Belgium soldier’s headstone

[Tony Lund]

I came across this official looking headstone in Edgerton Cemetery at Huddersfield. I am assuming the man died at Huddersfield. Any information?

Thanks Tony.

[Tom Morgan]

Tony -

"Gestorven voor Belgie" = "Died for Belgium."

"Patria Memor" = "Mindful of the Fatherland"

Tom

[Tony Lund]

Thanks, I will check the local papers for him.

Tony.

[CROONAERT]

Tony.

His full name is Henri Gregoire Ruyters. I also have him listed as rank: Soldat, unit: unknown. However, he seems to be a civilian in the employ of the military.

Dave.

[Tony Lund]

Thanks, is that headstone the Belgium equivalent of our CWGC ones?

Tony.

[Terry Denham]

This headstone is in the current Belgian national style as applied to Belgian war graves in the UK when the graves are in the care of CWGC.

Belgian war graves used to have grey headstones bearing metal plaques with the casualty's details and an enamelled disc bearing the Belgian national colours of red, yellow and black as below.

[CROONAERT]

Belgian war graves used to have grey headstones bearing metal plaques with the casualty's details and an enamelled disc bearing the Belgian national colours of red, yellow and black

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...and still do. The headstone portrayed above is the standard Belgian headstone still to be encountered in the Belgian cemeteries, which are cared for by the local communities and the military (there is no "Belgian CWGC").

As Terry has stated, the Huddersfield headstone is the standard Belgian headstone for a Belgian wargrave that's in CWGC care (anywhere, not just the UK).

Click HERE to see some further examples of foreign graves in CWGC care.

Dave.

[Terry Denham]

the Huddersfield headstone is the standard Belgian headstone for a Belgian wargrave that's in CWGC care (anywhere, not just the UK).

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Dave

It is a little more complicated as there is a chronological difference.

The Huddersfield stone is the NEWER style of stone used for Belgian graves in CWGC Care. The picture I added (from Brighton) is an example of the old style of stone.

[CROONAERT]

Dave

It is a little more complicated as there is a chronological difference.

The Huddersfield stone is the NEWER style of stone used for Belgian graves in CWGC Care. The picture I added (from Brighton) is an example of the old style of stone.

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Terry.

I can understand that the old stones ,when replaced, are replaced with the CWGC stone (a la Huddersfield) , but who supplied the stones you refer to as the "Old" style?

I ask this as it's the "standard" Belgian headstone found in non-CWGC care and which is still in use, and is still being manufactured when needed in Belgian cemeteries.

I take it (in the case of the UK graves and any other belgian grave in CWGC care) that the Belgian Military supplied the original stones, the CWGC supplied the care and, when necessary, the CWGC are supplying the replacement stones?

Dave.