Wayside Cross Georges Romedenne

Road cross Georges Romedenne, Bessemerweg Noorbeek

In "D'r Bessemewaeëg" there is a small stone memorial after about 100m on the right in the embankment. Quite inconspicuous, less than a meter high. In front of it and next to it a few flowers, that's all. The "cross" is provided with a text that reminds us of the heroic deed performed by Georges ROMEDENNE for Noorbeek.

Georges ROMEDENNE was a Belgian born in Fléron, Wallon, a young man with a great patriotism. In the last days of the 1940-1945 war, the Germans withdrew from the occupied territory. This is also the case from the Walloon town of Fléron. The once proud occupier felt the hot breath of the Allies on his neck and made a defeated impression. Romedenne saw the Germans fleeing Fléron in a hurry and shouted in a loud voice, clapping his hands: "Vive la Belgique, Vive la Belgique". The Germans could not tolerate this, grabbed him and handcuffed him. They took him with them on their retreat through the Voer region towards Noorbeek. In Noorbeek a stop was made and a small drinking party started in the house of the Duijsings family. Georges was placed on a bench in front of the house and they told him to sit there. Otherwise, punitive measures would follow for the population of Noorbeek. Romedenne could easily have fled, but stayed put, despite the fact that the people of Noorbeek ordered him to do so. Georges said to them, "When I flee, 10 of your fellow villagers will be arrested and shot." When the Germans came out again, they took Georges as far as the Bessemewaeëgske, robbed him of his possessions and shot him dead with two shots in the neck. He was left there and the inhabitants of Noorbeek took the body to the barn of Michel GUBBELS where Mrs. Johanna HODIAMONT laid him out. He was temporarily buried in Noorbeek and later reburied in Fléron. The people of Noorbeek were proud of Georges Romedenne and honoured him with a simple cross (Source: http://www.wegkruisen-crhiswillems.nl).

At the cross there is also a poem by Edward VAN ROSSEM from 2004 about George ROMEDENNE.

Eijsden-Margraten