The visit in 1954 of Prince Albert,
Prince of Liege (Luik)



Punctually at 9:40 and exactly in accordance with the scenario Prince Albert is welcomed by Paul Migeon at the end of Church Street in Adegem. The dignitaries look on and smile.

Because of the tenth anniversary of the liberation and the tenth commemoration in the Adegem War Cemetery (for the Belgium-Canada the commemoration of 1945 also counted) president Migeon thought something special ought to happen and he invited a member of the Royal Family to the commemoration ceremony of September 1954 "to give added lustre to the ceremonies that will take place on 12 September next in the Adegem Cemetery" (pour rehausser les cérémonies qui auront lieu, le 12 septembre prochain, au cimetière d'Adegem).

Mr Migeon received on 10 August 1954 a letter from the Cabinet of the King to inform him that his Royal Highness the Prince of Liege "has charged me to let you know that his Highness has gladly accepted your request and will be present at this tribute to the Canadian soldiers who fell in combat for our liberation."

Adegem as well as the Belgium-Canada Association ordered all hands on deck. The town center was given a thorough going-over, the cemetery received a special clean-up, the monumental gate was given a fresh lick of black paint, every last blade of grass was removed from between the street cobles and in the town hall all necessary improvements were made.  The town mobilized all members of its personnel to make sure everything was perfect because nothing could be allowed to perturb the great day.

The General Field Marshal of the Court had given P. Migeon on 10 September precise personal and confidential instructions ("à titre personnel et confidentiel") concerning the princely visit.  The Prince left the Palace of Laeken at 8:20 accompanied by Colonel Stacquet flight adjutant of King Leopold III.


Accompanied by General Marchau the prince marches through the village to the town hall. The band of the 2nd Infantry Brigade paid tribute while on the other side the members of the K.S.A.-Eeklo and Adegem (K.S.A.= Catholic Student Action) formed a guard of honour. 

He would arrive in Adegem at 9:40 and would have to be welcomed near the town hall by Paul Migeon, Ambassador Hébert, who was there for the first time, Governor Mariën of East-Flanders, P. Vermeylen, the Interior Minister and by Lieutenant-Colonel Marchau, representative of the Ministry of Defense.  After reviewing the Band of the Second Infantry Brigade and the detachment of Canadian and Belgian soldiers he went to the town hall where he was received by burgomaster Albert De Kesel who said among other things: "It is for the town of Adegem a great honour to welcome your Royal Highness on its territory.  Every year the population empathizes with the moving ceremonies taking place here in this town in the church and in the Canadian Cemetery.  It wants, in its own discrete way but nonetheless sincerely, to contribute to the homage paid by the various dignitaries to those who fell for the liberation of our land and who are committed to the consecacred earth after their supreme sacrifice not far from here."

The burgomaster also briefly alluded to the Royal Question: "You are no doubt not unaware of how attached our Flemish country people remain to the Royal Dynasty, to the person of his Majesty King Boudewijn, to his Majesty King Leopold, your august Father, whose name we do not pronounce without deep and heartfelt emotion."

In the meantime the two detachments managed to take up positions to the left and right of the church entrance.  At 9:45 a.m. assistant bishop Joliet and father Van Damme welcomed the VIP and lead him to his prie-dieu in the choir.  The church filled up with many dozens of invited personalities and in the choir there were many colourful flags of  patriotic associations.  At about 10:30 the prince went back to the town hall to give everyone the opportunity to go to the Canadian cemetery.  The people were not allowed to proffer or to throw flowers to him and in the cemetery all loud acclamations, tributes or  cheers were forbidden.  In the town hall the prince was introduced to the Board of Directors of the Belgium-Canada Association, the aldermen and town councillors, the members of the Commission for Public Welfare and the guests.

At about 11 o'clock the Prince got back into his Cadillac and was driven to the Canadian Cemetery where he was received by Mr Taylor, head of the North-Eastern District of the Imperial War Graves Commission and by Mr. Hogg, Belgian representative of this same Commission.  The Prince went to the central Cross of Sacrifice where the absolution was sung by the clergy.  Mr P. Migeon and Ambassador Hébert delivered a short speech and the Prince laid a wreath at the foot of the Cross.  After the Last Post and the national anthems of Canada and Belgium the royal guest returned to Laeken where he was expected at approximately 12:40.  The town council invited the other guests to a reception in the town hall.


The royal guest leaving the Saint-Adrianus Church in the company of Mr Paul Migeon.


At the town hall the VIP was welcomed by burgomaster Albert De Kesel.


When the Prince arrived at the cemetery it started to rain quite heavily but apparently that didn't appear to bother him very much.

Up to now we have described in detail the things that happened but of course without a word about the atmosphere then reigning in Adegem.  As the hour for the arrival of the royal guest approached the nervousness mounted: burgomaster De Kesel and President Migeon paced nervously to and fro; the school children stood eagerly looking out for the Prince and near the town hall the veterans from both World Wars talked to each nervously and behind tense cables hundred of inquisitive onlookers stood jammed together hoping to catch a glimpse of the Prince.  Now and again a little rain fell but on this occasion it was no killjoy and occasionally a ray of sunshine even managed to get through.

Punctually on time the black limousine arrived in the town center.  Orders were barked.  The band struck up a joyful tune, the children waved their flags and "Long live the Prince" or "Vive le Prince" could be heard everywhere.  The walk from the town hall to the church was something of a triumph and it looked like the shy Prince didn't know how to handle this.  As usual the choir of the Notre Dame Church of Tielt conducted by Father Thorez added lustre to the Requiem Mass. The bier was covered with the Canadian, Polish and Belgian flags.  Three Canadian and three Belgian soldiers formed the guard of honour.  The church itself looked very festive and colourful.

After the service Prince Albert walked back to the town hall where he signed the guest book: "Albert, prince of Belgium" wrote the Prince of Liège.  In the meantime a huge parade formed in Adegem's town center.  It was preceeded by the K.S.A. Band of Eeklo and followed by a great many associations, groups and organizations, the United Friends from Adegem, Adegem's school children etc.  The band and the military detachments were brought to the cemetery in army trucks.

The interest of the public and the VIPs was incredible and the foot of the Cross of Sacrifice was covered with masses of wreaths and bouquets.  When Prince Albert had signed the guest book of the war cemetery he left under great acclaim (even though that was forbidden).


With an approving eye Paul Migeon looks on when the guest book of the Belgium-Canada Association and the Cemetery Register are signed.

After the reception in the town hall the Belgium-Canada Association held a more intimate luncheon party for some of the invitees one of whom was embassador Hébert and the most gracious ambassadrice ("et la toute gracieuse ambassadrice").  In Adegem the liberation festivities continued throughout the afternoon and in the evening the town council laid on a splendid fireworks display for the population.

The local as well as the national press paid special attention to this ceremony:
'De Gentenaar' (Ghentener) newspaper: "Adegem paid tribute to the liberators of the Flemish regions.
Impressive ceremony on the Canadian Cemetery in the presence of His Royal Highness Prince Albert."
'Het Laatste Nieuws' (The Latest News): "Remembrance of the fallen Canadians.  Pilgrimage to the military cemetery in Adegem in the presence of Prince Albert."
'Het Volk' (The People): Belgian-Canadian remembrance day in Adegem in the presence of the Prince of Liege.  Flower tribute in the military cemetery."
'Het Nieuwsblad' (The Newspaper): "The liberation commemoration in Adegem, attended solemnly by Prince Albert."
'Vooruit' (Forward): "The annual ceremony in the Canadian Cemetery in Adegem. H.R.H. the Prince of Liege present."
'Le Soir' (The Evening): "The Prince of Liege attended the ceremony of remembrance in the Canadian cemetery of Adegem" ("Le Prince de Liège assiste à la cérémonie du souvenir au cimetière canadien d' Adegem.").
'La Dernière Heure' (The Last Hour): "In the presence of the Prince of Liege. Ceremonies in honour of the Canadian dead at Adegem."
'La Flandre Libérale' (The Liberal Flanders): "The commemorative Ceremonies of Adegem. Prince Albert at Adegem." ("Les Cérémonies commémoratives d'Adegem. Le prince Albert à Adegem.")
'La Métropole': "At Adegem, homage to Canadian soldiers."
'Vrij Maldegem' ('Free Maldegem'): "Impressive ceremonies at Adegem."

Ambassador Hébert was very impressed with the ceremony and wrote just that on 14 September in a letter of thanks to Paul Migeon: "For a long time I will keep a moving souvenir of the touching Ceremony of Remembrance at Adegem... I already knew about the unpretentious grandeur of this ceremony from my predecessor, but I was specially touched by the piety with which the ceremony went off in the cemetery and I now take this opportunity to thank you for your dedication".


Invitation from Adegem town to attend the ceremony.

 

 


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

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