Memorial General Augustin Edouard Michel du Faing d'Aigremont

This memorial commemorates general Augustin Edouard Michel du Faing d'Aigremont, commander of the Belgian defenders of Namur in 1914.

This memorial commemorates General Augustin Edouard Michel du Faing d'Aigremont, commander of the Belgian defenders of Namur in 1914.
Augustin Edouard Michel (Charleroi 1855) did his secondary education at the atheneum in Charleroi, then went to the Military School and took the "Special Weapons" course. He rose to all ranks of artillery. He specialized in the delicate study of large caliber artillery pieces and in 1910 brilliantly held the position of Director General of Artillery under the Ministry of War.
In 1912 he became a general and in 1913 he was given command of the 4th Army Division and became military governor of the Fortified Defense Line of Namur.

In August 1914, meanwhile a lieutenant general, he defended Namur with the help of the French 5th army, but due to the superior strength of the Germans they withdrew in time.
Via Bioul and Sosoye, in the Entre-Sambre-et-Meuse, a large part of the 4th Army division and fortress troops managed to escape the Germans and reach France. They reached Antwerp by sea via Le Havre and Ostend. The 4th Division was ordered to defend the Dendermonde loop to protect the Belgian lines of retreat.
Lieutenant General Michel then took part in the battle of the Yser and occupied the front between Tervate and Kaaskerke with the 4th Army Division until its withdrawal on October 26, 1914 behind the dike of the railway line from Nieuwpoort to Diksmuide.
On September 19, 1915 he was wounded near Ramskapelle. From December 1914 to 1918 the 4th Army Division fought at Merckem, Woumen, Clercken, Handzame, Kortemark and Zarren.
In September 1918, during the First Battle of Flanders, the 4th Division attacked in the Diksmuide sector. During the Second Battle of Flanders (Battle of Torhout-Tielt) in October 1918, he commanded the northern grouping of the attack, consisting of the 1st, 4th and 10th Belgian divisions and the Belgian cavalry division. This battle led to the Germans being released between the sea and the Leie from October 18, 1918.
Michel took part in the general offensive of the Allies, which led him to cross the Scheldt and reach the city of Ghent on November 8, 1918.
As a reward for his eminent services during the war of 14-18, he was appointed baron by King Albert I and authorized to add the words "Faing d'Aigremont" to his name.
After the war until his retirement in 1920, he commanded the Belgian troops occupying the Rhineland.

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Source

• Text: Fedor de Vries
• Photos: Marie-Christine Vinck