Memorial Belgian Regiments Geluwe

The In Memoriam Monument commemorates the men of the 2nd Cavalry Division who fell in the closing days of the Eighteen Days’ Campaign (10 – 28 May 1940). On 25 May 1940 this division took up positions on the line Dadizele-Geluwe-Wervik and was composed of several depleted regiments. They were motorised cavalry regiments 1st Lancers, 2nd Lancers, 3rd Lancers and 2nd Jagers te Paard (mounted chasseurs) together with the 2nd Carabineers Cyclists (infantry with bicycles) and the 18th Artillery Regiment (75 mm guns).

The 4th Lancers remained in support at Passendale. The armoured cars of the British 12th Lancers Regiment were to safeguard the liaison between Belgian and British troops but eventually withdrew to Ypres and the Comines-Ypres Canal. Their sector was taken over by the Cyclist Group (ex-servicemen 1st Guides) of the Belgian 17th Infantry Division.

After preliminary artillery fire and bombing - mainly of Wervik – German divisions attacked the entire frontline of the 2nd Cavalry Division from the direction of Menen in the late afternoon of 25 May 1940. Without success, however. In the early hours of 26 May new attacks forced the 2nd Cavalry Division to rereat behind the railway line Ieper-Roeselare near Passendale. This manoeuvre was followed by further heavy fighting and on 27 May. Belgium surrendered the day after.

In Geluwe alone 36 Belgians, 39 Germans and 1 British soldier were buried after the three day battle, while artillery fire was the main cause for the death of 10 civilians.

The monument was designed by the Antwerp architect Marcel Snoeys and inaugurated in 1956.

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Source

• Text: Informatiebord
• Photos: Luc Van Waeyenberge
• https://www.wervik.be/toerisme/bezienswaardigheden/monumenten-beelden-gedenktekens

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