Tervate bridge

The remains of the original wartime bridge at Tervate can still see seen just a few dozen metres away from its modern replacement. This bridge was blown up on 19 October to prevent it from falling into German hands, but the fighting was heavy here from 14 October until 30 October, when the flood waters came.

The Tervate bridge was located in the middle of an S-bend in the River Ijzer. Once the Belgian troops crossed the river, they were surrounded by this bend on all sides, except to their front. This meant that the Germans could fire on the Belgians from three sides, so that the Tervate bend became impossible to hold. Even so, the Belgian units put up a stiff fight, particularly on 22 October - the day most associated with the fighting at Tervate, when they attempted to recapture their exposed bridgehead.

Along the river bank there is a monument to the 2nd Battalion of the First Grenadiers, who were almost wiped out during this counter-attack. Their commander - Major Count Henri d’Oultremont - was also killed.

The Belgians eventually gave up the Tervate bend, and the Germans did the same, as soon as the area became flooded at the end of October.

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