Memorial Colonel Jean Tachet des Combes Yvoir

Opposite the war memorial in Yvoir is a memorial stone for Colonel Jean Tachet des Combes.

"Glorious memory of the French colonel Tachet des Combes
Commander of the 129th I.R. and to the 154 French officers,
non-commissioned officers and soldiers fallen in the Yvoir region
during the defense of the Meuse from May 12 to 15, 1940"

On May 12, 1940, the French cavalry withdrew and started crossing the Meuse again. Colonel Jean Tachet des Combes, who was then in charge of the Yvoir subsector, crossed the Yvoir Bridge around 4 p.m. to check on the preparations for bunkering the bridge and to make contact with the retreating cavalry officers.
Around 4:15 p.m., a German vanguard arrived on the Belgian side, consisting of tanks and vehicles, and the battle began.
Colonel Jean Tachet des Combes, sheltered from the explosions behind a dike, accompanied by the Belgian sergeant Gillet, ran down the road where he was at the shooting range.
He was hit for the first time. The Belgian sergeant went to save him and brought him back to the safe place.
Despite his wounds and the insistence of the Belgians, the colonel ran forward again only to be hit a second time, this time fatally.
The bridge was blown up but the Belgian side remained in German hands.
Presumably Colonel Jean Tachet des Combes wanted to rejoin his men before the bridge was destroyed.

Do you have more information about this location? Inform us!