Memorial Cie Sapeurs-Pontoniers Hiding place Cyclists

During the First World War, the area between the Yser and the Nieuwpoort-Diksmuide railway was flooded to stop the German advance. For this purpose, the lock gates of the spillway of Noordvaart Veurne-Ambacht at the lock complex in Nieuwpoort are opened on 29 October 1914.
A company of Sapeurs-Pontoniers was set up under the command of captains Thys and Umé to maintain the locks in order to maintain the flooding.
Today, in the vicinity of the lock complex, one can still find memorial plaques indicating the locations of the hiding places of these men.

The company had a cyclists section, this plaque commemorates them.

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Source

• Text: Jhonny Bastiaensen
• Photos: Jhonny Bastiaensen