War Memorial Visé

Monument in honour of the first two infantrymen of the 12th infantry regiment of the Belgian army.

They died on August 4th 1914 on this location while defending the bridge over the river Meuse. Lodewijk Maulus and Prosper Van Gastel.

Here died the first 2 Belgian infantrymen
Maulus L
Van Gastel P
12th Infantry Regiment

On the left side of the monument you will find a smaller monument with more information about the 12th Infantry Regiment. Both soldiers were from Antwerp.

The 12th infantry regiment got involved in the war from August 4th 1914, glorious until the armistice in 1918.

Under commander Major Collijns, since August 1st responsible for the left river bank of the river Meuse, the villages of Lixhe and Hermalle. The 12th Infantry Regiment was the first regiment fighting the advancing Germans. They were forced to withdrawal and suffered the first loss of casualties, two men from Anvers, fell near the bridge

MAULUS Lodewijk
VAN GASTEL Prosper

Several brave residents from the neighbourhood Devant-le-Pont risked their lives trying to retrieve the remains of the two soldiers.

Jean Maquet, died during the attempt
Libert Kinet , got injured
Léon Prijot, succeeded the next day

Both soldiers were first buried in the cemetery of Devant-le-Pont but later transferred to the field of honor in the Lorette municipal cemetery of Visé. They are also commemorated on the monument Aux Morts next to the town hall of Visé.

Private Maulus, age 23, is also remembered on a plaque in Antwerp's St. Paul's Church. He is remembered as the first soldier of Antwerp who was killed during World War I.

Private Van Gastel, age 22. A little less is known about him. But it can be assumed that he too is remembered in the church of St. Paul on the plaque as an Antwerper killed in the 1st World War. (Further research is needed to confirm this).

Do you have more information about this location? Inform us!

Source

• Text: Ed Lewandowski
• Photos: Ed Lewandowski
• www.bel-memorial.org
• www.wardeadregister.be