Memorial Belgian Cyclists Company

On September 6, 1914, a Belgian corps of 1000 soldiers and volunteers arrived in Melle to take a stand against a German superior force of 42000 soldiers. That same day, a Company Cyclists of the Brussels Civil Guard was ambushed at the Fauconier Mill in Oordegem, in the outpost of the immense German Division, which is heading towards Ghent. At the mill it comes to a meeting between the German Uhlans or scouts of the reservist army led by General von Boehn and between the Brussels Civil Guards, who were part of a company of Jagers te Paard, together with gendarmes of the squadron Lebrun. The death toll is high. The captain-commander of the group of cyclists, Edmond Koning, is killed there, along with Léon Esser, two vigilantes and a gendarme.
The next day Oordegem is overrun by the mass of German troops.

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Source

• Text: Marie-Christine Vinck
• Photos: Marie-Christine Vinck