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Remembered Today:

Ath, German military cemetery and communal cemetery.


christiandup

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On June 2018, the stroll " Vélo, Amitié, Souvenir " (Bike, Friendship, Memory) will be organized for the fourth time since 2014.

See:

This day, on the ground, the English, German, Belgian children shall rediscover year 1918.

Unfortunately everything is not registered in history books, it belongs to us to get some information. We hope to receive your help.

 

 

First riddle.

 

The German airman Rhem Ludwig died in Ath, on 27-10-1918.

 

Rhem Ludwig / Feldw / 28/10/ 1918 / Luftstreitkräfte /10-07-1894 Nümberg / 2810-18 / I.kr. / (Onlineprojekt Gefallenendenkmäler) ///

http://www.denkmalprojekt.org/verlustlisten/vl_luftstreitkraefte_14-18_wk1_r.htm

 

His name is not mentioned in the communal list of more or less in 1920. He is also unknown for the « Vollksbund ». Where can we honor his memory ?

 

We thank you.

 

Christian, pensioned off primary school teaching and went back to learning English after 50 years.

 

We work as a team.

 

01.jpg

Even today, the German military cemetery is little known.

We wish to discover some of its mysteries.

02.jpg

03.JPG

In spring 2017, the children planted an oak in the new communal cemetery of Ath (Lorette), for the memory of the old military cemetery. There is a short distance between both cemeteries.

image.png.85a9680e40a1dd45f985f59bec9113bc.png

This picture from Sébastien Morancé

 

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Bonjour Christian, ça va?

 

His name is Ludwig Rehm :

 

Buried in Bruxelles-Evere  (from Volksbund.de )

 

rehm.jpg.ddbc9c34b8ee957ab7fa67f767abff31.jpg

 

 

ps: he died "from illness" .  As he died in october 1918 maybe he died of the Spanish Flu ?  (La grippe espagnole)

 

And I think the picture of the aeroplane + soldiers is from before 1917, as the soldiers are wearing Pickelhaubes , and these were replaced by Stahlhelms in 1916 if I am correct.

Edited by JWK
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Hello,

 

Ludwig Rehm died in hospital in Brussels (he was at first in a Feldlazarett in Ath but was transported then to a Kriegslazarett in Brussels). He died of illness (pneumonia and/or flu) indeed and was buried in Evere.

 

The picture of the airplane may be from April 1917. As it was taken in or near Ath, which is far away from the frontline, soldiers (probably Landsturm guarding the LoC) would still be wearing the spiked helmets.

 

Jan

 

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Christian,

 

Bonsoir ! According to the Belgian War Graves Register from 1925 there were 335 burials on the cemetery at Ath, known as Ehrenfriedhof 189.  We've learned that these numbers are not always correct...

 

However, during the Interbellum a large number of burials were moved to Ath from other locations, this happened mostly in 1932.  Just before WW II there should have been some 829 burials (this does not tell us if they were all German ones).



Johan

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JKW, Jan and Johann,

 

Thank you very much for your informations.

For the airplane, we think it was taken in Rebaix near Ath.

I don't know that a large number of burials were moved to Ath ; 829 burials it is a great surprise. Here nobody knows that. Two years ago, we tought 10, 15 .....

Now, my list is updated ... with Rhem Ludwig, an Ehrenfriedhof 189, a private property, a mysterious friedhof. Now, it is a meadow surronded with a hedge, with sheeps. I have pictures, but it is private....

I wish you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

Kind regards

Christian

 

In attachment: 3 files :

The communal list of more or less in 1921 : 358 German, 5 Russians, 1 Potuguese, 3 Indians, 71 British.

 

Cimetière militaire Allemand d'Ath , inhumations, liste non datée: + ou -1920

new layout

 

Cimetière communal, Commonwealth , inhumations, liste non datée: + ou -1920, new

layout

 

 

 

 

Soldats inhumés à Ath.pdf

01 German Cemetery Lazarett Ath.pdf

02 Communal Cemetery Hospital Ath.pdf

Edited by christiandup
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During the World War One, Ath was an important rail junction. What explained the presence of several hospitals (lazarett) and also the presence of a German Military Cemetery. At least, two schools became hospitals : « l'école communale des filles » and « le Collège Saint-Julien » (Picture 01)

For « le Collège Saint-Julien » , Johann informed us that it was : « Kriegslazarett Abteilung 23 von Kriegslazarett 668 » (Service 23 of hospital 668 ?)

 

From August 25th till September 4th, 1918, the soldier Nicolas Lenhard was been looked after at the Kriegslazarett 667 of Ath.

What was this building ?

Lenhard Nicolas (picture 02) born in Lorraine (1870-1918 : Lothringen Germany)

http://meyer.famille.free.fr/ahk/index.php?fichier=le_fusilier_nicolas_lenhard.html

 

 

There were also:

  • « L'hôpital de la Madeleine ». (civil hospital) Picture Three. On december, 1918, the 2nd Australian Casualty Clearing Station had settled down there.

 

Thank you.

 

01.jpg

02.jpg

03.jpg

Edited by christiandup
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  • 1 month later...

Johan (Regulus) transmitted us two photos of the German military cemetery number 189. This cemetery was situated on the hill of « Bois du Renard » to Ath. The oldest inhabitants of our city remember this cemetery, but it is the first time that they discover it on a photo. The grave is the one of the German soldier Wilke Martin. His name was already written on the municipal list of 1921. His body was transferred to Vladslo at about the years 1955-1956. In Lorette's cemetery to Ath, the memorial plaque is now put next to the oak.

British soldiers killed during the war 40-45 always are in this Lorette's cemetery. There was also a German part in this cemetery. The Johan's third photo revived the memory of the oldest inhabitants of Ath. No official document is known. These last soldiers would have been transferred to Lommel.

--------------------------------------------------

the German military cemetery number 189

792_001_photo-militaire-deutscher-kriegerfriedhof-ath-grusse-aus-den-heimat-nov-1940 Filigrane.jpg

792_002_photo-militaire-deutscher-kriegerfriedhof-ath-grusse-aus-den-heimat-nov-1940 Filigrane.jpg

 

 

 

Cimetière de Lorette

317_001_photo-militaire-deutscher-kriegerfriedhof-ath-20-08-1940 Filigrane.jpg

 

IMG_8924.JPG

IMG_8926.JPG

 

 

Edited by christiandup
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Ath, 32 British soldiers were buried in the German military cemetery 189

Clément, 16 years old, looked hard and found these two pictures.


 

384 Quartermaster Sergeant Smith GE / S/12751 / 28-12-1918 1918 Royal Army Service Corps 55th Div. H.Q.

In what region of Great Britain lived the sergeant before the war ?

"War Diary of Intelligence Summary - December 1918":

Ath - 27.12.18 - A series of loud explosions in the vicinity of the Railway Station at Ath caused many casualties. The Quartermaster Sergeant Smith died from his wounds the next day.


 

 

 

384 PHOTO SMITH  G E.png

 

364 Lieutenant RAF Wedderspoon Jack H.B. / 06-04-1917 A / 21 years / 27th Sqdn. Royal Flying Corps / Son of W. Gibson Wedderspoon and Mary Wedderspoon, of 32, Cluny Gardens, Edinburgh, and Rangoon, Burma.


 

We would like to know the circumstances of the death of lieutenants Wedderspoon and Proud

Thank you

 

364 PHOTO WEDDERSPOON JACK HENRY BUTCHER.jpg

Edited by christiandup
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I have a picture of a burial service in Ath which shows a chapel in the background.

 

As far as hospitals are concerned, Kriegslazarett 667 was the "Ordensspital", 682 was the orphanage and 681 the communal school.

 

Jan

 

Edited by AOK4
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Hi AOK4, can you tell me what german units are in Ath the night of 10th and 11th Novembre 1918 ? There are at least 1 unit of infantery and 1 unit of artillery, and belonged to 6th Army Corps normaly. Thanks a lot !

 

Sébastien Morancé (Historian - Ath)

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Hello,

 

The 8. Infanterie-Division was located in and around Ath at that point. It belonged to the IV. Army Corps in peacetime, but to XXXX. Reservekorps when in line near Ath late 1918 (under AOK 6).

 

Jan

Edited by AOK4
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  • 4 weeks later...

Thanks a lot for your answer ! Does it exist a war diary for this regiment ? A historic study ?

No artillery unit ? 2 German soldiers (gunmen) were hitten around 11u east of Ath, according Daily Mail 13th November 1918...

Sincerely

 

Sébastien

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Unless you have their names, it's almost impossible to know to which unit they belonged. A British newspaper is not the most reliable source to find information about German casualties...

 

Jan

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Thanks a lot ! Unit is more important for me. I think it was the Torgauer Feldartillerie-Regiment Nr. 74, but as soon as more information about that, I would tell you more.

I saw Torgauer Feldartillerie-Regiment Nr. 74's history were published, but I can't find online version...

 

See you soon

 

Sébastien

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FAR 74 doesn't mention any shelling near Ath at that day and they didn't have any fatalities either.

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Hi AOK4, I found that in : http://home.kpn.nl/bi7zv3/Redirect_History_FAR_74.html ; Le Renard is a hill just east of Ath (about 1 km) ; Isières is a village at 3 km north of Ath.

 

8.11.18   Retreat to Hermann III-line, west of Leuze
Positions between Leuze-Ath road and Chapelle à Oie-Moulbaix
8.-10.11.18   Retreat to Hermann IV-line, along east-shore of Dendre river, positions east of line Isières-Le Renard
1, 3, 4/74 further forward to support infantry
10.-11.11.18   Retreat to Hermann V-line, positions between Rockja and Kl. Edingen
11.11.18   Armistice
12.11.-24.12.18  

Regiment moves back to garrison town Torgau in German

 

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I have checked the regimental history and there is nothing mentioned of casualties.

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Many thanks for your help. Just another one question : have you information about casualties and regimental history of I.Bataillon/Reserve-Fußartillerie-Regiment Nr. 1 ? Where can I find these information ?

 

Best regards

 

Sébastien

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As far as I know, there is no history of the unit.

 

Jan

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  • 1 month later...

Posted 21 december 2017,

a communal list of more or less in 1921: 358 German, 5 Russians, 1 Potuguese, 32 British, all were buried in the German military cemetery, « Ehrenfriedhof 189 Ath » . The Portuguese soldier was not identified. The Portuguese Ministry of Defence answered our request in French. It is the soldier Manuel Jeronimo.

 

« MANUEL JERÓNIMO Lieu de Naissance : São Miguel do Pinheiro, Mértola, Beja

Nom de la mère : Ana Gonçalves

Soldat nº 463 Régiment d’Infanterie 17

Bulletin individuel du Corps Expéditionnaire Portugais

Nº PT/AHM/DIV/1/35 A/2/29/25 508

Il a quitté Lisbonne le 8 août 1917

Décédé en Belgique le 18 octobre 1918

et plus tard transféré en France (Richebourg)

Nous tenons à vous informer que l’Archive Historique Militaire (AHM) a déjà mis en ligne une base de données (ARCHEEVO) disponible à l’adresse suivante: https://arqhist.exercito.pt/.

Le bulletin individuel de ce militaire est déjà disponible en ligne. (Réf. : Nº PT/AHM/DIV/1/35 A/2/29/25 508) »

 

But I do not manage to obtain on-line the individual bulletin of this soldier, or.... ?

Thank you for your help.

 

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  • 3 weeks later...

More than 100 years of existence for this barn !

It is located to Ath, along the road of Mons, not far from the railway station.

 

In 1917, the English aviation targeted the railway station, the small farm was destroyed but the barn better resisted. German soldiers lived there. They took the photo, and after the war, they sent this document to the Belgian owners.

 

In 1940, this time, it was the German aviation which bombarded the station ; again the lodging house is destroyed but not the barn.

 

In 2018, the barn is always there, but it is used as garage.

 

On the first photo, a specialist could recognize the uniform of the German soldier.

Thank you

 

A 0029 14-18.jpg

A 0030 40-45.jpg

A 0031 2016.JPG

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  • 4 weeks later...

What a very good thread.

If I have managed to understand the Excel file correctly the names from the CWGC are below.

 

https://www.cwgc.org/find/find-war-dead/results/?cemetery=IRCHONWELZ COMMUNAL CEMETERY

 

 

service  surname initials regiment  
'56724' BROWN A W Lancashire Fusiliers 2nd/5th Bn.
'100846' CONDRA W H Machine Gun Corps (Cavalry)  
'27774' DICKERSON R Lancashire Fusiliers 2nd/5th Bn.
'33190' GODFREY G R Lincolnshire Regiment 1st Bn.
'205299' HARRISON W Lancashire Fusiliers 2nd/5th Bn.
'201092' KITCHEN W Lancashire Fusiliers 2nd/5th Bn.
'205083' PORTER J Lancashire Fusiliers 2nd/5th Bn.
'57548' STEADMAN R W Lancashire Fusiliers 2nd/5th Bn.
'1076' SULLIVAN E Army Cyclist Corps 7th Cyclist Bn.
'50508' VEASEY H Lancashire Fusiliers 2nd/5th Bn.
'25350' WATTS J Lancashire Fusiliers 2nd/5th Bn.

 

Ok so now I see that there is another thread running with much information.

 

Edited by Martin Feledziak
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Mr Martin Feledziak,

We thank you for your interest and we wish to obtain your opinion, as well as that of some of your fellow countrymen about another project.

In the Mr Hone's topic, You maybe read that we had fixed a panel to the wall of the chapel Notre-Dame au Chêne to Irchonwelz, it was a tribute to 8 soldiers of the Lancashire Fusiliers killed on November 10th, 1918

 

But we hesitate to realize and to place another panel in homage to the Private Sullivan Edward killed on November 10th, 1918 for the CWGC.

 

However, in Daily Mail of November 13th the war correspondent William Beach Thomas wrote that the soldier Sullivan was killed on November 11th, and that he was the most unlucky....

 

We don't succeed in confirming this last information.

 

Only some inhabitants of Ath spoke at the time of an English soldier killed on November 11th near the sugar refinery.

Read in a Local Newspaper dated November 11th 1938 « l'Observateur »

« At dawn, three English scouts were again killed around the sugar refinery.... »

In the book « Isle of Wight in the great War (M. J. Trow)

page 94: According to the War Graves Commission the last man in the British Army to be killed in the Grat War was the Private Edward Sullivan of A company, 7 th Corps, the Cyclist Battalion, from East Ham in London. He too had come all through the war since August 1914 and he died just minutes before eleven o'clock »

 

William Beach Thomas (left), Daily Mail war correspondent, being presented to King George V at Abbeville on 9 June 1917. Photograph by Ernest Brooks. (Wikipedia)

Wikipedia.jpg

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