War Memorial Gouvy

Rue 'd Eglise/ N827, 6670 Gouvy

Belgium Luxembourg Gouvy

The war memorial at Gouvy commemorates the Belgian soldiers and veterans of the First and Second World Wars. It also commemorates a number of allied soldiers who died in Gouvy during the 1st World War.

The monument has about 8 panels. 2 panels commemorate the fallen soldiers from both world wars. One panel commemorates the veterans, and 3 panels commemorate some allied soldiers.

A special feature of this monument is that the statue of the Belgian soldier has 8 so-called front stripes on his left sleeve (see photo 4). They were only worn on the left sleeve. Soldiers and corporals had these stripes in red, for NCOs in silver and for officers in gold.

These front stripes were awarded during World War I for every six months served in a combat zone at the front. A combat zone was considered an area within artillery range. The first stripe was only awarded after one year of service at the front. One could thus “earn” a total of 7 front stripes. The 8th was automatically awarded if one had acquired the 7th front stripe.

The front stripes also featured a monetary allowance on top of one's pay.

On the right sleeve, unlike front stripes, the so-called wound stripes were worn. These too were in the same colors for the various ranks. A wounding stripe could only be awarded after being wounded in battle. (The soldier of this memorial does not wear these injury stripes).

These stripes also had a monetary allowance on top of the pay.

From the 1st World War are remembered

GASPARD Lucien, 27 years old, from Gouvy, corporal of the 12th linieregiment, killed on August 6, 1914 at Liège.

MALMENDIER Arthur, age 21, from Gouvy, corporal in the 12th linieregiment, killed in action on August 5, 1914 at Herstal.

LALOY Joseph, age 33, from Vielsalm, corporal in the 14th line regiment, killed on December 25, 1914, Christmas Day.

BOULANGER Joseph, age 23, from Gouvy, corporal in the 10th linieregiment, died of wounds on June 11, 1915 in the military hospital of Rennes (France).

DEFACQZ E-J Léon, age 33, from Havelange, sergeant 1st class with the State Horse Guard, died of progressive general paralysis on July 27, 1917 at the military hospital of Châ teaugiron (France).

SERVATIUS Joseph, age 24, from Bovigny, corporal in the 13th line regiment, died of wounds on October 14, 1918 at Graveline (France) in the Belgian military hospital.

BOSET Emile, age 24, from Gouvy, sergeant in the 15th line regiment, died January 11, 1919 at Gouvy from wounds received during the war.

From the 2nd World War are remembered

FLAUSCH Joseph, age 25, from Gouvy, soldier in the 1st Regiment of the Ardennes Hunters, killed on May 12, 1940 at Temploux.

SCHMITZ Nicolas, age 23, from Gouvy, soldier in the 5th Ardean Hunters regiment, killed on May 12, 1940 at Temploux.

BLANJEAN Omer, age 24, from Vielsalm, gendarme of the 2nd regiment, killed May 17, 1940 at Wolverthem (Flemish Brabant).

LOMRY Marcel, age 26, from Gouvy, corporal in the 5th Regiment of the Ardennes Hunters, killed May 12, 1940 in Temploux.

MELCHIOR Zephirin, age 29, from Gouvy, soldier with 25th linieregiment, killed on May 12, 1940 at Braives.

CREMER Jules, 26 years old, from Gouvy, lieutenant in the 3rd Ardean Hunters regiment, executed on May 10, 1940 at Tailles (Houffalize).

Allied soldiers commemorated

Three Italian servicemen of the 1st World War.

ZIGA Sante, from San Giovanne de Bieta from the province of Rome, died of wounds on April 26, 1918.

OSIERA Luigi, from Prado of the province of Potenza, died of wounds on May 1, 1918.

MAZZONI Aurigo, from San Nicolao Angelino of the province of Florence, died of wounds May 23, 1918.

Two French soldiers from World War I.

CORRE Yves, from Brest, wounded near Reims, died of wounds June 5, 1918.

MARIN Raoul, living in Auxon, died of wounds on November 12, 1918, 1 day after the armistice !

Three Russian soldiers of the 1st World War

MICHAILOW Semion, died of wounds on July 27, 1916.

IVANOW Peter, died of wounds on September 14, 1916.

SOSIS Iochenon, died of wounds on September 14, 1918.

Eight 1st World War British soldiers buried in the cemetery near the church. They were transferred to the British military cemetery at Heverlee on January 9 and 10, 1952.

WADDAMS James, age 35, soldier in the Machine Gun Corps, died Oct. 31, 1918.

DUXAN Fhos, mistakenly entered on the memorial, refers to DIXON Thomas, age 20, soldier with 1st Regiment Durham Light Infantry, died October 17, 1918.

LOWERBY, erroneously entered on the memorial, concerns SOWERBY William, age 20, soldier with 1st East Yorkshire Regiment, died October 20, 1918.

BELL Edgar, age unknown, corporal in the Royal Engineers, died October 7, 1918

GREEN John, age 25, soldier in the Royal Field Artillery, died October 1, 1918.

HUMBY Percy, age 19 !, soldier with the 1st Durham Light Infantry regiment, died October 31, 1918.

PRICE John Thomas, age unknown, soldier with the 1st Northumbrian Field Ambulance regiment of the Royal Army Medical Corps, died October 31, 1918.

ROBINSON Henry, age 28, soldier with the 8th Battalion of the East Surrey Regiment, died October 31, 1918.