The first ceremony on
the Canadian cemetery


On 8, 9 and 10 September 1945 grandiose Peace and Liberation Celebrations were organised in Adegem "that all from near and far who could walk" came to see. Adegem had indeed a few trump cards more than many other towns. First of all there was the military air field, abandoned but for the very first time open to the public. Then there was the Canadian Cemetery, the layout of which had begun early 1945 and that was as good as finished in the Summer of that same year.


The Peace Parade


The float with a huge picture of King Leopold was made by the girls of the Kruipuit district. The float halted in front of the town hall and a great many powerful voices praised the still banished monarch.


The float of the Work Parcel received a lot of attention. Adegem sent no less than 2,000 parcels with a total weight of 15,000 kilogram (30,000 pounds) and with a value of 30,000 francs to deportees in Germany.

On Saturday 8 September the Peace Festivities started off with a parade in which the whole town took part. Besides the many dressed up groups there were also 20 decorated floats. In the "Noordduif" (Northern Dove) and in "Vrij Maldegem" (Free Maldegem), both still printed on real war paper, we see a long article with pictures of the parade. Because it is so deeply impregnated with the spirit of those days we quote here extensively from it:

Successful Peace Parade

In glorious weather the parade started off at 3 p.m. with 40 spirited horsemen who flew high the national flag and the farmers' pennants. It was a uniquely beautiful start.

The local brass band society, still ever so young, was excellent. They can also be proud of their "Saint Cecilia" float.

The "Saint Sebastian" archers in typical dress looked rather thirsty. Except for that they are no doubt real good guys ! The K.A.J. (Catholic Workers Youth) which leads through a new youth to a new humanity, sang its young idealism with enthusiastic voices. And so also did the feminine B.J.B. (Association of Young Farmers' Wives) who were repeatedly applauded by the crowds. The sweetly blushing farmers' wives who portrayed a Flemish wedding feast with their clapping little white clogs on the greyish cobbles, also harvested approval from everyone.

The two "Gusts", August Schyvinck and August van Nevel, who feted their sixty year sworn friendship jubilee, a "symbol of sixty years of uninterrupted peace", rolled past in a buggy decorated with flower garlands. Very nice.

Adegem also remembered the infamous "coal battle" the production of which keeps going up and up. The Belgian population warms itself thanks to the atom stove that burns atom coal. Had Achiel seen that, well, he would certainly have laughed but perhaps through the other side of his face. The men of the ball club of the Appletree didn't let that dampen their enthusiasm. And rightly so.

The "People and Land" float made by the Moerwege district was typically original: black pigs, buttermilk, butter, geese, eggs from Fritz; in front of them an inspector with a briefcase under the arm and deep wrinkles on his forehead. And the result of all that hard work: a bag of money (not a stocking) that our poor (!) farmers had to take to Gutt. (Translator's note: Gutt was a now long forgotten Prime Minister who dramatically increased taxes). You can imagine how everyone laughed and laughed.

Of course the absence from this parade of the heroic deeds of the Gestapo, life in Germany, the return of the deportees and the inglorious retreat of the German herrenvolk could not be allowed. Neither could the absence be allowed of a warm tribute to our allies, to the war dead (the most beautiful float) and to the work of the Red Cross. Adegem, congratulations to you for your work and for the 2000 parcels valued at 30,000 francs and weighing 30,000 pounds which you sent to Germany. That was real solidarity of the people. Congratulations !

As a worthy ending, the King's Sheaf float, made by the Kruipuit district, and a mighty speakers choir with a poem by Gustaaf De Keyser. (Translator's note: and dedicated to King Leopold)

People from Adegem, you are a credit to your country. Let's hope the words of the speakers choir come true:

"All honest men
Are unanimous in their wishes
They all want Him back,
And QUICKLY !"

After this folkloristic parade that dealt with the occupation in a humorous and serious way, the liberation party on the Airfield got under way. For three whole days there were popular games, there was a big fancy fair and people had fun with all sort of amusements. In Aircraft Shed Number 1 there was every evening a cabaret to be admired. They played record after record and everyone was allowed to tour the bunkers, the boxes, the aircraft hangars, the runways and the broken wings. There was a cyclocross for the young, in which the local hero Triphon De Laere took part, and on Monday 10 September the best professional bike racers (among them the two Ryckaerts) competed in a "Criterion for Aces".


The march to the Canadian Cemetery


During the solemn service in the church there was a bier in the choir, covered with a Belgian flag. We see burgomaster Leopold Van Waetermeulen and lieutenant-colonel Houdmant.


The village priest, Renatus Kochuyt offered incense on the graves of i.a. count de Grunne and knight Lagasse de Locht, who during the eighteen day campaign died for their fatherland.


In the court of honour on the former Adegem cemetery we see constable Albert Notteboom, lieutenant-colonel Houdmant during his speech, burgomaster Leopold Van Watermeulen, Jozef De Prest, M.D., Arnold Welvaert and the pennants of several patriotic associations.

On Sunday all the inhabitants of Adegem and all the relatives of the fallen soldiers came together in church where a solemn service was celebrated all the people from Adegem who had died in both world wars and for all those who lost their life during the war on the soil of Adegem. The church was packed and everyone listened attentively to the sermon of army chaplain Verstraete who preached about reconciliation and peace.

After Holy Mass came a homage to the soldiers who fell in May 1940. It was a very moving ceremony because a good many widows and relatives of those buried in Adegem had come to the commemoration. Present among them was the widow of Count de Grunne. Staff Officer Lieutenant Colonel Houdmont addressed those present and highlighted the sacrifice and heroism of those who died.

After this ceremony in the Adegem municipal cemetery a great parade was formed. It went from the town center to the Canadian Cemetery. The brass band The United Friends led the procession followed by the students of the private schools for boys and girls, the pupils of the municipal school, the patriotic societies, the delegates of the allies, burgomaster Van Waetermeulen, the aldermen, the town councilors, other prominent personalities and interested parties. The whole crowd marched to the cemetery on the Prince Baldwin Avenue. The heavy army vehicles and the military who accompanied them drew admiring glances from many.


A very impressive march preceded by the children of Adegem left for the first time for the just finished military cemetery. As one can see on the Prince Baldwin Avenue there were hardly any houses. The procession has reached the Van Landschoot slaughterhouse. We see master Robert Schelstraete, master Germain Boes, the school children with, in the background, the musical society and on the extreme right miss Maria De Baets. The wreath was carried by Marie-Madeleine Notteboom and Jeannine Thuys.


War veterans from Adegem come forward along a column of army vehicles

The first commemoration ceremony took place in a deeply moving and serene ambience full of gratitude. Indeed all present had lived and personally felt the war and the liberation and therefor everyone knew full what this was all about. Father Kochuyt and chaplain Verstraete blessed the graves and the cemetery and led in a short prayer service. There were the speeches by the burgomaster Leopold Van Waetermeulen, who expressed his recognition to the allies, by a representative of the Canadian army and by lieutenant-colonel Houdmont. The children put a flower piece on every grave-mound and the number of wreathes about the temporary wooden Cross of Sacrifice went up and up. After the national anthems of Belgium and Canada everyone left the Canadian Cemetery, in silence and deeply impressed. With this very first commemoration ceremony Adegem had shown her gratitude.


Burgomaster Van Waetermeulen and the military authorities go onto the cemetery.


Colonel Houdmont during his address in front of what was then still a wooden Cross of Sacrifice.

The Adegem Peace and Liberation Festivities were appropriately closed on Monday 10 September with a liberation fireworks display, because the party had had a liberating effect on the population.

 

 


© Hugo Notteboom / Heemkundige Kring Het Ambacht Maldegem, 1994
Translated in English by Denis Noë

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