Instead, the soldiers of the 9th witnessed fleeing civilians and advancing vanguards of the French 7th army passing through its lines.

As a precaution, however, General Vander Hofstadt ordered the 17th and elements of the 16th regiments to take up a position along the Nete River, guarding the division's flank.

The 9th Division arrived by the 15th on its new sector, defending the city of Mechelen along well-prepared lines and buttressed by the fort of Walem.

After heavy combat on the 25th and 26th, some involving door-to-door fighting in Izegem, the regiments were slowly giving away their positions at the canal.

Despite some locally successful counterattacks south of Ardooie, by the end of 27th, the regiments were slowly disintegrating with the companies that were not captured falling back towards the sea.