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Jules Cyrille Deraedt
Information about birth
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Date of birth: 31/10/1893 |
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Place of birth: Zonnebeke, Belgium |
General information
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Last known residence: Zonnebeke, Belgium |
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Profession: Day laborer |
Army information
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Country: Belgium |
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Force: Belgian Army |
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Rank: Private Second Class |
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Service number: 29631 |
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Enlistment date: 30/08/1915 |
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Enlistment place: Camp d'Auvours, Champagné, Sarthe, France |
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Units: — 14e Linieregiment (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 29/09/1918 |
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Place of death: Langemarck, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 24 |
Cemetery
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Begraafplaats Zonnebeke Plot: Crypte Row: Unknown Grave: Unknown |
Distinctions and medals 2
Points of interest 4
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Last known residence | ||
| #3 | Enlistment place | ||
| #4 | Place of death (approximate) |
My story
Jules Cyrille Deraedt was the son of Richard Deraedt and Euphrasie Noyez. He was born on 31 October 1893 in Zonnebeke and remained in the village, where he earned his livelihood as a day labourer. Jules enlisted on 30 August 1915 and was part of the “Contingent spéciale de 1915”. This meant that, due to the occupation of Belgium, he could not enlist in the normal way. He therefore reported to the Belgian army at Camp d’Auvours near Le Mans in northern France. After his registration, he was assigned by a recruitment commission.
Jules served in the 6th company of the 2nd battalion of the 14th line regiment as a private second class. He was killed on 29 September 1918 near Langemark.
On 28 September 1918, the Allied Liberation Offensive began. In the Ypres Salient, six German positions had appeared on the battlefield, which were continuations of earlier German positions. The defensive lines were divided into four front lines and two rear lines, with a 4 km wide zone in between, where strongpoints were built. The first four positions were the following: the Frankenstellung was an old trench with bunkers mainly from 1917; the Preussenstellungen I and II were two fortified lines connected by a continuous barbed-wire line; and the Bayernstellung consisted of more isolated constructions. This last line was mainly intended to accommodate retreating troops from the first lines.
The two rear defensive lines were located on the West Flanders ridge and consisted of the Flandern-Stellungen I and II. First there was the Flandern Stellung II, which was not only the oldest but also the strongest. The line consisted of two rows of bunkers. The Flandern Stellung I was located about 5 km behind the ridge and was intended to protect Roeselare. The concrete constructions that formed part of this line were well camouflaged.
On 27 and 28 September 1918, the 14th line regiment prepared for an attack on these German positions, with the 9th line regiment on their right flank and the 1st regiment Jagers on their left side. The 2nd battalion, of which Jules was also part, had taken positions west of the Steenbeek.
At 2:30 a.m., a barrage announced the attack. German troops responded to the shelling with gas shells. Three hours later, at 5:30 a.m., the 14th line regiment began its advance. The Preussenstellung, Frankenstellung and Bayernstellung were taken. German soldiers were captured and equipment seized. Around 10:30 a.m., five hours after the start of the attack, the regiment had advanced about 2 km. The attack was paused and the 14th line regiment entrenched itself.
On 29 September, the attack on the Flandernstellung resumed, this time with the 2nd battalion in the lead. The German troops resisted with machine guns and heavy artillery. Around 12 o’clock the regiment had passed the road from Vijfwegen to Westrozebeke. The heavy barrage and the many casualties caused the advance to be stopped. The regiment spent the night in the positions.
Jules was killed by multiple wounds over his entire body at the age of 25. After his death, his father received the war cross and the knight’s cross in the Order of Leopold II. On 2 October 1918, he was buried in Langemark. More than three years later, on 29 October 1921, his remains were repatriated and he was given a grave in the Crypt at the cemetery of Zonnebeke.
Jules served in the 6th company of the 2nd battalion of the 14th line regiment as a private second class. He was killed on 29 September 1918 near Langemark.
On 28 September 1918, the Allied Liberation Offensive began. In the Ypres Salient, six German positions had appeared on the battlefield, which were continuations of earlier German positions. The defensive lines were divided into four front lines and two rear lines, with a 4 km wide zone in between, where strongpoints were built. The first four positions were the following: the Frankenstellung was an old trench with bunkers mainly from 1917; the Preussenstellungen I and II were two fortified lines connected by a continuous barbed-wire line; and the Bayernstellung consisted of more isolated constructions. This last line was mainly intended to accommodate retreating troops from the first lines.
The two rear defensive lines were located on the West Flanders ridge and consisted of the Flandern-Stellungen I and II. First there was the Flandern Stellung II, which was not only the oldest but also the strongest. The line consisted of two rows of bunkers. The Flandern Stellung I was located about 5 km behind the ridge and was intended to protect Roeselare. The concrete constructions that formed part of this line were well camouflaged.
On 27 and 28 September 1918, the 14th line regiment prepared for an attack on these German positions, with the 9th line regiment on their right flank and the 1st regiment Jagers on their left side. The 2nd battalion, of which Jules was also part, had taken positions west of the Steenbeek.
At 2:30 a.m., a barrage announced the attack. German troops responded to the shelling with gas shells. Three hours later, at 5:30 a.m., the 14th line regiment began its advance. The Preussenstellung, Frankenstellung and Bayernstellung were taken. German soldiers were captured and equipment seized. Around 10:30 a.m., five hours after the start of the attack, the regiment had advanced about 2 km. The attack was paused and the 14th line regiment entrenched itself.
On 29 September, the attack on the Flandernstellung resumed, this time with the 2nd battalion in the lead. The German troops resisted with machine guns and heavy artillery. Around 12 o’clock the regiment had passed the road from Vijfwegen to Westrozebeke. The heavy barrage and the many casualties caused the advance to be stopped. The regiment spent the night in the positions.
Jules was killed by multiple wounds over his entire body at the age of 25. After his death, his father received the war cross and the knight’s cross in the Order of Leopold II. On 2 October 1918, he was buried in Langemark. More than three years later, on 29 October 1921, his remains were repatriated and he was given a grave in the Crypt at the cemetery of Zonnebeke.
Sources 2
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Anciaux, L. Deelname van het 14de Linieregiment aan den Oorlog 1914-1918 (Brussel: La Belgique Militaire, 1924), 46-47. Sources used |
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Militaire verdedigingswerken uit de Eerste Wereldoorlog in de frontzone (Onroerend Erfgoed, 37). https://inventaris.onroerenderfgoed.be/themas/37 Sources used |
More information 2
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Belgian War Dead Register https://wardeadregister.be/nl/soldier/14898 |
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Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=56824736-9E14-11D4-AAFC-FCE7E4D57649 |