Category Archives: Belgian Army

Belgian Army, Belgium, Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, history, photography, Soldaat, Somerset, story, unknown, war

Soldaat Armand Luchies

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Soldaat Armand Luchies

Armand Joseph Marie Luchies was born in Antwerp, Belgium, on 3rd October 1888. Little accessible information is available for his early life, but when war broke out he joined the Belgian Army as a Soldier.

There is no confirmation of how Soldaat Luchies came to be in the UK – it seems likely that he was either injured or became unwell and was evacuated across the English Channel for treatment. Whatever happened, he passed away in Bath, Somerset – probably at the city’s War Hospital – on 9th August 1918. He was 29 years of age.

Armand Joseph Marie Luchies was laid to rest in the Roman Catholic Cemetery in on the outskirts of the city in which he died. The inscription on his headstone reads “Wie spreekt van dood leeft hij niet eeuwig in ons hart.” (“Whoever speaks of death does not live forever in our hearts.”)

Belgian Army, Belgium, Commonwealth War Graves, Corporal, Great War, history, illness, Korporaal, photography, Somerset, story, war

Korporaal Paul Vandermersch

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Korporaal Paul Vandermersch

The funeral took place on Friday last, at Bath, of Paul Vandermersch, second son of Paul Vandermersch, Divisional Chief, Provincial Administration, Western Flanders. Deceased passed away the previous Tuesday at 86, Shakespeare-avenue, Bath, at the early age of 22. He had served in the Belgian Army, but suffering from phthisis, he was invalided out.

Catholic Times and Catholic Opinion: Friday 14th January 1916

Paul Pierre Arnold Joseph Vandermersch was born on 11th April 1893 in Bruges, Belgium. Details of his early life are scarce, but it is clear that he was the son of Paul and Louise Vandermersch.

During the First World War, Paul served as a Korporaal (Corporal) in the Belgian Army, and was assigned to the 2 Linie 1/1 (second line). Full service records are not available, but having contracted tuberculosis, and with the influx of Belgian refugees to Britain during the conflict, it is likely that, having been medically discharged from the army, he was sent to Somerset to recuperate.

Korporaal Paul Pierre Arnold Joseph Vandermersch died on 4th January 1916, and was laid to rest in the Roman Catholic Cemetery in Bath.