Underwatering of the Geleide Lock Nieuwpoort

On October 21, 1914, the situation on the Nieuwpoort bridgehead looked so bad that the high command gave permission to flood the most western part of the polder on the north bank of the Yzer, the creek of Nieuwenhamme, with the help of the Geleide Lock.
As the French insisted on launching an offensive soon along the coast, it was out of the question to carry out major inundations on the right bank.
However, by limiting the inundation to this old arm of the Iceer, the maneuver had now acquired a tactical meaning: to protect the right flank of the Lombardsijde bridgehead.
As it was too dangerous to circulate on the lock complex during the day, it was agreed that Geeraert and Lieutenant François would go to the lock at night with a few engineers to pick up the doors.
The following day it was established that the plan had been successful and the polder was flooded, making it impossible for the Germans to carry out further attacks.

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Source

• Text: Jhonny Bastiaensen
• Photos: Jhonny Bastiaensen (1, 2, 3), Stadsarchief Nieuwpoort (4)