Expedition to Ostend

Expedition to Ostend
Part of the French Revolutionary Wars
Date 18–20 May 1798 Location Ostend, Batavian Republic Result Bruges–Ostend Canal objectives destroyed British landing force captured
Belligerents
Great Britain	France Batavian Republic
Commanders and leaders
Home Riggs Popham Eyre Coote (POW)	Augustin Kellar
Strength
27 ships 1,400 soldiers	Local garrisons
Casualties and losses
163 killed and wounded 1,134 captured

The British expedition to Ostend took place on 18 May 1798 during the French Revolutionary Wars. The expedition was intended to destroy the gun-boats harboured in Ostend, since they were destined to take part in the planned invasion of Britain. It also hoped to destroy the infrastructure of the port including the locks, basin-gates, and sluices of the Bruges–Ostend Canal. The expedition was a combined Royal Navy and British Army expedition under the command of Captain Home Popham (R.N.) and Major-General Eyre Coote. The British destroyed their objectives, but bad weather meant that the army contingent was unable to disembark, and after a brief fight were captured by the French.