Memorial Air Raid 17 October 1917

The war memorial is attached to the front of the house at Balsemboomstraat 100. It recalls the air raid on October 17, 1917, in which 11 houses were destroyed and 17 residents died.
According to some, the target of the bombardment was the harbour, another source previously suspected that the German barracks at Kazernevest (a stone's throw from Balsemboomstraat) were the target.

The monument, in memory of WWI, was erected on July 31, 1927 and consists of a brick niche containing the statue of Our Lady of Woesten.
Under the niche is a memorial plaque with a text and the names of the victims.
The plaque was unveiled by Queen Elisabeth on July 31, 1927.

During the nightly air raid of October 17, 1917, eleven
houses destroyed and buried under rubble"

Below that in 2 columns the names of the victims with age :
Ardoulie Leonie
Janssens Juliette – Alfons – Blanche – Gabrielle – Germain – Leona
Beuckelaere Louis-Maurits
Caster Omer – Susanna
Delaender Anna
Lebacq Yvonne
Noe Dominic
Raeymackers Blanche
Schouteet Alice
Balbaert Marie"

Below: "Sint Jozefs Wyk
To the victims
7/31/1927 "

Sources: Hangar flying - Open Monuments Bruges

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Source

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