Belgian War Graves Kieldrecht

Between June 1944 and March 1945, Germany launched hundreds of 'Vergeltungswaffen' on England, France and the newly liberated Belgium, in revenge for the Allied bombing raids on German cities.
The V1, an unmanned aerial vehicle full of explosives that produced a typical whirring sound, quickly acquired the nickname "flying bomb".
On March 22, 1945, a V1 bomb hit the Dorpsstraat in Kieldrecht, causing death and destruction. 19 innocent people were killed, 160 injured and 40 houses were destroyed.
The civilian victims are buried together in the local cemetery. Among them a couple with their 4 daughters, only the son escaped because he was studying at the seminary.

At the municipal cemetery of Kieldrecht are also some graves of fallen soldiers:

Jozef DE WILDE was killed on May 12, 1940.

Lodewijk ROGIERS belonged to the 14th infantry division, cyclist group 1st squadron. Died on May 10, 1940 at the blockade on the bridge over the Maas in Maaseik when it was stormed by a number of German soldiers disguised as Dutch Rijkswachters.

Gilbert WARRENS was a soldier with the 5th Line 2nd Battalion 6th Company.
On the second day of the fighting (21 May) he was fatally wounded in Kwatrecht by a drill cartridge while helping wounded comrades in arms.

Gustaaf BERNAERT was a sergeant with the 17th line 3rd (or 4th) battalion. He was killed in action on 23 May 1940 in Deinze during the withdrawal to the Leie.

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Source

• Text: Marie-Christine Vinck
• Photos: Marie-Christine Vinck
• Het Laatste Nieuws (20.3.2020)
• Bunkergordel Bruggenhoofd Gent, lijst van gesneuvelde Belgische soldaten tijdens de 18-daagse veldtocht.