Award Military Cross Lt. R. Vekemans, Belgium Forces attached 3rd Royal Tank Regiment

brithm · Mar 3, 2022

Award Military Cross Lt. Robert Vekemans, Belgian Forces with 3 Royal Tank Regiment, 29th Armoured Brigade, 11th Armoured Division

On the morning of 4th September 1944 this Belgian Officer succeeded in stopping the Troop Leader of the leading troop of C Squadron just before he canal crossing South of BOOM on the main road into Antwerp.

He gave valuable information concerning enemy demolition preparations and covering positions on the main bridge. He told the leading Squadron Command of an alternative route over the canal by another bridge also prepared for demolition and covered by fire, but not so strongly as the main bridge.

He volunteered to a tank troop by this route and do so. Whilst this troop was engaging the enemy, he personally neutralised the demolitions, although the charges were of the remote control type and he was under armed small arms and automatic fire during this period.

As the main bridge had by now been blown, Lt. Vekemans guided the leading troop back onto its CL and then reported to Bn H.Q. Here he continued to give valuable information throughout the rest of the action. His knowledge of key points of the dock installations and centres of GERMAN resistance contributed greatly to the success of the operation. During the latter period he travelled on the back of the late CO's tank which was frequently under fire. There is no doubt that but for his assistance the entry into Antwerp might have been delayed for 24 hours
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WO 373/153/21
Vekemans pictured receiving his Military Cross from Montgomery on 10th March 1945 at an investiture at Grande Place, Brussels
IWM B15504

Chris C · Mar 3, 2022

That's pretty fantastic. I wonder what his circumstances were before he helped 3RTR? I assume from his local knowledge that he had been in the area for some time - working as part of a Belgian resistance group, maybe?

O'Boogie · Mar 8, 2023

Chris C said: ↑

That's pretty fantastic. I wonder what his circumstances were before he helped 3RTR? I assume from his local knowledge that he had been in the area for some time - working as part of a Belgian resistance group, maybe?
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Vekemans was a civil engineer who had served in the Belgian army in 1939-40. He wasn't part of any resistance group and worked alone. He was a great bloke and a lifelong friend of my father, Major John Dunlop who was the commander of C Squadron, 3RTR, the man Vekeman's needed to convince to divert the British advance via Boom rather than continue down the main road to Antwerp.

Chris C · Mar 8, 2023

O'Boogie said: ↑

Vekemans was a civil engineer who had served in the Belgian army in 1939-40. He wasn't part of any resistance group and worked alone. He was a great bloke and a lifelong friend of my father, Major John Dunlop who was the commander of C Squadron, 3RTR, the man Vekeman's needed to convince to divert the British advance via Boom rather than continue down the main road to Antwerp.
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Oh wow, thanks for sharing all these details!

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Award Military Cross Lt. R. Vekemans, Belgium Forces attached 3rd Royal Tank Regiment

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Chris C Canadian

O'Boogie New Member

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Award Military Cross Lt. R. Vekemans, Belgium Forces attached 3rd Royal Tank Regiment

brithm Senior Member

Chris C Canadian

O'Boogie New Member

Chris C Canadian

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