St. Julien War Memorial

The war memorial in St. Julien (now Sint-Juliaan) stands in front of the rebuilt church, which, like the village itself, was utterly destroyed during the Great War.

‘St. Julien to its fallen heroes’.

Plaque which, I think, thanks the Polish Tank Division for liberating the village in 1944.

Both civilian…

…and military casualties from two World Wars are remembered on the memorial.

Should you have arrived at this post via the links from the Road to Passchendaele post, click here to get back on track.

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18 Responses to St. Julien War Memorial

  1. Chris from Belgium says:

    “Plaque which, I think, thanks the Polish Tank Division for liberating the village in 1944.”

    Correct:

    “For your and our Freedom 1944
    In thankful memory to the 1st Polish Armored Division”

    • Magicfingers says:

      My goodness that was quick! You won’t believe me Chris, but I have just checked the post (and amended my upload error), and while so doing I wondered whether you might pick up on the translation and correct me if I’d got it wrong. Particularly as I hadn’t heard from you for a while. Thanks for still being here, and thanks for the above.

      • Chris from Belgium says:

        LOL, usually there isn’t much to add to your posts, but I do read each and everyone of them!
        (and here I could help out a little)

        • Magicfingers says:

          Indeed you could!

        • Magicfingers says:

          I should also say that I’m ever so glad you do still find the posts interesting enough to read ’em all! I must still be doing something right. And just today (in the last hour – it might have been you!) this little website has hit 200,000 views, which isn’t too shabby, is it?

  2. Chris from Belgium says:

    Oh, and more translation:

    “‘St. Julien and its fallen heroes’.”
    should be
    “St. Julien to its fallen heroes’.”

    Just a small remark; the “zijne” in the original engraving is old spelling. Nowadays it’s written “zijn” (without the “e” at the end).

  3. Morag L Sutherland says:

    a few years ago we visited Shrapnel Charlie – sadly no longer alive . he told us that the largest pile of stones left was the church and that the people knew how far their homes were from the church pre war and paced it out……….his parents or grandparents I can’t be sure……cleared the rubble and found the tiles which had been their floor and knew they were home! thanks for the post

    • Magicfingers says:

      Thanks Morag. I would love to have had the chance to chat with Shrapnel Charlie….but at least I can now say I know someone who has!

    • Chris from Belgium says:

      As you all probably know, the centennial of W I is a big thing here in Belgium.
      Lots of new books coming on the market, but what makes that interesting is the fact that many local “historians” have written (or are writing) about the War in their own village. Some have been working quit some time on their story, long enough to have been able to talk to soldiers and civilians who lived through the war years.
      And yes, in one of them I found a similar story about how people found the original place where their house once stood!

      • Magicfingers says:

        I can quite believe it! I shall check out the bookshop near the Menin Gate next time I’m over – though I bet most of the books you mention aren’t in English?

        • Chris from Belgium says:

          I’m afraid not… And most of those written by local “historians” are mostly only available in the villages or small towns were the writer lives and have to be ordered.

          • Magicfingers says:

            I knew there’d be a catch. Mind you, that in no way detracts from the fine work I am sure the authors have done.

  4. Sid from Down Under says:

    I too read each and every post which I find both interesting and informative. “Laying low” on comments doesn’t mean we aren’t watching and enjoying MJS (and his compatriot-in-arms)

    Now for my my LOL – I was wondering how easiest I could place the memorial words into a translator then cleverly provide MJS with the English without of course admitting I’d cheated, but MJS would have known anyway. Lo and behold, when I scrolled down, there was Chris. Thank you Chris

    OK MJS – thank you too for your post (smiley face here) Any prize for 200,001?

    I’m still onto my Stoke project and slowly inching forward – “millimeter by millimeter”

    • Magicfingers says:

      Thank you Sid, my friend. Mind you, don’t think that my compatriot-in-arms reads all my posts, because he assuredly doesn’t – and to prove it, I bet he doesn’t comment on this. Eh Balders??

      The thing is, as time goes by, people come and go on this site, and some people seem to be staying for the duration (bless ’em, and you), but I am fairly certain that at least one of my early followers is no longer with us – and I mean no longer with us – so one wonders, when people have been absent for a considerable time……..well, you get the drift. Oh, the stresses and strains of being a Webmeister.

      Keep me posted on Stirling.

    • Chris from Belgium says:

      Nope, no prize for 200,001, LOL!

      • Magicfingers says:

        Certainly not! Ha!

        • Sid from Down Under says:

          This will definitely need The Hague’s ICC adjudication. Mind you, they’ll need to first form a Committee and by the time they’ve taken into account all aspects plus debated at length point by point, further deliberated and come to a perhaps shaky conclusion then appeals process – you’ll be up to number 300,000

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