Last weekend, in towns and villages people across West Flanders Province marked the 80th anniversary of their Liberation from the Nazi yoke as the Second World War drew to a close. In Roeselare Polish forces were honoured, in Bruges, Ostend and Veurne the Canadians. In many places, special ceremonies were staged and exhibitions opened. In Bruges a parade of old army vehicles was held, while elsewhere people pariedy in 40s style.
In Roeselare, the commemoration of the liberation started with the opening of a restored command bunker. The bunker houses a permanent exhibition telling the story of the liberation by Polish forces. Local people could take part in a tour of all the places that played a role on that eventful 1944 day and flowers were laid on the spot where 8 Polish soldiers died during the liberation.
In Bruges, several re-enactment groups pitched their tents on the Kruisvest to show what daily life was like for soldiers 80 years ago. There was a dressing station, where triage was done and lightly wounded soldiers were separated from the seriously injured. The lightly wounded were patched up and sent back to the front, the seriously wounded were given first care at the dressing station and then dispatched to a field hospital or hospital. Dorine Bousse is also a nurse in real life. ‘It was completely different working then’ she says. Gloves and bandages, for example, were not simply thrown away after use, but were washed to treat other soldiers.’
On Saturday a parade of 25 military vehicles wended its way from ‘t Zand to the Market Square in Bruges. A photo exhibition also runs at the town hall till 20 October before moving to Zeebrugge.
Commemorative torch in the Westhoek
In the Westhoek District a torch of remembrance toured the area. The initiative came from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, which looks after the graves of Commonwealth soldiers, who died during the world wars. The memorial torch symbolises the memories and lessons from the two world wars that need to be passed on to younger generations.
It was lit at Talbot House in the town of Poperinge during the commemoration of its liberation.
After a special Last Post on Sunday evening in Ieper, the torch left for Leopoldsburg. In Ieper, the inauguration of a new memorial stone to the Polish liberators had already taken place in the presence of the granddaughter of the Polish general Stanislas Maczek.
Celebrations in 40s style
A number of towns chose not only to commemorate the liberation with ceremonies and exhibitions, but also to party in a style that would be familiar to the inhabitants who celebrated 80 years ago. In Wingene, a band performed hits from the era, while in De Panne there was a liberation concert.