Belgian Graves Veterans Ramsdonk

The cemetery of Ramsdonk is not that old compared to that of Kapelle-op-den-Bos. As in just about all parishes, it was originally located around the church. In 1947, the municipal council realized that there was an urgent need for a larger cemetery. A piece of land behind the presbytery was purchased and in January 1950 the new cemetery could be used. The old cemetery was partly cleared in 1952. The 10 people who were still buried in the old cemetery in 1949 were the first to be transferred to the new cemetery.

5 German soldiers of WWI were given an emergency grave in the old cemetery; they were repatriated in 1933. And during WWII there were 7 Belgian soldiers who were also repatriated afterwards. In front of the church, near the monument, a plinth of a grave of a German soldier can be found.

Due to the opening of the new cemetery in 1952, no victims of WWI and WWII are buried. Nevertheless, a veterans' perk was created at the back of the cemetery behind the Calvary.
The first veteran, Jozef Van Gucht, died in 1949, who was buried here, was transferred from the old cemetery. Frans Van de Brande, who died in 1949, was also transferred. Together with the next 12 veterans, they therefore participated in WWI. The last 2, Jan Lathouwers, who died in 1946 and Jaak Kestens, who died in 1994, were WWII veterans. This had filled the flowerbed and the following veterans are buried scattered across the cemetery.

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Source

• Text: Informatiebord Begraafplaats
• Photos: Luc van Waeyenberge