Memorial Soumagne

This stêle, at the former municipality of the village of Soumagne, commemorates the soldiers from Soumagne from the 1st World War. It also commemorates the civilian victims who died as a result of acts of war during the 1st days of the war.

It indicates that between August 5 and 10, 1914, German troops killed 112 men, 4 women and 7 children. Also, 101 houses were burned down and destroyed. The village of Soumagne was on the advance route and was therefore overrun. No resistance was tolerated.

It should be remembered that on August 5, 1914, the war was only 1 day old. The German troops were on their way to Liege, bound by a timetable to pass the heavily defended city of Liege as quickly as possible in order to invade France through the north. The timetable followed was the so-called "Von Schlieffen Plan," which presides over preventing a two-front war for Germany. The time needed before Russia mobilized its troops should be used optimally to defeat France so that troops could then be deployed in the east. This part of the "Von Schlieffen Plan" did not tolerate delay. The advance had to proceed according to an established timetable.

Fallen on the field of honor

BLANCHY Servais, age 21, soldier in the 14th Line Regiment, killed by a fractured skull on Januari 28th 1915 near De Panne, West Flanders. His final resting place is at De Panne Military Cemetery, grave E-106.

BOUSSART Marcel, age 22, soldier, killed June 10th, 1915 near Kaaskerke, West-Flanders. His final resting place is the De Panne Military Cemetery, grave N-183.

CLAR Clement, age 27, soldier with the 14th Line Regiment, killed in action at August 6th, 1914 at Queue-du-Bois. Private Clar is buried in the Rabosée Military Cemetery.

CONSTANT Gaspard, age 20, private of the 12th Line Regiment, killed on June 19th, 1916 at Diksmuide, West Flanders. His final resting place is in the Sougmagne municipal cemetery.

DUBOIS Mathieu, age 34, soldier of the 12th linieregiment. Killed August 6th, 1914 at Herstal. His final resting place is in the cemetery of Herstal-Rhées at Herstal.

FRENAY Joseph, age 25, sergeant with the 2nd regiment Carabiniers (rifle carriers). Killed on September 28th, 1918 at Poelkapelle, West Flanders. His final resting place is in the Sougmagne municipal cemetery.

HUSTING Jospeph, age 22, private with the 14 Line Regiment. Killed Sept. 29th, 1914, at Heffen (Antwerp). His fate after death is unknown. He is listed as missing.

TRILLET Martin, age 23, soldier in the 14th line regiment. Killed at Boortmeerbeek (Brabant) on September 12th, 1914. His final resting place is in the Sougmagne municipal cemetery.

ZOLER Noël, 21 years old, soldier of the 5th Lanciers regiment, killed on September 12th, 1914 at Wijgmaal (Brabant). His final resting place is in the Military Cemetery of Wijgmaal.

Died in captivity

LAMBERT Thomas, age 21

PIROTTE Leon, soldier with the 12th Line Regiment, died June 15th, 2018 in Germany, Mülheim an der Ruhr. His final resting place is in the Sougmagne municipal cemetery.

SCHEFFER Jean

Died as a result of injuries sustained

GERADON Leon, 27, sentry in the 18th artillery regiment. Died in the field hospital of Beveren aan den Yser, on October 29th, 1918, almost 2 weeks before the armistice !). His final resting place is in the Sougmagne municipal cemetery.

GABBELS Nicolas, age 19, soldier in the 3rd Engineer Regiment, pioneer company. Died of wounds (chest and shoulder) at De Panne on June 7th, 1916. His final resting place is in the Sougmagne municipal cemetery.

HANQUET Joseph, age 24, private with the 6th line regiment, died of wounds on October 15th, 1914 in the hospital of Antwerp. His final resting place is in the Sougmagne municipal cemetery.

VOS Joseph, soldier with the Carbinieirs Cyclistes (gun carriers on bicycle). Died on February 26th, 1918 in the field hospital of Hoogstade, West-Flanders, as a result of a bullet wound to the head. His final resting place is in the Sougmagne municipal cemetery.

WANSCHOOR Alexandre

The above victims are also commemorated on the monument in Soumagne cemetery.