Memorials First World War Rillaar

The facts
When the Germans break through the Getelinie and the Belgian army retreats to the fortress of Antwerp, the battalions of the 14th and 26th Line regiments provide cover on August 18, 1918 east of the Aarschot.

August 19, 1914, about 4 a.m. At dawn, a Belgian reconnaissance patrol sneaks into Rillaar. The German troops were marched from Scherpenheuvel to Rillaar. Three German scouts gallop into the village on horseback. They are noticed by the Belgian soldiers and the riders are ambushed. Within a few moments, two Germans, including Lieutenant Graf von Platen, were fatally hit. The third rider flees injured. The Belgians withdraw to the battalion stationed at kilometer marker 18 and wait. The Germans think they have been shot at by francs-tireurs. This thought is reinforced by the fact that one of their buddies is said to have been bayoneted. Rillaar will not escape the revenge of the Germans. Their guns attack the village from the Mannenberg. German troops then storm Rillaar. 34 homes are set on fire. A citizen loses his or her life. In the death certificate, the pastor notes: flammis combustus (consumed by the flames). The inhabitants of Rillaar flee, but several of them will be shot that day at the Lei in Aarschot.

About the plaques
In the Saint Nicholas Church of Rillaar, two hard stone memorials with gilded letters hang from the westernmost pillars. According to the indications on the plates, they date from 1919. This is the earliest date for a memorial monument in the merged municipality of Aarschot. One memorial entitled crudeliter occisi (cruelly murdered) contains the names of civilian casualties who died in the raid on Rillaar or who were executed on the Lei. The other memorial stone with gloriosis occubuerunt (honorably deceased) gives the names of the fallen soldiers of the parish. At the top of the plates are the banners of the fatherland and the laurel crown of victory.

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Source

• Text: Jan Rymenams
• Photos: Jan Rymenams