Stained Glass Window Sint-Eligius Church Zeveneken

In the St. Eligius church in Zeveneken, one of the stained glass windows is dedicated to the De Smul family.

Under the Saint Francis Xavier is the following text:
"To our deceased Gaston De Smul – 24 May 1916
1914 Tribute in the Eternal Glory 1918
Gift of the living in memory of the dead"
Under Gaston, the names of the father and brothers are also mentioned on the stained glass window.

The De Smul-Beirnaert family from Zeveneken was very patriotic.
Father Gustaaf and 7 of his 9 sons participated voluntarily at the front after the German invasion and defended our country during the First World War. Mother Maria Ludovica worked as a nurse in a hospital behind the front. Eugeen and Lucien who were too young to take part in the fighting. became Boy Scouts in Manchester, England.

The eldest son Gaston lived in Lokeren and studied law.
On April 8, 1915, he entered the service of the Belgian army in London as a war volunteer.
After his training in the camp of Saint-Lô (Fr.) he was added on October 22, 1915 as a soldier 2nd class to the 9th Linie Cie Wielrijders 2nd Army Division.
Seven months later, on May 20, 1916, he was hit by a rifle bullet in the Steenstraete sector. With a pierced chest and a double hemothorax, he was evacuated to the Belgian military hospital of Hoogstade located in the Gasthuis Clep.
He died there on 24 May 1916. On 26 May he was buried at the Belgian military cemetery of Hoogstade. He received several decorations: Knight in the Order of Leopold II with palm and War Cross, Victory and Commemorative Medal 1914-1918.

After the war, the family was lavishly celebrated for their heroism, a commemorative card was even issued to pay tribute to this heroic family.
A stained glass window was dedicated to them in the church.
On August 31, 1919, the family was received at the town hall of Lokeren.

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Source

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