Hero's walk WWI and WWII Weststraat 1

The Heroes' Walk in Ingelmunster tells the story of several freedom fighters with a striking story from one of the world wars via various locations.
Along the route, which is just over 4 km long, you will stop at nine facades. The memorial plaques each have a QR code with which you can read the extensive stories of all the heroes.

In Weststraat 1 there is a memorial plaque for REMI RICART (1902-1944) and GUSTAAF ELISABETH (1921-1944).

In the brochure "Heldenwandeling WOI en WOII", published by the municipal council of Ingelmunster, Kurt Windels, we find the following information:

"Remi Ricart, worked at the beginning of the war in the Castel weaving mill, whose owner, Maurice De Ferrare, was active in the resistance.
His wife ran the café De Mouterij in Weststraat. Gustaaf Elisabeth lived with his parents in the Zuidstraat.

Remi Ricart joined the armed resistance on 15 November 1941, Gustaaf Elisabeth joined a year later, in October 1942.
On 4 September 1944, both men were at the canal. Remi Ricart was returning from resistance fighters in Ooigem with information in his socks. Gustaaf Elisabeth was on patrol along the canal, together with a few resistance fighters.
A few German soldiers were resting at De Wante and had put their weapons next to them. The group with Gustaaf Elisabeth watched them, came closer and managed to get hold of a few weapons.
Suddenly, a certain Couckuyt shot a rifle in the air. Accidentally or not, this attracted the attention of another group of Germans from the neighbourhood who rushed over.
Remi Ricart was cycling past at that moment and got caught up in the commotion. Because he had information that should not end up in the hands of the occupier, he did not respond to the order to stop and fled.
The Germans fired on the fleeing resistance fighters and killed Gustaaf Elisabeth and Remi Ricart."

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

Source

• Text: TracesOfWar
• Photos: Wim Wouters