Memorial cross Lieutenant Thuret

In the military camp of Lombardsijde, the memorial cross for the French lieutenant Pierre Thuret stands on a high dune.
This location at the mouth of the Yser has always been of strategic importance and several battles have taken place over the centuries.
During the First World War, this area has always been occupied by French troops with alternated front lines. The Germans called this dune hill the Heksenketel and at times both parties were only 15 meters apart.
On January 28, 1915, Lieutenant Thuret was killed in heavy fighting in these dunes. It is not known where he is buried.
On a photo taken just after the restoration of a few years ago you can read the following text on the monument:

A la memoire du
Lieutenant Pierre Thuret
7th Tirailleurs
Chevalier de la Legion d'Honneur
Decore de la Croix de Guerre
Et de la Medaille Coloniale
Tomb heroiquement a l'assaut
De la Grande Dune
Le 28 January 1915
A l’age de 26 Ans
RIP

In 2007 the memorial cross was restored and there was also a French military gravestone for an unknown soldier, whose remains were found in the 1970s when shifting a dune.

This location is not open to the public.

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Source

• Text: Jhonny Bastiaensen
• Photos: Jhonny Bastiaensen (1, 2, 3, 4), Stadsarchief Nieuwpoort (5)