Arne Vandendriessche Posted 15 April , 2021 Share Posted 15 April , 2021 Hey, I found a gamelle in Beselare in Zonnebeke. It was an aluminum container to put food in, the lid served as a gamelle and that's what I found. The manufacturer of the game is Xavier Buisset. Xavier Buisset former mayor of Vilvoorde between 1906 and 1920. He had a metal factory in Vilvoorde. Gamelles were made there, among other things. According to some sources, these were used by the German soldiers and the Belgian soldiers during WW1. Most remarkable is that on the lid (the bottom of the gamelle) the soldier has scratched his initials. His initials were WJ. I know this probably isn't possible, but with all your knowledge I have tried this question: is it possible to find out who owns this? I found it here: (https://www.google.be/maps/place/50%C2%B051'30.1%22N+3%C2%B000'35.4%22E/@50.858611,3.0093458,289m/data=! 3m1! 1e3! 4m6! 3m5! 1s0x0: 0x0! 7e2! 8m2! 3d50.858357! 4d3.009829) Greetings Arne Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arne Vandendriessche Posted 16 April , 2021 Author Share Posted 16 April , 2021 Hi, If you don't see the letters, I've marked them here. I know this is almost impossible but any information about the manufacturer or use of the gamelle is welcome. Links to online lists of German and Belgian soldiers are also welcome. Greetings Arne Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matlock1418 Posted 16 April , 2021 Share Posted 16 April , 2021 Arne, A nice find - thank you for posting on GWF. :-) M Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arne Vandendriessche Posted 16 April , 2021 Author Share Posted 16 April , 2021 Thank you, Sorry I only ask questions on this forum for now, It is because my collection of maps and my knowledge is not yet as big as yours. As soon as I can help someone, I will happily do this. Greetings Arne Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matlock1418 Posted 16 April , 2021 Share Posted 16 April , 2021 Arne, No problem - You are making a great start. The knowledge will come. Take care, :-) M Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dai Bach y Sowldiwr Posted 16 April , 2021 Share Posted 16 April , 2021 HI Arne, I'm sorry, but I must admit total ignorance regarding researching German soldiers. But there are some formidable experts on here who might be able to point you in the direction of relevant resources and research tools. I'll try and bring this thread to the attention of @The Prussian, @GreyC and @AOK4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Prussian Posted 16 April , 2021 Share Posted 16 April , 2021 Hello! That´s funny... How can we determine a german name with those initials? You also could ask for the name of a belgium soldier from Flanders whose second name starts with "van ..." Unfortunately that is impossible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AOK4 Posted 16 April , 2021 Share Posted 16 April , 2021 Even more: when was this piece dropped there? It could be from after the war. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arne Vandendriessche Posted 16 April , 2021 Author Share Posted 16 April , 2021 16 minutes ago, The Prussian said: Hello! That´s funny... How can we determine a german name with those initials? You also could ask for the name of a belgium soldier from Flanders whose second name starts with "van ..." Unfortunately that is impossible. Hi, I don't know myself, that's why I'm asking here. I thought maybe if you have the names with those initials and then take out those who have been with beselare that you wouldn't have that many names left. Greetins Arne Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arne Vandendriessche Posted 16 April , 2021 Author Share Posted 16 April , 2021 20 minutes ago, AOK4 said: Even more: when was this piece dropped there? It could be from after the war. Hi Jan, indeed, That possibility is still there. Greetings Arne Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arne Vandendriessche Posted 18 April , 2021 Author Share Posted 18 April , 2021 Hey, I already know a little more about the soldier. The Germans had been on the ridge at Molenaarelsthoek and Broodseinde since 1915. Only on October 4, 1917 will the Germans be expelled here by the British. In April 1918 the Germans will re-occupy the ridge, only to withdraw in September 1918 after a British, Belgian attack. The soldier probably lost his gamelle during that British, Belgian attack. Normally he did not die during this attack. I don't know if you can find out more about him yet? Greetings Arne Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Prussian Posted 18 April , 2021 Share Posted 18 April , 2021 Hello! Here is a map from that time for September 1918. Probably he was Bavarian. In that area were the 11th and 12th Bavarian divisions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arne Vandendriessche Posted 18 April , 2021 Author Share Posted 18 April , 2021 Thanks, So the man I'm looking for is a Belgian soldier. I will no longer have to search between German documents. Greetings Arne Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AOK4 Posted 18 April , 2021 Share Posted 18 April , 2021 Arne, No it is not possible and it won't ever be possible. The area was used during the four years of the war and it may have been something left behind even after the war (military stuff was often still used in the period just after the war when the area was cleared). There's no way to identify whomever owned this piece by just two initials. Jan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arne Vandendriessche Posted 18 April , 2021 Author Share Posted 18 April , 2021 (edited) Zijn er lijsten met namen van Belgische soldaten die de oorlog hebben overleefd? Groetjes Arne Edited 18 April , 2021 by Arne Vandendriessche Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arne Vandendriessche Posted 18 April , 2021 Author Share Posted 18 April , 2021 Hi Jan, Ok I hadn't read your message yet. Greetings Arne Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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