At the Belgian military cemetery at Houthulst, on 21 April 2016, a new crypt has been inaugurated and the remains of 18 unknown soldiers have been buried during a fitting and sober ceremony. The nationality of the soldiers was not known either (however on every little coffin there was a little Belgian flag). Since in that region different nations were active during the war(s), the ceremony was attended by representatives from Belgium, asw ell as from France, Great Britain (& the Commonwealth), the USA and Germany.

The soldiers may have been from WW as well as from WW2. De ceremony was presided by a representative of the king (of Belgium) and  musically conducted  by the Royal Band of the Belgian Navy in the presence of  pupils from the Royal Military School (= Academy for officers).

The flags of the involved in WW1 and WW2 actions in this region. 



Before the ceremony everyhting is being checked again



The little coffins with the remains of the 18 unknown soldiers





Some arrangments still being made.



2 flagbearers already present





Arrival of the student-officers of the Royal Military School



Belgian military and schoolchildren from Houthulst are ready for the funeral procession





The entrance of the new crypt



Helmet of a KMS officer (Royal Military School)





The wreaths of the delegations (France, USA, Germany)









Belgian graves at Houthulst



Representative from Australia / Great Britain





The (Royal) Band of the Belgian Navy opens the ceremony with the pupils of the Royal Military School













The band and the KMS at their place



Belgian military and schoolchildren from Houthulst are ready







Welcome address



The standard (pennant) of the KMS





Overview of the event



The national and international representatives



Arrival of the Minister of Defence, Vandeput.



Arrival of the representative of the (Belgian) King





Arival of the representative of the USA



The funeral processions begins





Elderly observers during the ceremony



The little coffins are brought in









A salute of honour to these fallen



Salute by the flags during the ceremony





The drum major (tambour maître) of the (Royal) Band of the Belgian Navy





Address by Minister of Defence,  Mr. Vandeput.



The army chaplain (leaving after having) said the prayer for these fallen soldiers



The mortal remains are brought to the crypt











Silent witnesses of a brutal war



Officer of the KMS









The last coffin is being brought to the crypt







The crypt is being locked



Laying of  a wreath by the representative of the (Belgian) King









After each laying of a wreath  by the representative of a nation, their own ‘salute to the death’ was played, e.g  the Belgian salute  ‘Te Velde’ (Au Champs), the French 'sonnerie aux morts', the British ‘Last Post’, the American ‘Taps’, the German 'Ich Hatt’ Einen Kameraden'  with the appropriate military salute and a (retiring) minute of silence



Laying of wreath by a German representative ( USA – French – British & Commonwealth – Minister of Defence)











At the end of the ceremony the KMS marches off











The representative of the (Belgian)King leaves the cemetery



Guard of Honour by Belgian military (soldiers)



A Belgian soldier who is not forgotten





The wreaths of the different nations



An international talk afterwards


  Page made by Frank Mahieu.