During two different parcelling work in Diksmuide, the mortal remains of the fallen from WW1 were recovered. A given that is still taking place regularly. It was striking that in addition to the remains of French soldiers, the remains of Belgian soldiers were also found.
Thus, in June 2016, the remains of four killed soldiers were recovered. Soon it became clear that it was one French soldier and three Belgians. The Belgians all belonged to the 12th Line Regiment. This could be deduced from the uniform buttons with the number 12. In addition, personal artifacts were found on the bodies such as pipes, scissors, a bottle of French perfume, a pistol, a pencil, a comb,...
The boys, buried in a trench, were on the 'German' Bank of the Yser, which concluded that they were killed between 16 October 1914 and 10 November 1914. This resulted in a list of 30 missing persons.
Historical documents, including sketches of the positions of the 12th Line regiment, show quite accurately where the various companies were buried in order to deny the Germans access to Diksmuide. By laying this sketch on the aerial photograph of today, one came to the conclusion that the site of the mortal surpluses was approximately correspond with the positions of the 2nd Compagny of the IIth battalion of the 12th Line Regiment. From the battle reports of the 12th Line Regiment, a document was drawn up on October 24, 1914 by Commander Cogneaux, commander of the 2nd Compagny, IIthe Battalion of the 12th Line Regiment, very interesting.
In this report the soldiers Pintens, Jacquet and Destrer are mentioned as being buried together at 18.00 hrs. For Destrer who was from the 3rd company, it soon appeared that his name was phonetically drawn up and soldier 'Dethier' probability could be the third fallen.
With the names Pintens, Dethier and Jacquet a genealogy research was started. A number of possible survivors were effectively found who were willing to release a DNA sample. On the basis of DNA found on the remains, the Soldiers Petrus Pinter and Gerard-Joseph Dethier were positively identified. By deduction based on the historical documents, it may be decided that the third soldier is Félix Jacquet.
In September-October 2016, the mortal remains of three soldiers were found. Originally, it was assumed only Belgian soldiers were involved. Later it would appear that it was two French and one Belgian soldier from the 11th Line Regiment. Due to the large number of missing persons from the 11th Line regiment in the Kaaskerke-Diksmuide sector, there was no further connecting point, which prevented identification.
On July, 1, 2018, these fallen were given their final resting place on the Belgian military cemetery of De Panne. But first there was a brief, intimate ceremony on the site of the Trench of Death in Diksmuide. One by one, they were loaded into an authentic Ford T-Ambulance by Patrouilleurs (Living History Group in uniform from 1918). After a brief explanation by Lt-Colonel Rudy Baert of the War Heritage Institute, the Last Post was blown. The national anthem also echoed.
Before the ceremony, a short interview was taken of Lt-Col Rudy Baert
Although still quite early in the day, the Sun showed its presence
The ambulance Ford T which transported the coffins with the remains of Diksmuide to de Panne
Some explanation by lt-Col Rudy Baert
One by one, the coffins are carried to the ambulance by the Patrouilleurs (uniform 1918)
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Last Post
Brabançonne
The military column drove via Veurne to the Military Cemetery of De Panne
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