An honourable task for Reinold Haesebrouck

Reinold Haesebrouck (1892-1951) was married to Clara Van de Caeyzeele and father of five children. He worked as a labourer at La Brugeoise.

In 1917, he was seriously injured in Diksmuide in an attempt to help an injured comrade. Although he received extensive acknowledgement for this, he himself stayed in hospital until the end of 1918. The doctors removed no fewer than 42 bits of shrapnel from his body. He got better eventually, but lost his eyesight forever.

On 10 November 1922, the blind Haesebrouck was assigned an honourable task. During a ceremony at the station, he chose the unknown soldier from five coffins. This coffin was solemnly buried under the Congress Column in Brussels that same day, while the other four soldiers were taken to the military cemetery of Steenbrugge.

Vl. Toeristisch bezienswaardigheden