Belgium to honour fallen WWI soldier found in Diksmuide
On the eve of Armistice Day, 10 November, Belgium will bid farewell to a First World War soldier whose remains were uncovered last year in Diksmuide, West Flanders. The ceremony, announced by the War Heritage Institute (WHI), will include a torchlight procession and a service beside the coffin.
The soldier’s remains were found in September 2024 during construction works along the Yser river. Experts from the Flemish Heritage Agency and the WHI confirmed that the remains belonged to a Belgian soldier from the First World War.
It is a rare discovery. While the Westhoek region frequently yields the bodies of British, French, German and Commonwealth troops, Belgian soldiers are seldom found.
According to the WHI, the last Belgian soldier recovered from the Great War was found in 2016, with the previous discovery dating back to 1952. This rarity is partly due to Belgium’s defensive stance during the war, meaning its troops were less involved in major offensives.
Following the ceremony in Diksmuide, the remains will be transferred to the Belgian military cemetery in De Panne, the country’s largest resting place for First World War soldiers. There, the fallen soldier will be laid to rest with full military honours, among his comrades, in the presence of officials and the public.
#FlandersNewsService | Illustration shows tombs of WWI soldiers at the Military Cemetery of Saint-Symphorien in Spiennes, Mons © BELGA PHOTO BENOIT DOPPAGNE
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