Peace Memorial Lede

The Peace Monument was initially intended to replace the dilapidated war statue on the Market. However, this was canceled because eventually a replica of the old war memorial was chosen.
A suitable location was sought for the new artwork, it was placed in the park next to the ruins of the Markizaat. This Marquisate site was historically significant, but its ruin is all that remains of the large complex it once was.

In the First World War, the meadows on the domain were claimed for the horses of the German troops. In 1917 the education of the canons of St. Augustine of Jupille was temporarily suspended and the buildings were claimed by the Germans and converted into Kriegslazaret with 400 beds. The injured soldiers arrived in Lede by train.
The deceased soldiers were buried in the hovingen and later exhumed with destination Germany.
In 1919 the buildings and the domain became the property of the Royal Institute of Messines. It was then a boarding school for orphans of war victims and children of disabled soldiers.
In the Second World War, the buildings were not claimed by the occupying forces, but refugees did stay there. During the liberation, Canadian and British soldiers also stayed on the grounds.

The peace monument, designed by sculptor Jean-Luc Bertel, was named "A Gesture". It consists of two steel pillars that pierce the air five meters high.
At the top of the two pillars, two human arms reach out to each other, giving the columns an expression of gentleness and kindness.
Artist Nancy Calmeyn, who sculpted the arms, sensed this message well: the greeting is not portrayed with a weak hand, but with firmly stretched fingers.

On the side is a text by the sculptor:
" A gesture
a sign
a greeting
a bridge to each other
to cross
if you have to "
J.L. Bertel

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Source

• Text: Marie-Christine Vinck
• Photos: Marie-Christine Vinck