Memorials 't Oud Brughuys Berlare

Opposite 't Oud Brughuys on the Scheldedijk is a lamppost with wartime history.
When the bridge was dynamited, the lampposts fell into the Scheldt. At the end of the last century, dredgers removed a bluestone pedestal from the water. On the occasion of the 90th anniversary of the Battle of Berlare, it was restored and now graces the site as a memorial.

The plinth reads "Municipality of Berlaere" with a relief of Martinus van Tours (patron saint) cutting off a piece of his cloak to give to a beggar.
At the very bottom is a small sign with the text:
Commemoration October 3, 2004
From 4 to 8 October 1914, Belgians fought here against the Germans
to secure the retreat of the army from Antwerp to the Yser "

A memorial plaque hangs on the side wall of "'t Oud Brughuys":
"Reverent reminder
the Belgian Regiments
in the Battle of Berlare October 4 to 8, 1914
KNSB Berlare October 4, 2014 "

From 4 to 8 October 1914, heavy fighting took place when Belgian troops tried to prevent the advancing German army from crossing the Scheldt via the bridge between Schoonaarde and Berlare. The bridge over the Scheldt was already blown up on September 29 by the Belgian engineers. Thanks to the delay that the Belgian army was able to force from the German army at Berlare, the vast majority of the Belgian soldiers were able to escape in Antwerp. After days of German artillery bombardments, the Belgian troops had to admit their defeat on 8 October. In the meantime, the Germans had also succeeded in erecting an emergency bridge across the Scheldt at the Konkel.
All in all, there was relatively little damage in Berlare afterwards; most of the houses remained habitable. The human toll was higher, in total 68 Belgian soldiers and 2 Germans died.

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Source

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