Memorial Corporal Emile Cady

This memorial commemorates Corporal Emile Cady who died on 10 May 1940 during the defense of Bastogne.

Translation of the text on the memorial:

Passer-by
Stop!
Here was killed on May 10, 1940
Corporal Emile Cady as a hero
The first Ardennes Hunter
That fell for the defense of
Bastogne

The right side of the monument contains a small concrete defense structure from the Devèze line.

Between 1933 and 1935, about 300 to 400 of these small concrete defense structures were built on the eastern border of Belgium. The advanced position they formed was named after its initiator, the then Belgian Minister of National Defense Albert Devèze. The defenses north of the Amblève were connected to the Fortified Position of Liège and those south of the Amblève were to be manned by the Ardennes Hunters.

In this advanced position, resistance had to be offered in such a way that the French ally could come to the aid of Belgium in time. After the end of Albert Devèze's term, Belgium opted for neutrality and the construction of alert posts directly on the eastern border (Eastern Border Alert Posts of Belgium). Most of the concrete defenses of the Devèze line were therefore unoccupied in May 1940.

In general, the concrete defenses of the Devèze line are standardized in four variants. They consist of one room measuring 3.25 by 3.30 meters and a wall thickness of 40 to 60 centimeters. They are manned by 3 to 4 troops with a (light) machine gun as main armament. The single loophole is equipped with a steel protective plate that, together with the four ventilation grilles, forms a clearly recognizable appearance.

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

Source

• Text: Frits Kruishaar en Barry van Veen
• Photos: Lennard Bolijn (1, 2, 3), Marie-Christine Vinck (4), Barry van Veen (5)