World War I . Biography . He entered the army in 1871 , became an artillery sergeant in 1874 , then entered the artillery and engineering section of the Belgian Military College . A sub - lieutenant of artillery in 1880 , he was named adjoint staff - major | adjoint d ' état - major and , in 1893 , passed out as captain in the cadre spécial d ' état - major . At the outbreak of World War I he was staff colonel and head of the staff section of the army . In this position he assumed the heavy yet delicate task imposed by mobilisation and the putting of the army on a war footing . Promoted to major - general on 6 September 1914 , he was placed at the head of the 18th Mixed Brigade ( Grenadiers ) , of which he took command on 9 September at the moment when the unit was conducting operations around Antwerp . He took an active part in operations , and confirmed himself as an energetic and resolute leader , notably at Wackerzeel . His brigade then occupied for a fortnight the sector from Lierre Fort to Konongshoyckt Fort , then was transferred to the Liezele Fort - Puers Redoubt sector when the Germans commenced their attack on Antwerp . When the epic retreat to the Yser River was ordered , Major - General de Ceuninck and his troops were encharged with covering the flanks of the divisions retreating westwards . Following the general movement of the army , he moved his brigade to Dixmude , then , aafter a short rest , he was directed to the region of Lizerne , to organise defensivbe positions on the Ypres ( Yser ) Canal . During the First Battle of Ypres , the two regiments of grenadiers and the artillery of de Ceuninck ' s brigade were engaged in the most murderous actions . After the Allied victory in this battle , de Ceuninck was encharged with occupying the Oostkerke sector , where he had under his command a half - battalion of French naval fusiliers . On 4 December 1914 he retook the sector at Dixmude . On 5 January 1915 , he was named commander of the 6th Division of the Army by King Albert . At the beginning of March , de Ceuninck retook the Drie Grachten – Maison du Passeur sector , which spread as far as Steenstraet , where the Belgians were in contact with French troops . On 22 April came the Second Battle of Ypres , notable for the first German gas attacks . After the battle , French President Poincare and General Joffre congratulated the Belgian troops and awarded de Ceuninck the cross of commander of the Legion d ' Honneur . Promoted Lieutenant - General on 20 August 1915 , de Ceuninck was subsequently made Minister of War on 4 August 1917 , replacing Charles de Broqueville . Yet de Ceuninck did not quit the front , but moved the ministry to him at Furnes . He dedicated all his efforts to equip the army with all materials and equipment necessary for it to always fight in the best conditions . His concerns were also constantly occupied with the material welfare and morale of the officers and soldiers with whom he had fought for three years . Relieved of his ministerial functions on 22 November 1918 , at the same time as all the members of the government returned to the country , de Ceuninck returned to the leadership of the 4th Division , which was part of the Allied occupation forces in Germany . King Albert awarded him the Grand Ribbon of the Order of Leopold in 1919 . In 1920 , Lieutenant - General Baron de Ceuninck was part of the Belgian Commission on disarmament at the League of Nations . Positions held . de Ceuninck held the following positions : Section Chief of General Staff of the Army , 1912 - 1914 . Commander of the 18th Mixed Brigade , 1914 - 1915 . Commander of the 6th Division of the Army , 1915 - 1917 . Minister of War , 1917 - 1918 . Commander of the 4th Division of the Army , 1918 - 1920 . Lieutenant - General of Artillery .