Battle for the Ponthoek Bridge on 24, 25 and 26 May

We have arrived at the last meander of the Lys in Oeselgem. In front of us we see the so-called Olsene Bridge, built over the Lys Canal in 2006 to replace an outdated arch bridge. Ponthoek Bridge would be a better name: it is located all the way in the Ponthoek in Oeselgem. This name would be more in line with the history of this place.

This photo, taken at the former inn "De Vrede" in the Ponthoek, illustrates why the Lys was canalized. Almost every year there were floods that made shipping impossible. This was a disaster for the industry in South-West Flanders. The excavation of the Nieuwe Leie in 1938 made it possible to sail faster and with larger ships. There was less danger of flooding, although it still happened occasionally. Notice the absence of a bridge along the road to Dentergem on the right side of the photo.

To understand the course of the battle in this place, it is important to know that the Belgians defended the Lys. The left bank of the Oude Leie at this location, the previously dynamited Ponthoek bridge and the road to Dentergem were defended by the 4th regiment Ardennes Hunters. The Germans attached importance to the capture of the road, because it led to Tielt via Dentergem and Aarsele. It was fought over for three days.

Attack of May 24

At 07:00 in the morning, the Germans attacked the bridge head-on from Olsene. They crossed the undefended Nieuwe Leie at the Ham, presumably along the Hamstraat. In this way they were able to fire on the 4th regiment of the Chasseurs d'Ardennes who were defending the Dentergem Olsene road on the right flank.

At 15:00 the Germans established a bridgehead on the left bank of the Nieuwe Leie, but by 21:00 they were pushed back.

Attack of May 25

The next day, a new attack on the Ponthoek bridge followed: frontally from Olsene and on the Belgian left flank from the Olsense farm Pereboom slightly downstream. There they had crossed the Lys by swimming. They penetrated as far as the Tapuyt. From there they attacked the 4th Regiment of the Chasseurs d'Ardennes from the rear.

With the help of the 6th Regiment of Foot Hunters from the second echelon in Markegem, the attack could be stopped around 15:00. By dusk, the Germans had been pushed back to their attacking position.

Attack of 26 May

This attack was mainly aimed at the left flank of the Belgian defences from Gottem, but the Germans were also advancing from De Ham and the Neerhoek via De Paling. Around 14:00 they had captured part of the road between the bridge and the Tapuyt from Gottem. Dentergem became their next target. Half an hour later, the Germans advanced along the Deinzesteenweg to De Vierschaar. The Belgians had little choice. Some were surrounded, others were able to retreat. At 16:00 the battle in this sector was as good as over.

A little further downstream of the destroyed bridge, the Germans built a pontoon bridge over the Lys shortly after the Battle of the Lys. It was used to transfer troops and equipment. In the background on the right is the Vermeersch mill.

Civilian casualties

During these attacks, two civilians were killed in the Ponthoek. Henri Vandercruyssen, who lived in De Vrede, was killed in Olsene. Henri rests in the old cemetery of Olsene together with 22 other civilian victims. He is also mentioned on the monument at the Oeselgem cemetery. Alfons Minjauw, who lived in the next house on the left (photo of De Vrede), was hit by shrapnel and died of his wounds. He was given his final resting place in the Oeselgem cemetery. His grave monument has since been removed.

ludwigvan