Memorial Louis Henri Legrand Mouen

The steps to the memorial for Louis Legrand read in 3 languages:
"In honor of all those who died for our freedom"
The text on the monument is also in 3 languages (Dutch, French and English).

"In memory of
Major Louis Henri LEGRAND D.S.O.
Belgian Officer
attached to the 29th Armored Brigade
and the 23rd Hussars.

Killed in action on June 27, 1944
in his tank Sherman no.149901
"Liberator"
with his British crew
Tpr. W.APPS
Tpr. W. BLACKETT
Tpr. A. HOWARTH
Tpr. A.SALT

For the liberation of the continent,
Belgium and its king,
true to his motto
"Ad atra per ardua"

Major Henri Legrand DSO was a Belgian army officer who fought in the Battle of the Leie in the Belgian campaign in May 1940. He was captured but was able to escape and flee to England via Spain. There he was recruited into The Sherwood Rangers and fought in the Battle of El Alamein (1942).
In September 1943 he was assigned to the 29th Armored Brigade as an instructor. Legrand had an expert knowledge of artillery and the regiment quickly made use of his expertise.
On June 15, 1944 he landed as a tank commander with the 23rd Hussars in Normandy
On Tuesday, June 27, 1944, Legrand and his crew were killed when their tank was hit by anti-tank fire at Mouen, southwest of Caen. Three Shermans were destroyed, including that of Major Legrand, who was burned with his entire crew. His remains were never found
The monument in his honor was inaugurated on June 7, 1994, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary. It was founded by the National Federation of Belgian War Volunteers together with the municipality of Mouen.