Leopold Deloge
1887-1918
Leopold Deloge in 1913.
My great uncle Leopold Theodore Joseph Deloge was born in Crupet on the 30th October 1887. He was recalled to the Belgian army on the 1st August 1914 when the Germans invaded. He was a member of the 7th Regiment Artillery with the rank of Marechal de Logis. He was in 3 group/1 Battery "105mm Howitzers". It seems he was interned in neutral Holland in 1914 probably after being driven or retreating over the border during the German attack. Strangely he seems to have been shot by the Dutch while escaping, he then fought on the Yser front in Flanders throughout the war gaining three medals including the Croix de Guerre and the Chevalier dans l'ordre de Leopold II.
On the 31st October 1918 (the family always maintained it was his thirty first birthday, but he was born on the 30th) at Kerrbroek, Lotenhulle between Ghent and Bruges he was killed by his field gun being blown up either by enemy fire or his own gun exploding. He was re-buried in the churchyard at Crupet on the 12th July 1921 in plot number 980.
Funeral card of Leopold DelogeTranslation of Funeral Card
"To the glory of one of our heroes who died for his country
Non-Commissioned officer Leopold Deloge from CRUPET Died at Lootenhul on 31 October 1918 at the age of 31. Joining the army when the King called him he was at the beginning imprisoned in Holland. He revolted this forced inactivity and decided to escape and tried to join the army at the River Yser. He succeded but got shot twice, injuring his knee. He recovered in Brussels and although not recovered he went to the Yser where he stayed for 4 years. He was involved in every important action and fought like a lion. He gained 3 decorations. Until then he was never injured, and he seemed to be preserved to take part in the final triumph. God decided otherwise. On 31 October 1918, his birthday, a bomb took of his leg, broke his arm and injured him mortally. He died one hour later. In this hour an almoner took his confession. He gave the almoner his decorations and other small possessions saying 'Give them to my father' From heaven His voice spoke these comforting words. Courage father, 4 of your sons have died, one as a priest, two sacrificed for the country and another taken away from the beloved fireside. All this cruelty can't break you. God will recompense a hundred times in the eternal country, where we will pray for and wait for you. Honour to Crupet which has produced a hero of this kind."
Ernest Deloge
1882-1919
Ernest Alphonse Deloge in Soltau POW camp.
Ernest Alphonse Deloge born in Crupet 28/10/1882. He was recalled to the army on the 1st August 1914 and was a corporal (brigadier) at Position Fortifiee de Namur. He was with the units that had to defend the fortresses of Namur.
German postcard. German troops hail Austrian siege artillery
as the citadel of Namur burns in the background.
Taken prisoner on the 24th August 1914 he spent the rest of the war as a POW. The above photograh was taken at Soltau Prisoner of War Camp in North West Germany between Hamburg & Bremen, the camp held 120,000 prisoners of many nationalities. Repatriated on the 18.1.1919 he died aged thirty six in the St. Pierre Hospital Brussels on the 23.1.1919 of influenza leaving a widow, Yvonne Lorent and 6 year old son Willy.
Leopold & Ernest Deloge's names are on the war memorial in the centre of Crupet in Namur, the village where they came from.
War Memorial in centre of Crupet , next to the church. It Says
" Children of Crupet Died for their Country
1914 1918
Combatants
DELOGE LEOPOLD
DELOGE ERNEST
DAFFE LEOPOLD
PIERRE STEVENS
PUISSANT HENRI "
Joseph Deloge
1887-c.1914
Joseph Deloge worked in the buffet in Namur railway station. In August 1914 it is believed, he was hung from a gun by drunken German soldiers and died next day age 39 from the shock. The German Army committed many atrocities against Belgian civilians in August 1914 in Belgium.
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