Piron Brigade Our Freedom Their Sacrifice

1st Sergeant Hippolyte DE GROOTE

1st Company - 5th Platoon

Born in Gent on the 8th February 1909

Killed in Auberville on the 21 August 1944

Buried in La Panne (1980)

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

Monument in Houlgate	Monument in Auberville