Alveringem

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Memorial plate of the British foundation of the Belgian Field Hospital (Gapaard 9, Hoogstade)
Here stood a British foundation which became later the Belgian Field Hospital of Hoogstade.

Memorial plate for Kol.Dr. Ch. Willems (idem)
This doctor was the commander of the Belgian Field Hospital who stood here. On the plate is also a portrait of the doctor.

Memorial plate for the Belgian writers (Appelstraat 7, Alveringem)
On this location the Belgian writers and poets who were in military duty gathered to exchange idea’s.



Brugge

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Memorial plate for captain Charles Fryatt (Ezelstraat, Anglican Church, Brugge)
This brave captain was fusillated by the Germans on 27th july 1916 for trying to save his ship from capture on the North Sea, by attempting to ram a German U-boat.
From a juridical view the trial was correct. As a civilian, Fryatt did not have the right to try to ram the German U-boat. This was an act of war. However political and humanly it was a very bad dicision. The political decisionmakers in Berlin seem not to have known what to do with the case, some say that they were against a fussilation and that the dicision therefore was finally left to a war tribunal in Bruges. A number of U-boat captains seems to have taken part in it. We heard about the names of Steinbrinck and Hundius.

Memorial Bow of World War I (Oude Burg/Karthuizerinnenstraat, Brugge)
Build in 1929-1930 and with the Belgian weaponshield in top. One of the more beautifull memorials of Bruges.
A general memorial for all the war victems and final victory in World War I.

Garden of Aurora, memorial for the fusilated (Kazernevest, Brugge)
This is the spot where fusiliations happened in 1914-1918 by the German army of spies, etc.

Memorialplate for the fusilated (idem)
There is one left and right, one in French and one in Flemish. It is especially for the fusiliations of the years 1914-15 and 16.

Memorialplate for the seizure of the ship of captain Fryatt on the 22/23 june 1916 (idem)
The SS Brussels belonging to the Great Eastern Railway Company and commended by Captain Fryatt was captured by the Germans on the 22/23 june 1916 near the Schouwen Bank. This plate belonging to the Brussels has been offered by the British War Office, it says on the plate.

Memorial plate for World War I (Idem)

Rememberance stones for the 13 fusilated (Idem)
One of then remembers Captain Fryatt.

Memorial Plate for the retreat of the German army (Kruisvest, on the Kruisgate, Brugge)
This is the gate through which the German army left Bruges on the 19th oct. 1918

Memorial plate for the 3th lanciersreg. and kol.A.E.M. Hagemans. (Langestraat 122,Brugge)
They were stationed overhere at the outbreak of war. In the war 111 members of this cavalryunit died.
In honour of this unit of Bruges this small memorial was made.

Memorial plate for the 4th and 24 th Linereg. (Peterseliestraat, Brugge)
For the victims of these units.
It were also units who were stationed at Bruges before the war.
One of the locations where they were involved in severe fighting was the Houthulst forest.
There is also a second memorialplate on the same locations for the same regiments and even a third one for the 4th regiment.

Memorial statue of King Albert I (‘t Zand, Brugge)
Wonderfull equestrian statue of King Albert I on a horse in bronse.
In honour of the Belgian king, who stayed with his soldiers.
It was unveiled on the 30th may 1954 after a lot of discussions and four designs.

Memorial Grave rock of the German military war victims (Kerkhofblommenstraat, Assebroek)
Erected on the 21st november 1915 by admiral von Schröder. The city of Bruges made the promise to look eternally after this stone. Until now the promise has been kept !
There is the following text on it :
Wir liegen zusammen in Reih’ und Glied
Wir standen zusammen im Leben
Darum gleiches Kreuss und gleicher Schmuck
Ward uns aufs Grab gegeben
Nun ruhen wir aus von dem heissen Streit
Und harren getrost der Ewigkeit.

There is a story behind this stone : on the date is was erected, Admiral von Schroder gave the care of this stone in hands of the mayor of Brugge, Mr. A. Visart de Bocarme who asked mercy for Anna De Beir, who was to be fusillated. von Schroder accepted. In later years the stone was taken away, but in 1984 it was placed back.

This piece is so unique that you must have seen it !
This kind of stones could originally be found on almost every German military graveyard in World War I. It seems that all of them have been destroyed, with the exception of the one in Bruges. On the Vladslo cemetary can still be found a almost identical stone, however there was not yet any text on it and was left in this way.

St. George’s Day Memorial (St. George’s promenade, Zeebrugge)
In the night of 22-23 april 1918 the British Navy tried to block the harbour entrance of Zeebrugge. On the monument you can see a plan of the harbour with the blockships and the names of these ships and the landingships for the Zeebrugge-mole.
The reason for this attack on the Belgian harbours layed in the German U-boat war. The harbours of Brugge, Zeebrugge and Oostende were and still are connected by channels. This network was ideal for the construction of U-boat nests. In a minimum of time the German Marinekorps Flandern made of these harbours feared, well protected and fully equipped and hypermodern naval bases. In these harbours were stationed two U-boat units, torpedoboats, destroyers,...
The U boats of the UB and UC types were extremely succesfull in their destructive job as by the end of the war they hand sunk at least 2554 ships and a number of war vessels. No wonder that the treath became to dangerous and the British decided to do something about it. The offensive, now known as Third Ypres, was planned and the idea was that the British forces would break through the German lines and fight themselves a way to the Begian coast, taking the harbours of Ostend and Zeebrugge. Troups would be landed on the beach of Westende and the German troops would be taken in a pincer movement. However on the 10th of july the Germans took the Allied bridgehead near Nieuwpoort, and the pincer movement could be forgotten. The offensive itself ended in the mud of Flanders, far away from Oostende and Zeebrugge.
Then the British looked for another sollution. The blocking of the harbours of Zeebrugge and Oostende seemed to be the only possibility. And so the plans were made. Twice the ships were ready to go and twice they had to return because of weather conditions.
And then on the 22nd of april 1918 it was D-Day.
A large fleet of ships under the command of Vice-Admiral Keyes, who was responsable for the Dover area, set course for Zeebrugge. An old C class u-boat, the C3 was used to blow up the metal bridge between the harbourmole and the beach. After this the Vindictive, Iris and Daffodil place troops on this mole and tried to take out the guns at the end near the lighthouse, which dit not succeed, and to destroy as much of the military installations on the mole.
Meanwhile the blockships Intrepid, Iphighenia and Thetis were setting course to be sunk in the harbourentrance. The Thetis did get in trouble and was sunk near the entrance and the other two ships succeeded in their orders. Once the crew of these ships was evacuated, the troops on the Mole also rethreated.
However the harbourentrance was not completely blocked and on the 24th a first small U-boat was able to pass the blockships out and back into the harbour. After some baggerworks, almost all the ships were again able to get in and out of the harbour, however for the bigger ones only at high tide.
The same night there was also an attempt to block the harbour of Oostende. However this turned out to be a complete failure. On the 10th of may a second attempt with the Vindictive as blockship, became also a failure. No further attempts were made, allthough another one had been planned.
Several memorial stones are part of the memorial. The central part is the memorialplate for St. Georges Day, on the left there is a memorialplate for the blocking of Zeebrugge by Sir Roger Keyes, the ships Thetis, Intrepid, Daffodil, subamrine C3, and on the right side for the Vindictive, Iphigenia.

Memoryplate for the fallen members of the British Navy who have no known graves and who died during the attack on Zeebrugge on St. Georges Day 1918 (St. Donaasstraat, Zeebrugge)
This plate can be found on the military burrial ground.
The following text is marked on it :
TO THE GLORY OF GOD
AND IN MEMORY OF
THSES THREE OFFICERS
AND ONE MECHANIC OF THE ROYAL NAVY
WHO FELL AT THE MOLE OF ZEEBRUGGE
ON ST GEORGE S DAY 1918 AND HAVE
NO KNOWN GRAVE

WING COMMANDER BROCK F.A.O.B.E.
LIEUTENANT COMMANDER HARRISON A.L.V.C.
LIEUTENANT HAWKINGS C.E.V.
MECHANIC SECOND CLASS F/50269 ROUSE J

Memorial for the British military victims of St. Georges Day 1918 (St Donaasstraat, Zeebrugge)
Also located on the military burrial ground, with the following text :
LEST WE FORGET
To the memory of our countrymen who fell in this place on St George s Day April 25 3rd 1918. Erected by the members of the British Salvage Section St George s Day 1920.

Memorial for the members of the Marinekorps Flandern torpedoboats S15 and S20
(St. Donaasstraat, Zeebrugge)
On the same burrial ground. It is not only a memorial, but it contains also the graves of the crew members. The text says : Den Kameraden S.M. Torpedobooten S15 und S20 gefallen am 5. juni 1917 an der Flandrischen Kuste. It was erected during the war itself.


De Panne

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Memorial plate for the hospital L’Ocean en prof. Antoine Depage (Dr. A. Depagestraat 13)
The plate shows a portrait of the professor in military uniform.

Memorial plate on the Belgian royal family (Kapellelaan, Royal Chapel)
Plate outside on the chapel walls.

Memorial of the hospital L’Ocean and for the Belgian Queen Elisabeth (Zeedijk 70)
The text says : Once stood here the fronthospital L’Ocean, where during the 1914-1918 war Her Majesty Queen Elisabeth stood aside Dr. Depage as a nurse to give dedicated help to the wounded.
In reality however the queen was never really nursing but did visite the wounded very often.

Memorial plate for fallen French Marines (Dorpsstraat, St Omaarschurch, Adinkerke)
These fallen marines were originally burried around the church in 1914 and 1915.


Dentergem

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Memorial plate for the Belgian 3rd, 6th, 9th and 12th Reg. (jagers te voet)
(Dentergemplaats, St Amandus and St Lucia church)

Memorial chapel for the Belgian pilot Lt. Baron Charles Kervin de Lettenhove (Oselgemstraat/Molenstraat, Wakken)
This famous Belgian pilot died on the field of honour at Vladslo on the 5th Aug. 1917


Diksmuide

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Statue of general Jacques de Dixmude (Grote Markt)
Diksmuide was conquered by the Germans, after heavy fighting on 10/11/1914, which marked in fact the end of the battle in this sector. On 25/10/1914 the Germans had used their heavy 420 mm howitsers to bombard Diksmuide. Kolonel Jules Jacques de Dixmude with his 12th Line Regiment put up a heroic fight in 1914.

Monument French Marine fuseliers and admiral Ronarc’h (Stedelijk Park)
Wall in bended shape on platform with black granite memorialplate and anchor for the Frenc marinefuseliers who on the 24/10/14 came on to help the Belgian troops. In the middle in front of the monument stands a circleshaped bronze plate.

Monument Joe English (ijzerdijk, Kaaskerke)
In honour of the Flemish poet.

Chapel for the military warvictims (ijzerdijk 56, Kaaskerke)
In honour of all the Flemish soldiers who died in the great war.

Demarcation(paal) no 12. (ijzerdijk, Kaaskerke)
This one has a Belgian helmet on top

Petroltanks Monument (ijzerdijk, Kaaskerke)
In 1914 and 1915 the French and the Belgians tried in vain to recapture this German observationpost and stronghold on the Belgian side of the Yser.
On one occasion in 1914, the Germans set the two petroltanks on fire, the attacking French fusilier-marins were burned alive.
The memorial plate is situated 100 m above the trench of death.
It is one of the more modern memorials erected by the provincial government.

Chapel of Count Paul de Goussencourt (Kapellestraat, Kaaskerke)
Chapel build for this Belgian aviator who was killed on the 12th mai 1917, and who decorated with the War Cross, Medallion of the Yser and Knight in the Ordre of Leopold II. The chapel was erected in 1923. The pilot died in French service in a flying accident.

Memorial Plate for Lt.Kol. Maximilien Rademakers (Beerstblotestraat 8, Beerst)
Bronze plate for this Belgian Militar who died here on june 12th, 1915. It was also erected in honour of the kolonel by the 3rd and 6th Regt. (jagers te voet)
The memorial plate was unveiled on the 18th of june 1950.

Memorial stone of the observationpost Pervijze (Kastanjeplein, Pervijze)
Here stood an important Belgian observationpost.
The observationtower itself was and still is 14 meters high. It was build into a room of the vicarage of the Saint-Catharinachapel. The top of it served during the second world war as a machinegunpost.

Memorial plate for the Belgian Bycycle Compagnie and the volounteers of the 1st Lanciers, Light Grenadiers and 4th Army Division (Woumenweg, Woumen)
On the 28th septmber 1918 at 05.00 hours these units, under the command of Captain Jacquemin did a surprise attack on the german defenceworks of Rille and captured these after very heavy fighting from man to man.
Unveiled in 1951.

Memorial for Lt. Ivan Colmant, 20th Line Reg. and Liberation offensive (Woumenweg, Woumen)
Rests brick wall with bronze plate with portrait of the Lt.
On the 28th september 1918 this unit took the fortified position of the Blankaert after four very bloody atttacks under the command of Lt. Ivan Colmant.

Memorial stone for the Belgian chirurgical post Sint Jansmolen (Kaaskerkestraat, Oostkerke)
This was an advanced chirurgical post. It was only one kilometer from the trenches. It depende of the hospital l’Ocean at De Panne and was installed in january 1918. This was a mobile advanced post in fact, who was a gift of a Belgian civilian, a certain Mr. Vandenplas to Queen Elisabeth. It contains four trucks, a large tent, alectrical heating and complete medical equipment. A fifth truck served as operation room. There was also a kitchentent, a large field kitchen and laundry tent and a chemist tent.
It is one of the modern memorilas of the provincial government.

Memorial plate for the Belgian 8th/18th Line Reg. (Esenplein, St Pieterschurch, Esen)
The memorial plate is hanging at the inside of the church. The regiments were active at Namen, Dendermonde, Yser, Tervate, Esen and Kortemark.
There is also a memento for the regiment hanging out in this church.

Memorial stone for the chirurgical post De Grognie (Weg Oudekapelle/Alveringem, Oudekapelle)
Another advanced cirurgical post, who was three kilometers away from the front lines. It depended of the hospital at Beveren-aan de Ijzer. It seems to have been quit identical to the one at Sint-Jansmolen. It is one of the modern memorial stones of the provincial government.

Memorial for the victims of the Belgian 2nd Battery of the 2nd group of heavy howitzers. (Oude Zeedijk, Oudekapelle)
The 2nd battery was posted here from the 28th july1915 untill the 17th january of 1918. The text is in Flemish and French.

Memorial stone for the Belgian advanced post Vicogne (Kasteelhoevestraat, Stuivekenskerke)
The name Vicogne comes from a farm very nearby who was in the middle of the flooded area straight against Pervijze. It was one these small isles who were a few meters above the water. Over here Beglians and Germans were only meters from eachother. The Germans conquer the farm the first time on the 21st october 1914 after their breakthrough at Tervate. The next day, the Belgian first Battalion Carabineers captures the grounds again, but loses them again on the 24th. It becomes am advanced German post. In 1915 the germans launc an attack from here on the Belgian lines, which fails. Later that year the Belgians try to take the Vicogne back, but they fail also. It never calms really down in this area for the rest of the war. In february and march 1918 there is again some severe fighting, with indecisive results. Only with the liberation offensive the Vicogne comes back in Belgian hands.

Memorial plate for the Belgian 8th Line Reg. and the battle of the Ijzer okt. 1914 (Suivekenskerkestraat, St Pieterschurch)
Memorial unveiled in 1959.

Memorial plate for the 1st and 2nd Reg. carabineers an the battle of the Ijzer 1914 (idem)
They battled here on the 22nd october 1914.

Memorial stone for the battle of the Ijzer 18-31 okt 1914 (Spoorwegberm/Dodengangstraat, Stuivekenskerke)
One of the modern stones erected by the provincial government.

Memorial stone of the ‘Grote Wacht Reigersvliet’ (Viconiastraat, Stuivekenskerke)
Also one of these modern stones.

Memorial for the Belgian 1st and 2nd Batt. carabeneers-bycicle riders (O.l. Vrouwhoekje, Stuivekenskerke)
In the form of a column. The unit fought on different places, for ex. Haelen, Antwerpen, Reigersvliet Yser, Rapenbrug Wippelghem.

Demarcation column no 11 (OL Vrouwhoekje)
One of the Belgian type

Memorial plate for Corp. Georges E. Mardaga (OL Vrouwhoekje, Stuivekenskerke)
He was a member of the 12th Line Reg. and died over here on 14/12/14

Memorial plate for father Martial Lekeux (idem)
He was a franciscan and artilleryofficer during WW I

41 Memorial stones for Belgian regiments (OL Vrouwhoekje, Stuivekenskerke)
They are all together placed in the form of a U. On the front can be seen the sign and number of the Belgian units who were involved in the great war.

Memorial obelisk for the Belgian 5th Reg. Lancers (idem)
Erected in 1948. The unit fought at Haelen on the 12th august 1914 and at Reigersvliet on the 6th and 18th march 1918.

Memorial chapel for Georges Delacave and other military war victims (idem)
In memory of this much decorated soldier.

We have to remark that the whole area of the OL Vrouwhoekje at Diksmuide is a really lovable spot. Situated in the middle of the flat landscape of the Belgian ‘Polders’, almost in the ‘middle of nowhere’, you unexpectedly meet this concentration of monuments. This very Belgian World War I site is a real must !

Memorial for the military war victems of the Belgian 2nd Batt/1st Grenadeers and the battle of the Ijzer okt. 1914 (Ijzerdijk, Stuivekenskerke)
In honour of the men who fell of this unit on the 22nd october 1914 during an attack led by Major S.A. Count Hendrik d’Oultremont.

Memorial stone for the battle of Tervatebrug 21-23 okt 1914 (Ijzerdijk, Stuivekenskerke)
Again one of these modern stones from the provincial government.

Memorialplate for the house of Misses Faverger-Tack (Ijzerdijk, Villa Marietta, Nieuwkapelle)
This woman was named the mother of our soldiers by the Belgian troops, because she spent an enormous amount of time with the troops, talking to them, giving them hope and making them feel a little bit at home, although she was already eighty years old, she wasn’t scared of visiting the troops in their trenches. The house is still property of the descendants of misses Tack.

One addition, next to the German Military Cemetary of Vladslo is a memorial from August 1916 of the Lehr Infanterie Regiment.


Harelbeke

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Newfoundland memorial for the fallen Canadians (Gentsesteenweg)
On top of the monument stands a bronze caribou. It was build in 1924 and is one of the more original memorials of the region, to commemorate their exploits in 1918.
There exist five caribou memorials on the western front.


Heuvelland

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French Monument (Mount Kemmel)
Also called the Obelisk of the 32nd French Division
Erected in honour of the French soldiers who fought on Mount Kemmel.

American Monument for the 27th and 30th division (Ieperstraat, Kemmel)
Erected in honour of the Americans who were fighting in this area in the summer of 1918.
Some casualties are burried in Waregem American Cemetary ‘In Flanders Fields’.
The text says : 27th division - 30th division erected by the United States of America to commemorate the services of American troops who fought in this vincinity, August 18 - September 4 18.
Unveiled in 1929

Demarcationcolumn no 14 (Reningelststraat, Kemmel)
With a French helmet on top.

Demarcationcolumn no 15 (Poperingestraat, Kemmel)
Also with a French helmet on top.

Demarcationcolumn no 7 (Dranouterstraat, Loker)
One of the French type.

Memorial for the French divisions, brigades en regiments (Ieperstraat, Loker)
Especially for the battles of 1918

Memorial Cross for Major WHK Redmond (Ieperstraat, Loker)
He was killed here on the 7th june 1917 and belonged to the 6th Batt. Royal Irish Reg.

Demarcationcolumn no 8 (Kemmelbergweg, Loker)
Also one of the French type.

Memorial Obelisk for the unknown French soldiers and 30th French Line Reg. (Kemmelbergweg, French Ossuarium, Loker)
Here lay the rest of 5294 officers, non commisioned officers, and soldiers of the French army who fell at Kemmel and the surrounding area. Only 57 of them have been identified and their names are alphabetical ordre on the monument.

Memorial Column for the French soldiers who fell at Heuvelland (Kemmelbergweg, Loker)
It has the names on it of all units involved in the fighting in this area. It was erected in 1932.

Irish Memorial (Kemmelstraat, Wijtschate)
Next to the military cemetery in the road to Kemmel in honor of the 16th Irish Division.

London Scottish Monument (Ieperstraat, Wijtschate)
For the London Scottish Batallion who participated in the violent battles around Mesen in oktober 1914.
Text : Erected to the memory of the officers, non commissioned officers and men of the London Scottish who fell in the great war 1914-1919. Near this spot on Halloween 1914 the London Scottish came into action being the first territorial Battallion to engage the enemy.

Memorial Cross for the 16th Irish Division (Kemmelstraat, Wijtschate)
It says : In commemoration of the victory of Wijtschaete June 7th 1917 in memor of those who fell therein and all of irishmen who gave thier lives in the great war R.I.P.

Memorial Stone of the Spanbroekmolen also called Lone Tree Crater (Kruisstraat, Wijtschate)
One of the 19 craters blown up by the 2nd Army on june 7th 1917.
On the stone you can find all the specifications.

Memorial cross for the 19th Western Division Mesen 1917 (Rijselstraat/Hollebekestraat, Wijtschate)
Part of the text on the memorial is the following : Butterfly. June 1917-1918. To the glorious memory of the soldiers who fell in action near this spot.

Memorial stone for the 1st French Batt. on foot (Voormezelestraat, Wijtschate)
They died here almost all between 9 and 15 november 1914.
Also in memory of Lt. Lasnier. In total there fell here 1 officer, 11 non commisioned officers, 174 corporals and men of this unit.


Hooglede

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Memorial plate for the 77th French Division (Marketplace)
In memory of Comm. Wagner and his 400 men who took Hooglede on the 14th oct. 1918
The platte was given by the survivors of the division in honour of the dead comrades.


Houthulst

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Memorial (zuil) for the 2nd and 22 nd Line Reg. (22nd Linieplein)
Memorial unveiled in 1946. The unit fought here in 1914.

Memorial stone for the Final Offensive 1918 (Vossedreef/Poelkapellestraat)
One of the more moderns stones, placed by the provincial government in 1988. It is in memory for those who fell in the last offensive of the great war in Flanders.

Memorial for the Belgian 4th, 23rd, 24 th Line Reg., 7th Artillery and 7th (genie) Reg. (4de Liniestraat)
In memory of their participation in the Battle of Houthulst on the 28th september 1918.

Glaswindows in memory of the Belgian 3/23rd and 4/24th Line Reg. and the 1st, 7th and 13th Art. Reg. (4de Liniestraat, St Jan Baptistchurch)
Can be found above the churchentrance.

Memorial for the Belgian 4th, 23rd and 24th Line Reg. and 7th Art. and 7th (genie) Reg.
(7de Artilleriestraat, corner graveyard)
The 28th september 1918 these units took the forest of Houthulst, during the final offensive.

Memorial for the Belgian 1st, 7th and 13th Art. Reg. (idem)
The places were these units distinguished themselves in battle are marked on the memorial, for the 1st this is Antwerpen, Yser, Klerken and Kortemark, for the 7th this is Antwerpen, Yser, Houthulst forest, and for the 13th Klerken and Kortemark.

Memorial Plate for the Belgian 2/22nd and 3rd Line Reg. and the 1st and 13nd Art. Reg. (Molenweg, Molen, Klerken)
Bronze Plate. For their actions over here in taken the area on the 29th september 1918.

Demarcation (paal) no 5 (Drie Grachtensteenweg, Merkem)
This one is of the Belgian type.

Memorial Plate for the unknown Zouave (idem)
Marmer plate on the cafe De Drie Grachten
The explanation is to be found under the next memorial

Memorial Stone for the Belgian Drie Grachten advanced post (idem, corner with Ieperleedijkstraat, Merkem)
This advanced post was used first by the Belgian troops and then by the French. Those last ones try to attack Luigem from here at the end of 1914. 500 French, of which some Zouaves attack the 10th november. Severe fighting will follow, with heavy losses for both sides. There is no gain of territory.
The 12th the Germans use captured Zouaves as a pantser for their attack on the Drie Grachten post and to misleed the French soldiers. However the Zouaves call their comrades to warn them that the Germans are in fact attacking. The Zouaves are killed by their own troops, In honour of them a marmer memorial plate is hung up at Cafe de Drie Grachten.
In 1915 the Belgian troops take over again. The 8th april the Germans launch a new and decisive attack on the advanced post. The Germans later enforce the post very heavily. A large number of pill boxes arise in the area. The 27th october 1917 the French regain the area.

Memorial for the battle of De Kippe (Iepersteenweg/Stationsstraat,Merkem)
There is more on the battle of the Kippe in part one of this book : History of a war.

Memorial with sculpture of Adj. Armand Victor Van Eecke (Iepersteenweg 53, Merkem)
Erected by his parents. He died here on september 9th 1918, 22 years old.
The memorial was erected in 1919.

Memorial in honour of the 3rd Belgian Army (Iepersteenweg, Merkem)
Stone with bronze plate. The plate mentions the locations where the 3rd Belgian army has been fighting during the great war.

Memorial Plate for Adj. Jean Taymans (Kloosterstraat, Merkem)
Erected by his parents. Bronze plate.
However what is so special about this monument is that the bronze plate was placed into a part of a German Bunker his remains. The bunker was known as the abri de Epernon.
The bronze plate was placed on the remains of the bunker by the family of the Adjutant in 1934.

Memorial Plate for the participation of the Belgian 11th Line Reg. in the battle of Merkem 17th april 1917 (Merkemplein, Merkem)
In honour of their participation and also mentioning the other areas where the unit was fighting during the war.

Memorial plate for the participation of the Belgian 9th Line Reg. in the same battle (idem)

Memorial plate for the participation of the Belgian 13th Line Reg. in the same battle (idem)

Memorial plate for the participation of the Belgian 1st Reg. 4th (jagers te voet) in the same battle (idem)

Memorial plate for the Belgian unit wireless telegraphy (idem)

Memorial plate for the Belgian 9th Line Reg. (Merkemplein 26 inside, Merkem)

Memorial for the participation of the Belgian 19th Line Reg. in the battle of Merkem 17th april 1918 (19de Liniestraat/Westbroekstraat, Merkem)
This one has the form of an obelisk.

Memorial stone for the Luigem (schiereiland) (Westbroekstraat, Merkem)


Ieper

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Menin Gate
On the gate are also the names of a number of VC winners who have no known grave :
Lance Corporal Frederick Fisher, 13th Batt. Canadian Infantry
Brig. General Charles FitzClarence of the Irish Guards
C.S.M. Frederick William Hall, of the 8th Canadian Infantry
2nd Lt. Denis George Wyldbore Hewitt of the Hants.
Lt. Hugh McKenzie, DCM, of the Canadian M.G.C.
Captain John Franks Vallentin of the South Staffordshires
Private Edward Warner of the Beds. & Herts.
Lt. Sidney Clayton Woodroffe of the Rifle Brigade

Munster War Memorial

Australian Memorial

French Memorial (Grote Markt, Ieper)
Made in 1954. Donated by the people of Ieper and the surviving comrades of the divers units.

Memorial Plate for the 13th Belgian Field Artillery (J. Coomanstraat, Ieper)
This regiment was part of the British army and fought here from 17th mai 1915 untill 17th mai 1917.

Irish Cross Munster War Memorial (Kloosterpoort, Ieper)
Memorial erected for the Irish War Victims of Munster.
The text says : In memory of those men of Munster who died fighting for freedom. A tribute erected by the people of the province and Cork its capital city.

Memorial Plate for the French Military War victims (St. Maartenscathedral, St. Maartensplein, Ieper)
Can be found inside the cathedral.

Memorial Plate for the British Military War victims (same place)
Also at the inside of the cathedral.

Memorial Plate for king Albert I (same place)
In the choir of the same cathedral.

Demarcationcolumn no 19 (Kruiskalsijdestraat, Ieper)
This one has a British helmet on top of it.

Memorial Plate for LITTLE TALBOT HOUSE (Rijselsestraat 83, Ieper)
On the wall of this school you can find a plate which remembers the fact that here there was from november 1917 untill april 1918 a section of the Talbot House at Poperinge for soldiers of the Commonwealth troops, a kind of small and temporarely ‘chez-soi’ for all ranks.

Demarcationcolumn no 20 (Zonnebeekseweg, Potijze)
Identical to no 19.

Calvarycross for the French Military War victims (Zonnebeekseweg, Potijze)
It is to be found left at the entrance of the French military burrial ground of St Charles de la Potijze. It was erected in 1947.

Obelisk on the ossarium for the 125th, 22nd and 32nd Infantryregiment and XVIIth Infantrydivision of France (Zonnebeekseweg, Potijze)
Also on the same burrial ground. It was unveiled in 1928.

Oblisk for the 50th Northumbrian division (Wieltje, Ieper)
This unit came into action in Flanders in april of 1915, just in time for Second Ypres. The rest of the war they were in France and were important players in breaking the Hindenburg line in octobre 1918.
The text says : To the enduring memory of all ranks of the 50th Northumbrian Division who fell in the great war 1914 1918 and in memory of thier comrades of the same division who gave their lives in the war of 1939 1945 for the liberation of France, Belgium and Holland.
Erected in 1929.

Hill 60 (Zillebeke)

Memorial Cross for the British captain V. Salvin Bowlby (Begijnenbosstraat, Zillebeke)
He was a captain of the Royal Horse Guards and was killed near this spot on 13th may 1915 around 2.30 PM while leading a counterattack, in which the 400 meters terrain who had been lost that morning were taken back on the Germans.

Memorial Cross for the British captain H. Lancton Skrine (Begijnenbosstraat, Zillebeke)
Captain of the 6th Somerset L.I. who fell here on 25th september 1915, together with two other officers and 11 other ranks.

Memorial Cross for the British luitenant Keith Rae (Canadalaan, Zillebeke)
He was a lieutenant of the 8th Batallion Rifle Brigade and was killed on 30th july 1915. The private memorial stood once at Hooghe chateau grounds, erected by his parents on the spot were he was last seen. In 1978 it was moved to outside Sanctuary Wood Cemetary.

Demarcationcolumn no 18 (Komenseweg/Blauwepoortstraat, Zillebeke)
One of the British type.

Memorial for the Canadian Military war victims who died in the defence of Ieper in 1916
(Canadalaan, Zillebeke - near Hill 62)
Screwsbury forest can easily be seen from the memorial, who has the false location Mount Sorrel on its inscription. Mount Sorrel was infact about a half kilometer south of this hill.
The text says : Here at Mount Sorrel and on the line from Hooge to St Eloi the Canadian corps fought in the defence of Ypres April-August 1916.

Memorial Cross of the King’s Royal Rifle corps (Meenseweg, Zillebeke)
Not far from Hooghe Crater Museum. Erected for the Regiments part in fighting near Hooghe Castle on the 30th and 31st july 1915 and the battle of Sanctuary Wood on june 2nd 1916. Similar monuments for the corps can be found at Pozieres and in Winchester.

Cross of Sacrifice R.E. Grave Railway Wood ( Oude Kortrijkstraat, Zillebeke)
Here lie burried 1 officer, 3NCO’s and 8 men of the 177th Tunneling Company Royal Engineers.

Memorial Stone for the Queen Victoria’s Rifles (Zwarteleenstraat, Zillebeke on hill 60)
Erected in 1923 for all the war victims of this unit.
Text : On this spot was erected in 1923 a memorial to all ranks of Queen Victoria s Rifles who gave their lifes for their country in the first world war 1914-1918.

Memorial Stone for the various troup movements on Hill 60 (Zwarteleenstraat, Zillebeke)
This place was once in hands of the British, then again of the Germans. The stone tells you the story of these movements and the history of Hill 60.
Hill 60 the scene of bitter fighting was held by German troops from the 10th december 1914 to the 17th april1915 when it was captured by the british 5th Division. On the following 5t may it was recaptured by the German XV corps, it remained in German hands until the battle of Messines 7th june 1917 when after many months of underground fighting two mines were exploede here and at the end of april 1918 after the battle of the Lys it passed in German hands again, it was finally retaken by British troops under the command of H.M. King of the Belgians on the 28th september 1918. In the broken tunnels beneath this enclosure many British and German dead were burried and the hill is therefore preserved as far as nature will permit in the state in which it was left after the Great War.

Memorialcolumn for the 1st Australien Tunneling Company (Zwarteleenstraat, Zillebeke)
In memorial of these men who were doing mining and defensive operations on Hill 60 in the period og 1915 to 1918. A first memorial was erected in 1919 and this one dates from 1923.

Gasattack april 1915 monument
Gefreiter Friedrich Nordloh was engaged with his reserve infantry regiment during the 1st Ypres battle against the French cavalry corps of de Mitry at Bikschoote. He also participated in the first gas attack during 2nd Ypres battle on 22/04/1915, when in the afternoon, a mysterious green-yellow cloud was drifting to the French lines between Steenstrate and Pilckem. The Algerian soldiers fled for the chlorine gas in panic. The Canadians on their right side sqved the situation at St Julien and Kitcheners Wood. The Germans were at first surprised by the succes of their gas attack.
Norloh fought at Lizerne, Steenstaete and the Sas.
At Steenstraete the Cross of Reconciliation commemorates the French gas casualties. At Lizerne stands the Belgian Grenadeers Regiment Memorial who distinguished thmselves in the battle for Lizerne (23/4-24/4/1915) Steenstraete was retaken by the French on 5/5/1915.
On the other side of the canal, near Pilckem is the carrefour de la rose, to the memory of the French 87th division d’infanterie territoriale and the 45th division d’infanterie Algerienne during the gas attack.
A Breton Cavalry and dolmen were brought up from France

Memorial for Auguste and Michel Mahieu (St Elooistraat, Hollebeke)
The first one was a private, the other one Cap.Comm of the Seagull bombardment escadrille. Both were in French service. On this spot stood a castle that was the property of the two brothers. The castle also was destroyed in the war.

Memorial Paelingbeek (St Elooistraat, Hollebeke)
This place was taken and retaken several times, no less then 6 times !
Captured by the Germans in february 1916, and retaken in march 1917 by the British, lost again in spring 1918, regained in september 1918. In 1917 there was also mining activity.
On the same memorial there is also a text about the battle of Scottish students on the 29th mai 1940.

Demarcationcolumn no 16 (Ruusschaertstraat, Voormezele)
This one is for a change of the British type. Most of these colums are from the Belgian or French type.

Demarcationcolumn no 17 (Rijselseweg, Voormezele)
Also one of the British type.

Memorial plate for the freedom tree (St Elooisweg, Voormezele)
Here stood a Freedom tree from 1918 until 1968.

Memorial column with cross for the Royal Household cavalry (Komenstraat, Zandvoorde)
This is erected on the place where the body was found of Lord Worsley, burried by the Germans at Zandvoorde, and afterwards reburried in Ypres Town Cemetary.
After a charge of the Household Cavalry on 26/10/1914, the Household Brigade defended the village of Zandvoorde with their machindeguns under intensive artillery fire.
Lord Worsley was Lt. in the Royal Horse Guards, killed on 30/10/1914, aged 22. His headstone reads : He died fighting for god and right and liberty, and such a dead is immortality.

Glass window for Lt. Christopher Turnor, 4 royal Hussars and Capt. Sir Frank Rose (Zandvoordeplaats, St Batholomeuschurch, Zandvoorde)

Chapel for the brothers Van Raemdonck and Fiévez (Dijk, Zuidschote)
The memorial was officially opened on 19th aug. 1933
The brothers Van Raemdonck are the Flemish symbol for the military war victims and also for the Flemish cause. They died not very far away from eachother and not in eachothers arms as is suggested on the monument. Aimé Fiévez was a soldier of the French speaking part of Belgium.

Memorial plate for the victims of the Belgian carabineerunits during the first German gasattacks in april 1915 (Generaal Lotzstraat 15, Zuidschote)
Bronze plate with the markings of the units involved and commemorated.

Obelisk for the Belgian Reg. Grenadeers and the gasattack on 22nd april 1915 (Grenadiersstraat, Zuidschote)
Erected in 1934 by King Leopold III.

Demarcation stone no 6 ( Diksmuidseweg, Boezinge)
This one has a French helmet on top and also French markings.

Memorialplate for the first gasattack (Diksmuidseweg, Boezinge)
On the German MEBU hangs a plate with the following text in Dutch : In remeberance of the victory on the German army after the gasattack in 1915 at Boezinge.
The plate dates from the 27th may 1967 and most of the time it is not possible to see it because of the ivy.

Memorial for the Irish poet Francis Lewidge (Boezinge)

Memorial stone for John Mc Crea (Diksmuidseweg, Boezinge)
More about this ston at the text about Essex Farm Cemetary, which is on the same spot

Memorial for the 49th West Riding Division (Diksmuidseweg, Boezinge)
Also near Essex farm Cemetary. The memorial says : To the memory of all ranks of hte 49th West Riding Division who gave their lives for king and country in the great war 1914 1918. Marked on it are also the locations where teh division saw action.

Memorial plate for the fallen soldiers of the 87th French Division (Katspel, St. Michielschurch, inside)
With the following text : 1914-1918 - Les Peperes de Boesinghe a leurs camerades de la 87 D. Francaise tombes sur l’Yser, 80e R.I.T. Pelerinage 1922.

Memorial voor the fallen Bretons ( Poezelstraat/Langemarkseweg. Boezinge)
Within a half circle are a number of memorials. Important is that part of the memorial has been made by e real Dolmen. In the middle there is an original Breton Calvary from pink granite.

Demarcationcolumn no 4 (Generaal Lotzstraat/Steenstraat, Boezinge)
This one has a Belgian helmet on top.

Memorialcross for the victims of the first gasattack on the 22nd april 1915 (Diksmuidseweg, Boezinge)
A very large platform, with in the middle a small hill of grass with in the middle a cross.
It was erected by the 418th Regt. of French Infantry in 1929, in memory of the first victims of the German gasattack on the 22nd april 1915. The original memorial was destroyed in 1942. The new one was erected in 1961.

Memorial for the fallen of the 3rd Line Regt in 1915 (Diksmuidseweg 532, Boezinge)
U-shaped memorial, with a white cross in the middle. In rememberance of the soldiers who after the first gasattack fell near Steenstraat from the 24th april till the 10th of may.


Koekelare

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Memorial column for the 74th German Inf. Regiment (St. Andriesstraat, graveyard, Zande)
Above a medaillon with maltezer cross and a black marme plate with the following text : Sei getreu bis in den Tod., Gewidmet vom Landw. Inf. Reg. No 74.

Memorial stone for Erich Lehmann (idem)
‘Hier ruht unser einiger geehrter Sohn, Brüder und Schwieger Erich Lehmann aus Neukolln Gefallen am 15.8.15 in Schoorbakke. Gelebt für Jesus gestorben fürs Vaterland.
One of the most sober and touching German memorial stones in Flanders


Koksijde

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Memorial for the Belgian military vinctims of the 4th Army and Baron AEM du Faing d’Aigremont (Veurnekeiweg, Wulpen)
Lays in a specially constructed park for it. There are several little memorials of which the most touching one is a white marmer rock with a flemish poem on it.
The biggest one is the memorial for the fallen of the 4th Belgian Army. Around it are no less then 36 small memorial stones standing and 9 laying, on which are the names of the units who were part of the 4th army. In front of the large memorial stands a memorialcolumn for the Baron du Faing d’Aigremont.
The idea for the monument dates from 1916 from the Lt. General himself, works for it started before the end of the war and it was erected in 1919.

Memorial for the Belgian and Allied pilots of the 1st and 2nd World War (J. Van Buggenhoutlaan/ Leopold III laan)
In the shape of a firetower. Erected in 1951 and most certainly of the most original memorials at the Belgian coast !

Memorial for the fallen Zouaves of the French Army (Zouavenplein)
Made out of three panels and a terrace. It was erected in 1934 by the survivors of the Zouave units of the French army


Komen

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Ploegsteert Memorial
A memorial to the 11.447 British soldiers who fell in the Ploegsteert Wood area and surroundings.
It was unveiled on the 7th june 1931, the anniversary of the battle of Mesen.
On the memorial the names of a number of VC winners :
Sapper William Hackett, of the 24th Tunneling Company
Private James McKenzie, of the Scots Guards
Captain Thomas Tennant Pryce, who also received the MC with Bar


Kortemark

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Memorial plate for the Belgian 20th Line Reg. (Handzameplein)
In rememberance for their battle in freeing this area on the 14 okt. 1918.

Memorial plate for the 10th, 8th/18th Line Reg., the 4th Art. Reg (Stationsstraat 6
For their battle in this area also on the 14th okt. 1918 and in honour of the soldiers who died in the taking of Kortemark.


Langemark-Poelkapelle

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Guynemer Memorial (Centre Poelkapelle)
For the famous French air ace who was shot down on 11/9/1917 and whose grave was never found.
French ace with 54 victories. He was a member of the Escadrille des Cicognes, that is why the emblem of the flying stork is on the memorial. It is told that his body was found at Poelkapelle by the Germans, but destroyed by Allied artillery fire.
With his Spad he gained his last victories in the areza of Houthulst forest. The German pilot said to have killed Guynemer was also shot down on 28/9/17.
On 23/9/1917 was also shot down Werner Voss, leader of Jasta 10, who had 48 victories to his credit. That day he had just shot down a DH4, north of Ypres and the attacked with his Fokker Triplane an SE5, when he was himself engaged by no less then 6 SE5’s. During 10 minutes followed an epic fight above Freezenberg, by which Voss suceeded putting bullet holes in all seven SE5’s, before he fell within British lines around Plum farm, Peperstraat Langemark. He won the admiration of his opponents, because of his flying skills and boldness, and he didn’s pull out of an unequal fight.

Memorial 3rd and 23rd Belgian Line Regiment (Jaagpad, Steenstrate)
For the Belgian soldiers who fell during the German gasattacks in april 1915.
(24/04/15 till 10/05/15)

Hedd Wyn Memorial (Boezingestraat 158, Langemark)
Welsh poet who died here on 31/07/17 and whose real name was Ellis Humphrey Evans.
He won on 6/9/17 the most important poetry price of Wales, The Black Throne. He is burried on the Artillery Wood Cemetary at Boezinge.

St. Juliaan Canadian Memorial (Brugseweg, Langemark)
Also called Canadian Battlefield Memorial.
Big memorial in the shape of a soldier resting arms reversed in memory of the 2000 Canadians who died in the gasattacks of april 1915. One of the more original monuments.
It was unveiled on july 8th, 1923 by the Duke of Connaught.
Following text stands on a brone plate ; This column marks the battlefield where 18000 Canadians on the British left withstood the first German gas attacks the 22-24 april 1915. 2000 fell and lie burried nearby.

Kitcheners Wood Memorial Plate (Wijngaardstraat, Langemark)
See text St Juliaan

Memorial of Lt. A. Birrelanthony (Roeselarestraat, Bikschote)
For an officer of the 1st Batt. of the Monmouthshire Reg. who died at this spot on 8th may 1915 in the 2nd battle of Ieper.

34th Division Royal Artillery and Engineers Memorial Langemarck (Beekstraat, Langemark)
Behind the memorial stands a German bunker. An officer of this unit who was taking shelter in it made the promise that if he would survive the war, het would erect a memorial over there, which he also did.
This bunker, and others, were attacked by the Guards Division in august 1917. Only conquered in september 1917. The small Borembeek in fornt of it, and the grounds near to it, had turned into a swamp. Many soldiers as in other places during the autumn of 1917, dissapêared for ever in the sea of mud and the shell-holes. It was in this region, close to the Broembeek that Ernst Junger in 1917 fought against the British with his 73th Hannoverian Regiment.
This bunker was lost again to the Germans in the Spring Offensive of 1918, and after recapture in september 1918, used as an advanced dressing station.
The dressing station was commanded by Robert Lawrence, brother of the famous Lawrence of Arabia.

Memorial 20th Light Division (Boezingestraat, Langemark)
This British division, more especially the 61st brigade, was almost totally mutilated in the area.

Memorial 2ieme Chasseurs d’Afrique (Beekstraat, Langemark)
More especially build for Emilien Girault, Brigadeer and Andre Malliavin who were killed over here on 9th oct. 1917

Memorial Final Offensive Steenbeek 28th sept. 1918 (Boezingestraat, Langemark)
In memory of the taking of the Flemish hills by the Allies between 28 sept. and 4 okt. 1918.
One of the more modern memorialstones erected by the provincial government.

Memorial for the 38th Welsh Division (Briekstraat on bunker Goumier Farm, no 59)
Black granite memorialplate with the text : In memory of comrades of 38th Welsh Division 1914-18.

Memorial for the 1st gasattack and the victims of the 87th territorial div. (Kasteelstraat, Town hall)
This unit suffered enormous casualties by the first German gasattack on the 22nd april 1915.

Memorial stone of the 1st Monmouthshire Reg. and Lt. H.A. Birrel-Anthony (Roeselarestraat)
Several men of this unit fell at this spot on the 8th may 1915, during the second battle of Ypres.

Breton Calvarycross for Adj. Charles Dresse (Poperingestraat 27, Poelkapelle)
This Belgian Adj. was killed near this spot on the 28th sept. 1918 during the liberation offensive in Flanders. It seems he was killed by a bullet in the heart while attacking a German machinegun post.


Lo-Reninge

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Memorial plate for the Belgian (genie) of the 2nd Army (Noorstraat, St. Perterschurch)
it seems that members of this unit rescued the valuables of the church on which the plate is hanging.

Memorial of the fallen Belgian soldiers of the (genie) of the 2nd Army (Willem Van Loolaan)
The memorial has the form of an altar. It seems to have been erected during the war around 1915 or 1916.

Memorial stone for the chirurgical post ‘t Abelenhof (Zuidschotestraat/Groenestraat, Reninge)
This post was active in 1916 and 1917. The name comes from an old farm who was only two kilometers away from the frontlines. It depends of the hospital at Hoogstade. The farm survived the first woeld war, but was completely destroyed in the second one.

Memorial stone ‘Maison du passeur’ Belgian advanced post (Ieperleedijkstraat, Noordschote)
This post was very close to the enemy lines and therefor the Belgian army decided to keep this advanced post by all cost. The name Maison du passeur, comes from the French who gave this name to a taverne who was called in fact Het Witte Huis or the white house.
From here a number of raids were made on a German advanced post, who was 400 meters away. In 1916 the Germans constructed a pill box to defend it, but the 16th october 1916 the Belgian raid it again and destroy the pill box. The Germans abondon a few days after this the advanced post. However the quiet in this area only comes in novenber 1917.


Mesen

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Memorial for the missing New Zealand soldiers (Nieuwkerkestraat)
The follwing text is found on the memorial : Here are recorded the names of officers and men of New Zealand who fell in or near Messines in 1917 and 1918 and whose graves are known only to God.
On 44 plates are in alphabetical order first the units concerned and then also in alphabetical of every unit the missing men.

Memorial for the New Zealand Division (Nieuw-Zeelandersstraat)
Stands in a especially build rememberance park. You can find remains of two bunkers in it. The memorial stands about 250 meters to the left on this street coming from the village and can not be seen from the road in summer, as it surrounded by trees.
Following text is on the memorial : The battle of Messeines 7th to 14th june 1917. The New Zealand division on the 7th june captured this ridge and advanced 2000 yars through Messines to their objective on the eastern side.
Memorial was unveiled in 1924.

Irish Memorial Tower
There is build a 33 meter high monument for the Irishmen who fought here in the area ( in fact in the Wytschaete area) The works started at the end of 97 and the finishing touch was in the late summer of 98. It was officially opened by Elisabeth II of England and the Irish prime minister on the 11th november 1998.

In front of the Town Hall stands also a bronze plaquette with the area in 1914-1918 and the front lines which is highly interesting.


Middelkerke

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Memorial stone for Lt. Pierre Thuret (AA School, Lombardsijde)
He died here on 28th jan. 1915, 26 years old. He was decorated by the Croix de guerre, and the Medaille Coloniale, but his most important decoration was the one of Chevalier de la legion d’honneur.

Memorial for the 9th Line Regiment (Lombardsijdelaan, Lombardsijde)
This unit retook Lombardsijde on the German army with violent counterattacks on the 20, 22, and 23rd october 1914.

Memorial stone for Gen. Paul Grosetti (Gen. P. Grosettilaan/H. Jasparlaan, Westende)
Het was the commanding officer of the 42nd French Division.
It is also a memorial for the 163rd Inf. Reg.

Memorial plate for the2nd/22nd Line Reg. during the battle of the IJzer (Schoorbakkebrug, Schore)
This unit was defending the Ijzer from the 16th to the 24th october 1914 in this area.

Memorial plate for the 3rd/23rd Line Reg. during the battle of the IJzer (Schoorbakkebrug, schore)
This unit was defending this part of the Ijzer on the same dates as mentioned in the previous memorial plate.


Moorslede

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Memorial plate for the Belgian 6th Reg. (Jagers te voet) (marketplace townhall)
Erected in 1930. This unit freed Moorslede on the 29th september 1918.

Memorial plate for the Belgian 11th Art. Reg. (idem)
Square bronze plate with the text : In Memoriam 11A Moorslede 30 IX - 14 X 1918.

Memorial and gravestone with cross for Lt. David Chalmers Burns of the
Royal Highlanders (Dorpsplein, Slijpskapelle)
Burns was born the 12th october 1898 in Chili. Wrote poetry and painted. Was commissioned to the Black Watch in january 1918 and in july he arrived at the front, serving with the 8th Batt. Black Watch. He was killed the 30th september 1918.
In october 1988 there seems to have been a special memorial service at Slijpskapelle with about 30 familymembers, of which his 82 year old brother and 78 year old sister.


Nieuwpoort

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Ysermemorial King Albert I (Kustweg)
Here, 10/07/1917 the British lost their positions on the right bank of the Yser to the German Marinekorps Flandern. It was known as Operation Strandfest.
The days before it had been raining heavily and the 10th was dry but rather stormy. At 0600 in the morning the artillery started firing on British positions, who had just releaved the Belgians some days before. The British suspected directly an attack and brought more troops from Dunkirk.
At 20.00 hours, while the German artillery was still firing, the German Marinekorps Sturmabteilung, together with other Marinetroops attacked the first enemy line, which seems to have been taken in only three minutes. They stormed further and took in very short time also the second and third defense line, where the last defences were taken out in a handgranate fight. At 21.00 hours the fight was over.
They took 17 officers and around 1300 men prisoner.
One of the participants of this attack was Feldwebel Berhard-Hermann Ramcke, who would become Fallschirmjager General in the German army and distinguidhed himself at Crete, Malta, Africa, the Eastern Front and France, where he kept in possession of Brest until 19 september 1944 ! He died in 1968.
The prisoners of war of Operation Strandfest were first taken to Oostende and then to Brugge from where they moved to POW camps in Germany.
The memorial was inaugurated the 24th july 1938 and was an initiative of old combattants organisations. The statue is frm Karel Aubroeck and is 4 meters high. On top of the memorial you have an excellent view on the battlefield and there are a number of orientationtable installed.
The memorial can be visited everyday, entrance fee is around 40 BEF.
Information : 0032 (0)58 23.55.87

Demarcation column no 13 (Brugse steenweg)
This one is of the Belgian type, as this area was defended by the Belgians

Demarcation column no 9 (Lombardsijdestraat)
Also of the Belgian type.

Demarcation column no 2 (Westendelaan)
Another one of the Belgian type.

Memorial Hendrik Geeraert (Brugse steenweg, graveyard)
The lock keeper who opened the sluices of the yser in 1914. The memorial stand between Belgian and British military burrials of the great war.

Memorial for the French 81st Inf. Div. (Brugse vaart)
The text says : Aux morts de la 81e D.I.T.
Memorial unveiled in 1928.

Memorial plate for the Belgian Cie. Sapeurs-Pontonniers (Ieperstraat 6)
There are an very large amount of these memorial plates all over the city of Nieuwpoort. They usually refere to places which were hideaways for Belgian officers or men. This one was the ‘abris’ of the Captains Thys and Ume.

Memorial plate for the first attempt of the inondation of the Ijzerfront 1914. (Kaai)
The small plate was made in very modern PVC ! About the first attempts on the 26 on 27th october 1914 by Captain Thys and Karel Cogge.

Memorial plate for the Belgian Cie Sapeurs-Pontonniers (Langestraat 2 also no 5)
No 2 was a hideout for officers, no 5 for cyclists.

Idem (Pieter Deswartelaan 37)
The hiding place for painter Bastien

Idem (Slachthuisstraat 4)
Where 6 men had a shelter

Idem (Sluizen)
Shelter for the lockkeepers.

Idem (W. De Roolaan 2 and also
Shelter for 20 men and one for the cooks.

Idem (W. De Roolaan, St. Laureinstower)
Here you can find all the locations of the memorial plates in the town.
The memorial plate was unveiled in 1957.

Memorial plate for the Belgian observationpost of the Artillery (Langestraat 89)
This plate is somewhat different of the others, in that way that on top can be seen a man, in the middle of all kinds of optical instruments, sitting on a bench and staring thourgh a telescope.

Memorial plate for the Belgian unit wireless telegraphy (Marketplace)
A helmet with the letters TSF and DT under it.
Bronze plate.

Memorial plate for Hendrik Geeraert (Pieter Deswartelaan 3)
Square white plate wit the text : H. Geeraert, Batelier-chef eclusier, Inondeur Yser 1914-1918.

Memorial stone for the Belgian Lt. Leopold Calberg (Plein sluizenbrug)
This member of the Cie Sapeurs-Pontonniers fell here on the 16th october 1917. This comapny was created in september 1915, and their main mission was to keep control on the inondations of the Ijzer river.

Memorial for the IJZER (plein sluizenbrug)
Memorial unveiled in 1930. On every corner there is a soldier : one who’s wounded, one which is blind, one with decorations and one with a lion.

Memorial stone of the inondation 29th oct. 1914 (sluizenbrug)
Again one of the modern stones who was an initiative of the provincial government.

Memorial for the British military victims (Westendelaan, near Albert I memorial)
Triangular groundplate with three lions and (zuil)
For the 566 officers and men who lost their lives mainly in Antwerp in 1914 and june 10th 1917 (operation Strandfest).

Memorial for the Belgian 3rd Reg. carabineers en the defense of Nieuwendamme 1918 (Brugse steenweg, St Joris)
Here this unit was fighting against troops of the German Marinekorps Flandern from the 16th march to the 22nd april of 1918.
Erected in 1951.

Memorial and statue for the participation of the Belgian 7th Line Reg. in the batlle of the IJzer and Lombardsijde (Brugse steenweg, St Joris)
Erected in 1932. Probably one of the more original Belgian monuments.

Memorial for the participation of the Belgian 14th Line Reg in the battle of the IJzer in okt. 1914 (Brugse steenweg, St Joris)
From the 22nd to the 24th 1914 the regiment saw some severe fighting, defending the last piece of the Belgian soil, still in Belgian hands.


Oostende

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Vindictive Memorial 1918 (Demeysluis)
In fact a monument for the ships Vindictive, Intrepid an Thetis who tried to block the harbour of Oostende, but failed on two occasions (22-23 april 1918 and 10 may 191.
On the first occasion, Intrepid and Thetis failed completely to locate the harbour entrence due to fog and were beached in a desperate last trial.
On the second occasion the Vindictive, who had been used at the raid on Zeebrugge, reached the harbour entrance but was sunk in such a way that she didn’t at all become a problem for the in and outgoing German ships.
For more information about these blocking attempts of the German U=boat bases of Zeebrugge and Oostende, see under Brugge - monuments.

Memorial for the victims of the 3rd/23rd Line Reg. (3de en 23ste Linieplein)
Erected in 1922. In the urn was placed a list with the names of the 1096 officers and men of the 3rd Line Regt. who died for the fatherland.


Pittem

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Memorial plate for Colonel Naessens de Loncin (Dorpsplein, Egem)
Plate for the colonel by the people of his home village. de Loncin was the name he recieved in honour of his resistence at the fortress of Loncin, Liege in august 1914.


Poperinge

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Memorial Plate Talbot House (Gasthuisstraat 43)
Text : Talbot House, served British troops from 1915 to 1919. In 1930 it was restored to TOC H as a posesssion for ever by the inspired imagination and signal generosity of Lord Wakefield of Hythe and was opened by him personally in 1931.

Memorial plate for the French and British military who fell for the town (Market place)
Unveiled in 1926. From the town in honour of these fallen soldiers.


Roeselare

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Memorial for the victims of the French 152nd Inf. Reg., the liberators of Roeselare and F. Le Hétet (Blekerijstraat, grave yard)
These units took Roeselare on the 17th october 1918.

Memorial stone for the liberation by the French Inf. Regiments (Infanteriestraat)
Erected in 1970.

Memorial plate for the Belgian 1st, 2nd and 3rd carabineers Reg. (Hoogestraat 56, Rumbeke)
The village was liberated on the 14th october 1918 by these units. It seems that 1051 carabineers of these units died for their fatherland.


Ruiselede

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Memorial stone (very small !) for the German Machinegun school (Brandstraat 26)
The stone is build into the brick wall of the house on this adress.


Staden

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Memorial stone for the fallen members of the Belgian 14th Line Reg. (Meulebroekenlaan/Roeselarestraat Oostnieuwkerke)
The Belgian army took this place on the 2nd and 3rd of oct. 1918

Memorial plate for the liberation of Oostnieuwkerke and de Most. (Roeselarestraat/Vyvestraat, Oostnieuwkerke)
This place was liberated in the night of the 1st on the 2nd oct. 1918

Memorial stone for the final offensive Stadenberg 29 sept. 1918 (Ieperstraat)

Memorial plate for Lt. Juul De Winde(Lt. J. De Windeplaats, Westrozebeke)
Erected in 1938.

Memorial stone for Lt. Juul De Winde (Poelkapellestraat/Hyndrickxbosstraat, Westrozebeke)
Also erected in 1938. He died on the 29 septmber 1918, during the last allied offensive, in this area.

Memorial column for the Belgian 1st, 2nd and 3rd Reg. carabineers (Poelkapellestraat/Ommegang-Zuid, Westrozebeke)
These units liberated Westrozebeke on the 28th and 29th october of 1918.


Oostrozebeke

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Memorial plate for the Belgian 5th/15th, 6th Line Reg. and 9th Art. Reg. (Market place)
This place was taken only on the 17th of oct. 1918
The memorial is erected in honour of the regiments who liberated the area


Veurne

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Memorial plate for Lt.Gen. Baron A.E. Michel du Faing d’Aigremont (Appelmarkt)
He died in 1931 but was of importance in the Belgian army during WW I.

Memorial Plate for King Albert I (Heldenplein)
Plate in bronze, with portrait of the Belgian king.

Memorial Plate for the 3rd Batt. of th

Gepost door: Regulus op 03-07-2006 om 20:30