Memorial "Battle of 't Schipken" Herzele

On October 3, 2021, a block of rough natural stone with a memorial plaque was inaugurated on the corner of the N42 and Schipstraat in Herzele. From now on, it commemorates the "Battle of
't Schipken", the joy of liberation of September 1944 that unintentionally and unexpectedly turned into a massacre.

On Sunday September 3, 1944 there was a fair in Steenhuize-Wijnhuize (Herzele).
At the same time there was also a lot of excitement: the English had captured Ronse the day before and were advancing on a broad front towards Oudenaarde, Aalst and Ghent.
Many people gathered at the major intersections, eagerly awaiting the passage of the liberators, including at 't Schipken.

The British armored units, which combed the area between the main axes, moved via the Langestraat in Zottegem to the Gentweg. They drove to 't Schipken to pass Sint-Lievens-Esse towards Aalst. They arrived in the early evening.
The crowd of people cheered and the liberators received flowers. They themselves handed out cigarettes and chocolate. They, with their column of about sixty vehicles, stopped near the Schipstraat to rest and eat. However, the British soldiers did not know this. a strong German column was on its way to the Gentweg.
The Germans had just managed to avoid a battle at the "Air Ball". Their ultimate goal was Ghent, the city was still in German hands and there they regrouped.
Normally the Germans and the English wouldn't even see each other, but suddenly... a shot!
Panic immediately broke out. Those who could, dived into the canal or took cover elsewhere.
The English and Germans looked at each other. The English tanks, still decorated with flowers, turned around one by one and turned onto the Gentweg, towards the enemy.
The German resistance was weak, completely surprised they abandoned their vehicles while fleeing.
The firefight lasted barely 30 minutes, but the intersection was turned into a battlefield with destroyed tanks and heavily damaged homes.
During the skirmishes, two people were killed and many injured. 22-year-old Lieutenant Russell of the "Royal Engineers" and 44-year-old Wijnhuizen resident Alfons Hendrickx lost their lives here at 't Schipken.

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Source

• Text: TracesOfWar
• Photos: Marie-Christine Vinck