Cinderella Cemetery… after the school ball, off to the battlefield of Europe!
Adegem Cemetery is a moving cemetery.
It is striking how many young soldiers were laid to rest here. Many young guests had just left school and after the school ball, they headed for Europe. Those who rest here died in the Flemish fields… for our freedom!!!
This fact grabs you by the throat and makes you think…
We Will Remember Them
Of the 1155 soldiers who were laid to rest here, 848 are of Canadian origin.
Many young soldiers who still had to live their lives lost their lives here in the battles around the Leopold and Schipdonk Canals for our freedom. Many did not make it to the liberation of the Scheldt estuary. The young Canadian soldiers were thrown straight into the battle without any combat experience. The toll of young lives for the liberation of the Scheldt was enormous.
“But never have so many to thank for so few soldiers who died in proportion”.
RESPECT…
Origin of the cemetery: The cemetery, located on the former repair site for damaged army vehicles (tanks, etc.), was already put into use during the turbulent war period, autumn and winter 1944 - 1945. The deceased were removed from the vehicles and buried on the repair site.
Furthermore, entire aircraft crews are buried here in this cemetery. Some gravestones are so close together that they form a small group because identification was practically impossible.
Also striking are the 33 war graves of Polish soldiers. These are located on the right side of the cemetery. The gravestones are different from the British and Canadian ones.
What is remarkable about these Polish graves is that they have 2 names on them.
Explanation: Polish soldiers had enlisted under a false name. This was to avoid their families in their home country getting into trouble (reprisals) in the event of capture. Even the fighters did not know each other's real names but only knew each other by their aliases. That is why the gravestones have a double name so that they can later honour their comrades.
Adegem Cemetery is an open cemetery, on 15 September 2016 the last found Canadian soldier Kenneth Donald Duncanson was reburied with his comrades. He died in Moerkerke during fighting at 't Molentje, located next to the canals that were to be conquered.