Piron Brigade Our Freedom Their Sacrifice

Private François BEKAERT

1st Company - 5th Platoon

Born in Auderghem on the 25th May 1922

Killed in Auberville on the 21st August 1944

Buried in Auderghem

On the 21st August 1944, after the liberation of Cabourg and Houlgate, the first Company positioned forward of its Brigade restarts its movement towards Auberville. The 5th Assault Platoon receives a mission and at the crossroads of Auberville The first section commanded by 1st Sergeant DE GROOTE comes under enemy fire, where 5 of the section die as a result (1st Sergeant DE Groote, Corporal Betbeze, privates Jadon, Beckaert, Gurhem) and additionally Lieutenant LEFEBVRE (French Resistance) who was guiding them at the time.

Another of the same section (Jean-Baptiste De Boeck) was seriously injured and evacuated back where he was treated in Cabourg by a  Dr. R. MOLES (# 1 Avenue de la Mer). But he died later from his injuries on the
23rd August 1944.


The second section commanded by Sgt EGERICKX was in support of the 1st Section and André DIVRY, a member of the 2nd Section tells about the Auberville attack:

See testimony André DIVRY.

See testimony Lt THUMAS

Since February 3, 1950, in his honor, a street is named "Francis Bekaert". It is located in the city of Auderghem in the district Tenreuken.

Monument in Houlgate	Monument in Auberville