It was under a radiant, even torrid sun that we commemorated the sacrifice of the Royal Air Force Airmen who fell in Belgium during the Second World War, as well as
Resistance fighters who helped the survivors of plane crashes to save themselves from the enemy.
This ceremony was held in the presence of the Representative of His Majesty the King. It is an honour for us to know that our Sovereign is interested in our work of Memory and this encourages us to continue
the mission we have set for ourselves: never forget!
It’s precisely at 10:00 am that our distinguished guest arrives, preceded by a military escort
Voir la vidéo (© - Eliane Keppens)
The King’s Representative was welcomed by Wilfred Burie, President of the Association "The Belgians Remember Them", by Colonel Philippe Ramaekers, Military Commander of the Province of Brabant Wallon, by Mrs Patricia Venturelli, Mayor of Rebecq and Mr Eric Verly, Vice-President of the association.
Monsieur le Représentant de Sa Majesté le Roi,
Au nom de l’association que j’ai l’honneur de présider, je vous souhaite la bienvenue ici, à Rebecq où, aujourd’hui encore, ensemble, nous allons poser un acte de Mémoire solennel
Sir the Representative of His Majesty the King,
On behalf of the association I have the honour of chairing, I would like to welcome you here to Rebecq where, once again today, together, we will make a solemn act of remembrance.
Mijheer de vertegenwoordiger van Zijne Majesteit de Koning,
Namens de vereniging die ik mag voorzitten, wil ik u hier in Rebecq verwelkomen, waar we vandaag weer samen een daad van plechtige herinnering zullen doen
This commemoration is jointly organized by the Military Command of the Province of Walloon Brabant under the orders of Commander Daniel Lebrun and the association «The Belgians Remember Them»
A detachment of 1 Wing of Beauvechain, commanded by Warrant Officer Lebrun, is the guard of honour.
The musical part of the ceremony is performed by the Royal Air Component Band, led by Chief Music Warrant Officer Jonattan Dumoulin.
Finally, pupilss from the 6th grade classes of the Rebecq Community School are with us to remember what happened here in Rebecq 78 yea
Voir la vidéo (© - Eliane Keppens)
Salutations
As I am used to saying on such occasions, patriotic commemorations are important moments because they allow us to pay tribute to all
these men and women who have committed themselves and fought at the front or in the resistance to defend peace and our freedoms but also to remember these pages of
our history, which are not just stories in our history books but real facts that took place just 80 years ago...
Read more here
Voir la vidéo (© - Eliane Keppens)
Salutations
Text will be insered asap
Read more here
Voir la vidéo (© - Eliane Keppens)
Salutations
78 years ago in September, Belgium lived its liberation from four long years of occupation and oppression imposed by an implacable and cruel enemy...
read more here
Voir la vidéo (© - Eliane Keppens)
Brennet was a collector of World War II items. Among these was the object that we will discover now.
This is the transceiver that was on board the Wellington P9296-KO-H of 115 Squadron RAF, which left Marham on 20 May 1940 to hold the German advance in the Cambrai region (France).
The plane crashed in Tourpes, near Leuze-en-Hainaut, and the six men of the crew were killed.
With Mr.Germain Brennet, we are proud to return to the British people this testimony of the courage and commitment of RAF airmen in the fight against Nazism in Europe.
I call on Mr Germain Brennet, Mr Erwin Sollie and Group-Captain John Dickson, Defence Attaché representing the United Kingdom, to come here forward.
Through research, we discovered that the John Thomas Packer Aircraftman from Sunderland, Co. Durham. was the Wireless Operator on board the Wellington that crashed in Tourpes. John Thomas Packer was only 19 years old. Belgium had only been occupied for 10 days.
Symbolically, the aircraft part was handed over to the British people. It will be exhibited in the 115 Squadron museum in Marham
Voir la vidéo (© - Eliane Keppens)
It is an honour for us Belgians to bring back to the British people this testimony of the bravery of his soldiers
Pour la Mémoire : Citation des civils rebecquois impliqués dans le sauvetage des aviateurs du Lancaster JA712-BQ-H crashé le 28 mai 1944 et arrêtés par l’occupant au cours de la rafle du 28 mai 1944:
Louis Deneyer, Mort en déportation
Giovanni Vechiatto Mort en déportation
Giuseppe Vecciatto, Mort en déportation
Arthur De Braeckeleer, Déporté; Georges De Braeckeleer, Déporté; Louis De Braeckeleer, Déporté; Joseph Mahy, Déporté
Ils furent emprisonnés à Saint-Gilles, envoyés à Breendonk et déportés au camp de concentration de Sachsenhausen. Les 4 survivants en furent libérés en mai 1945.
Guerino Bacci,
Antonio Caliman,
Raoul Debilde,
Emile Derycke,
Emile Hanon,
Maurice Hulin,
Olivier Janin,
Emile Marit,
Louis Marit,
Frans Snoeck,
Rino Vecchiato.
Ils furent envoyés à Bourg-Léopold en vue d’être déportés vers Buchenwald : Ils en furent libérés le 5 septembre 1944
Caroline Caliman,
Robert Dupureur,
Léontine Marsille,
Géry Piérard.
Emprisonnés à la prison de Saint-Gilles, ils furent chargés sur le "Train Fantôme" en vue d’être déportés vers Dachau : Ils en furent libérés le 3 septembre 1944
Enfin, nous commémorons aussi la Mémoire de Vladimir Talda, Soldat de l’Armée soviétique qui fut amené en captivité dans les charbonnages de La Louvière dont il s’échappa avec une quinzaine de ses compatriotes. Ayant rejoint le groupe des Résistants Partisans Armés 023 de Rebecq, il fut tué dans les combats de la Libération, le 3 septembre 1944. Avec ses frères d’armes, il participa entre autres au sauvetage des survivants du Lancaster de la RAF tombé à Rebecq le 28 mai 1944 et du Liberator de l’USAAF tombé à Hennuyères le même jour.
A travers eux tous, nous nous souvenons des Résistants qui ont payé de leur liberté et de leur vie le fait d’avoir secouru les survivants des crashs d’avions alliés
Voir la vidéo (© - Eliane Keppens)
For Remembrance!: Naming of the Airmen of 550 Squadron North Killingholme of the Lancaster of 550 Sqn RAF North Killingholme fallen to Rebecq on May 28th 1944
ELVIN CURTIS, PURNEY, Pilot Officer, Royal Canadian Air Force, Killed in action
THOMAS EDWARD, FLANAGAN, Pilot Officer, Royal Canadian Air Force, Killed in action
JOHN LEONARD, SHEAHAN, (Shihan) Sergeant, RAF, Killed in action
KENNETH HAROLD DE LENGERKE, Sergeant, RAF, Killed in action
PETER CHARLES, KING, Sergeant, RAF, Killed in action
They are buried to the Brussels War Cemetery of Evere
ELI, MOLNAR Sergeant, Royal Canadian Air Force, Evaded, He was rescued and hidden by Belgian resistance of the village of Rebecq.
DAVID, YARDLEY, Sergeant, Royal Air Force, Wounded, he was done Prisoner of War after been cared by Doctor Robert Dupureur
HELVARD, ARNE RHOAR, Flying Officer, 218 sqn, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, killed in action on Stirling BK712-HA-G fallen to Aarschot on 22/06/1943. He is buried with his seven fellow men in LANGDORP CHURCHYARD.
By his Danish nationality, the number of nations that have given their citizens for freedom now stands at fifteen.
And through them, we remember of all the Airmen of Royal Air Force and Commonwealth Air forces who fell in Belgium during World War 2
Voir la vidéo (© - Eliane Keppens)
The Representing of de King lays the wreath of His Majesty the King
H.E.Monsieur Alain Gendron accompagned by Colonel Marc LaFortune, Defence Attaché to the Embassy of Canada et Group Captain John Dickson, Defence Attaché representing the United Kingdom lay their wreath
M. André Flahaut, Minister of State et Honorary President the Federal Chamber of the Representings lays his wreath
Colonel Philippe Ramaekers, Military Commandander of the Province lays his wreath
Mrs Patricia Venturelli, Mayor of Rebecq, Mrs Sophie Keymolen, Députée to the Province and M. Roger Vrinds, representing the commune of Westerlo lay their wreath
MM. Eric Verly, Vice-president, representing 550 Sqn North Killingholme and Erwin Sollie, representing 115 Sqn Marham lay their wreath
MM. Willy Sonk, President of FRNI and Jean-Marie Michel, President of Souvenir Français for walloon Brabant lay their wreath
M. Wilfred Burie, President, laid his wreath
After bell "Last Post", the Exhortation is prononnced in French and in English. The minute of silence marked by the death knell is itself followed by the "Kohima" and the "Reveille" bell.
Voir la vidéo (© - Eliane Keppens)
After national anthems, the Representing of H. M. the King is led to his car
Voir la vidéo des hymnes britanique et canadien (© - Eliane Keppens)
Voir la vidéo de l'hymne européen(© - Eliane Keppens)
Voir la vidéo de l'hymne belge(© - Eliane Keppens)
Voir la vidéo du départ du Représentant de Sa Majesté le Roi(© - Eliane Keppens)
