Monument commemorating Old Sart

At the beginning of the First World War, the German troops advancing towards Liège avoided marching through the valley of the Vesdre and the major access roads across the open and vulnerable plateau of Herve. They chose an alternative route via Soiron, Olne, Saint Hadelin, Magnée, and Romsée before launching an attack on the city of Liège. They passed through Olne on August 5, 1914, but were immediately hit by a shell fired at them from the Fort of Fléron. Convinced that the residents of Olne had betrayed them, they executed the municipal secretary and the vicar of Olne as an example. They pressed on and arrived at Saint Hadelin, where at the foot of the 'route du Rafhay' they were again shelled from the forts of Fléron and Chaudfontaine. The German troops fled to the hamlet of 'Neuville' and attempted to reach Magnée via the countryside paths over Fawaux, Riessonsart, and Les Heids, using the 'chemin de la Carrière.' However, they were closely monitored by some scouts hidden in the bell tower of the church in Magnée! Convinced it was the population that had betrayed them, they captured 45 residents of Saint-Hadelin and executed them. 24 of them were herded together in the hamlet of 'Vieux Sart' - at the site where a memorial now stands. Other 'Olnois' were shot at 'les Heids.' One last man was ordered to push the German cannons to Romsée with about ten other hostages, where they were brutally gunned down at a place called 'Soxhluse.' In total, 65 innocent civilians lost their lives on the territory of Olne on August 5 and 6, 1914, including 57 residents of Olne itself. Various places in our municipality still remind us of those events today... First, there is the memorial at the main entrance of the town hall - to the left and right of it hang the names of the Olnoise victims. A monument established in 1920 by Pastor Fossoul honors the municipal secretary M. Pondcuir and the vicar of the church. In Faweux, there is a memorial opposite the school for several victims, including the teacher. There is also a commemorative stone at 'les Heids,' but the largest monument stands at 'le Vieux Sart,' carved in 1934 by the stonemason Hoffer from French stone (from the Baune region), in honor of the 57 Olnoise dead. The monument depicts a figure lying under a cross surrounded by flames from which the bust of Christ rises... The municipality of Olne is restoring the monument for the 100th anniversary of the start of WWI in the municipality of Olne...

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