Van Raemdonck Brothers Memorial

Edward and Frans took part in an attack on German positions at Stampkot. After the attack, Frans did not return, whereupon Edward – against orders – decided to go and look for him. A few weeks later their bodies were found, together with that of the Walloon corporal Amé Fiévez, who was also missing.
This tragic event became a powerful symbol within the Flemish Movement and was immortalized in the pen drawing "Broederliefde" by Joe English.

2 brothers died in each other's arms during the First World War, killed in a night attack on the Stampkot in Steenstrate and lying forever in Flemish Fields as an eternal reminder of the follies of war. At the time they were both volunteers and stationed there as sergeants of the 6th Company of the 24th Line Regiment. Having died in each other's arms, their deaths in Flanders were also elevated to a symbol of brotherly love.

Edward and Frans Van Raemdonck were two siblings who were killed while serving in the Belgian Army in World War I and whose story later played an important role in popular memory of the conflict in post-war Flanders.Edward and Frans were born in Temse in East Flanders in 1895 and 1897 respectively. They volunteered for service in the Belgian Army at the time of the German invasion of Belgium in August 1914 and were serving together in the 6th Company of the 24th Line Regiment when they were killed in an attack on the village of Stampkot near Steenstrate [nl] on the Yser Front on the night of 25-26 March 1917, aged 21 and 19 respectively.