Belgian War Graves Couvin

There are two war graves at the Couvin cemetery.

Charles Jean Joseph DEGUENT, born in 1881, captain-commander 3rd Artillery.
Was injured in Lombardsijde. Died on April 29, 1917 in the ambulance during a procedure on the way to the l'Océan hospital in De Panne. He was 35 years old.

Robert HOSSELET, born December 15, 1940 in Couvin.
In 1959 he completed 12 months of military service with the 4th Commando Battalion stationed in Kitona. When the Belgian Congo became independent on June 30, 1960, the service of the Belgian soldiers there was extended due to insecurity.
On July 18, 1960, he was sent on a mission to Bunia to carry out a rescue operation for Belgian compatriots who were threatened just after independence.
On July 19, 1960, he was fatally wounded in Mongbawalu, 80 km from Bunia, by 3 bullets fired by Congolese soldiers. All paratroopers and the 3 aircraft were riddled with bullets during the dropping. His injuries proved fatal the next day.
He was buried in the Catholic cemetery of Bunia. In September 1963, with the permission of the Kibali-Ituri provincial government, he was repatriated to Couvin.

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Source

• Text: TracesOfWar
• Photos: Marie-Christine Vinck