German attack in the Neerhoek

Friday 24 May: German attack in the Neerhoek.

The German attackers crossed the old Lys around 16:00 that day at the tannery "Tannerie Moderne" in Olsene, because this was the easiest place to ford. They then found a canal that was not mentioned on their maps: the Nieuwe Leie. On the west bank of it, the Belgian 19th Line Regiment was stationed. The Germans were trapped. Hence, they killed almost everyone they found in the area. Only Richard Derycke and his wife, Cyrilla Elodia Rogge, survived the massacre in the Neerhoek. Their farm, now Purfruit, was located at the very back of the Neerhoek. This is how the Germans found them first on their way.

An eyewitness relates:

Richard Derycke and Cyrilla Rogge were sitting in the basement of their house. A German soldier came and found them there and reported to his superior that he had found two civilians and asked what he should do with these two civilians. The answer was 'kaput machen'. Cyrilla began to weep and offered money to stay alive. The German soldier took pity on him and hid Richard and Cyrilla in the furnace room. At night he took them out and took them away.

Forward observatory

About this place there was a large oak tree that was used as an advanced observation post for the Belgian infantry. From this observation post, field cables ran to the various machine gun nests that were set up behind the Nieuwe Leie. A fire adjuster, a lieutenant, was later reported missing.

ludwigvan