The Belgian military cemetery of Marchovelette1 is a burial place for Belgian soldiers who died during the First World War. Located rue de Fernelmont, at the exit of the village of Champion to the north of the town of Namur (Belgium) it is close to the Marchovelette fort which gave it its name.
The cemetery was inaugurated on October 14, 1923 by King Albert I1, accompanied by Mr. Forthomme, Minister of National Defense, Generals Michel and Duchâteau, Mgr Thomas-Louis Heylen, Bishop of Namur and Baron de Gaiffier d'Hestroy , governor of the province.
This cemetery extends over 81 acres and has 491 graves of Belgian soldiers and 32 of French soldiers who died during the First World War. There is also the grave of a Belgian soldier who died during the Second World War. Among the 491 Belgian soldiers, 178 have never been identified. Most of the soldiers who rest in this cemetery fell during the explosion of Fort Marchovelette on August 23, 1914 when it was hit by a German 420 mm caliber shell fired by a large Bertha.
The fort's ventilation tower is visible from the cemetery. This was one of the reasons which determined the choice of this location.