Memorial Charles Dresse Poelkapelle

When the Great War broke out, 17-years-old "Carli" wanted to volunteer. His father felt he was too young and forbade him from going. At Christmas in 1914 the boy finally got his parents’ permission and fled from occupied Belgium. He crossed the heavily guarded border at ‘s Gravenvoeren to reach the neutral Netherlands where he reported as volunteer soldier at the Belgian consulate in Maastricht.

On 28 September 1918, the first day of The Final Advance, Charles Dresse arrived with the 9th Line Regiment along the boggy Watervlietbeek. During the attack on Hill 25, the Belgian troops encountered heavy machine gun fire from the Germans. At the moment that adjutant Dresse replaced his injured commander and shouted "Forward", he died.

Charles Dresse is buried at the Belgian Military Cemetery at Westvleteren.

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Source

• Text: Informatiebord
• Photos: Luc van Waeyenberge