Need Identification of Belgian Location

Discussion in 'NW Europe' started by Doc, Feb 6, 2007.

  1. Doc

    Doc Senior Member

    I know it is a long shot, but do any of our Belgian Friends recognise the location of this photo? The people in the front are WW2 RAF, and we are trying to identify their location in late 1944. The War Monument is WWI. The inscription is: AAN ONZE GESNEUVELED HELDEN VAN DEN OORLAG 1914-1918. I believe it to be in NW Belgium, but to date have not been able to find the actual location. The photo was taken late 1944, so I doubt that the Church was destroyed in the war. Thanks for any help. Doc
     

    Attached Files:

    andy dutch likes this.
  2. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

  3. Doc

    Doc Senior Member

    Thanks for trying to help, Owen. It is conceivable that this is in southern Netherlands but I have never seen a WWI monument like that there-- and the architechture appears typically Belgian. Doc
     
  4. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    It has to be Flanders somewhere as Netherlands were neutral in Great War.
    Maybe Pich Payne could get his motorbike out one weekend and tour around looking for this memorial. :)
     
  5. Rich Payne

    Rich Payne Rivet Counter Patron 1940 Obsessive

    I think that it must be Belgium as The Netherlands were neutral in WW1 so I wouldn't expect this sort of memorial. The buildings look typical turn of the century Northern Belgian which doesn't narrow it down much. We have a bronze figure on our village memorial. They are not uncommon.



    View attachment 3806


    I don't recognise the location but I live in an area liberated by the Americans. I will try to think if I know anyone to ask. Otherwise it might be a question of looking at websites for Gemeentes in the Provinces of Antwerpen and Middle / North Limburg.

    The Church appears glass and roofless but that could well be May 1940 damage. Many churches were bombed or shelled by both sides as a precaution against use as O.P.s

    Are there no other clues on the monument ? Surnames are often quite regional here.

    Rich
     

    Attached Files:

  6. Doc

    Doc Senior Member

    I agree it is very unlikely to be the Netherlands-- I have never seen such a monument there, due of course to their neutrality. On the other hand, it could conceivably be in one of the "enclaves" of Belgium which are totally surrounded by the Netherlands, such as Bar-le-Duc/Bar le Herzog (nope, it isn't that town), which many people are not aware of and think they are in the Netherlands. Unfortunately, there is no other identifying information visible on the monument. Llike I said, it was a longshot-- I drive around northern Belgium most weekends, and have not yet been able to identify this particular town. I suspect your province suggestions are right on, but just haven't been able to find it yet. Thanks for the suggestions. Doc
     
  7. Rich Payne

    Rich Payne Rivet Counter Patron 1940 Obsessive

    Doc, I don't know how much of an obsession this is for you. You could try the newspapers over here. The Provincial paper "Het Belang van Limburg" has a daily reader's questions page and this sort of thing does sometimes come up. It is part of the same group as Gazette van Antwerpen so they may have similar. It's one of those questions where 10,000 people will all say "I know where that is !" (or the Flemish equivalent !).

    Let me know if you want details or help in translation.

    Rich.
     
  8. Doc

    Doc Senior Member

    Rich, not really much of an obsession. I am just trying to find the location to help someone else out with his researches. I hadn't thought about "Het Belang...". If a few other things don't pan out, I will give them a try. As far as "over here" goes, I live in Belgium too.... Thanks for the suggestions. Doc
     
  9. andy dutch

    andy dutch Member

    It's in Assenede- Belgium
     
    Drew5233, Cee, von Poop and 6 others like this.
  10. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    Good post, esp after all this time.

    Google Maps
     
    andy dutch and Buteman like this.
  11. Rich Payne

    Rich Payne Rivet Counter Patron 1940 Obsessive

    Good call, Andy. Not at all easy to recognise the monument itself. Various websites indicate that the monument was rebuilt in a different style due to damage by the Germans in 1944 - but the photo that started this thread indicates that it survived the liberation. The church behind has a burnt-out interior and there is archive film of that occurrence. Did something happen afterwards or was it damaged during the church reconstruction work ?

    There is an old postcard on the web showing how it looked between the wars.

    Assenede.jpg

    Assenede Helden Monument copy.jpg
     
    andy dutch, 4jonboy, Owen and 2 others like this.
  12. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    As you say Rich, says the Germans damaged it, in the OP's photo we can't see the statue's head.
    Maybe the Germans took it off.

    Oorlogsmonument, Markt, Assenede

     
  13. von Poop

    von Poop Adaministrator Admin

    And here we see why I'm puzzled that some forums delete old threads & some people get huffy about digging them up.
    A mere 11.5 years? Pfft.
     
    Drew5233, SDP, andy dutch and 3 others like this.
  14. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    At least we got a result.
    The thread on GWF didn't go anywhere.
    Need identification/location of Belgian WWI Memorial
     
  15. andy dutch

    andy dutch Member

    After 11.5 years !? :-O. Then I am very happy that you finally know the location.
    Regards from Antwerpen
     
    Drew5233, SDP and Owen like this.
  16. SDP

    SDP Incurable Cometoholic

    I've sent the OP a 'conversation' message in case 'Doc' hasn't spotted the recent responses. 'Doc' has visited the Forum quite recently albeit a couple of months ago.
     
    andy dutch likes this.

Share This Page