Need help from a Belgian!!!

stephen · 11 September 1998, 03:17 AM

Are you an English speaking Belgian for a person familiar with Belgian geography? I need your help. Here's my story... a WWI Bristol observer was shot down on Nov 4, 1918 and captured. While en route to prison camp, the war ended. The observer and his pilot escaped their captors and made their way back from the Dutch border through several Belgian cities including Diest, Alost, Mayseak (?), Brussels, etc. Along the way they were hailed as heroes by the civilians, and were put up by a family named Smeets for several days. The Smeets family had several daughters, one named Justine, who were most helpful and very taken with the British airmen. A romantic story and though they never married, a long relationship followed. The observer was a friend of mine and loaned me his diary, which still has Justine's handwriting on the back. She gave him her address so that he could stay in touch. I am leaving for Brussels on Oct 21st, and would like to look up this house and talk to it's current residents. The handwriting on the diary is cursive and difficult to read, but perhaps a native Belgian could make it out and help me. Please respond soon if you can help... I'm running out of time. Thank you.

mike_baram · 11 September 1998, 06:12 AM

Stephen,
This is a shot in the dark, but have you contacted the Belgian tourist bureau (ministry)?
Mike

11 September 1998, 06:26 AM

u could try this websiote , the Belgian Aviation History Association :

http://www.baha.2-be.net/

maybe they cane help furthur?

cam

11 September 1998, 08:03 AM

Dear Steven,
I would second the idea of contacting the Tourist bureaus. I just came from Belgium and a town called Heist -op-den berg I believe. Just on a chance I went to the local tourist office to ask where an address of a WWI nurse was. Fortunately they trapped me there for a while and by the time I left I had three local people who would go with me to find this nurse. One was a local historian and spoke very good english. The other two were his son and his girlfriend. Before we left we talked at his home. The historian then GAVE ME a very rare book on Belgium veterans. When I asked to pay him for it he refused.
The three of them were very helpful especially since I don't speak Flemish. After the interview they invited me to dinner and help me find a free campground.
The experience was good all around. The moral of the story is that stuff like this might happen to you. I am glad I asked.

Yours truly,

Kirk

12 September 1998, 12:19 PM

I'm from belgium, so if you need any help, just let me know...the mysterious message stephen skinner sopwith21@hotmail.com 905771464 0 0 Okay guys, thanks for your responses. Got several email inquiries as well. Here is the address on the back of the diary, AS BEST I CAN MAKE IT OUT:

Justine Smeets
une de la Deuse, 39
Dacheqel, Belgique

Remember, this was written in pencil over 80 years ago, someone else's cursive is always difficult to read, and I only have a xerox copy. The only words that I can be absolutely sure of are "Justine Smeets," and "Belgique." Not much to go on, but what do you guys make of it? Can anyone recognize this address and help me find it on a map before I fly to Brussels?

Thanks for the tourist bureau idea... I'll try that next.

Reinout · 14 September 1998, 03:39 AM

Dear Stephen,

I found no trace of a place called Dacheqel in the European Atlas nor in the Times Worldatlas.
Also, the "une de la Deuse", could that be "rue de la Deuse"? "rue" is French for street or road. The address is in French not Flemish. A Belgian and/or most Dutchmen could read it though. Someone directed you to the Belgian ministry for tourism. Have you tried the Belgian embassy yet? If I have questions pertaining Germans I usually start by checking the German embassy. Maybe the Belgian embassy could point you in the right direction.

P.S.: I got soaked by the rain to and fro the university library, trying to find Dacheqel in the atlasses!

kind regards,

Reinout

stephen · 14 September 1998, 03:45 AM

Reinout, thank you for your sacrificial search. Yes, "rue" is a possible interpretation, and you may be able to establish that when I fax you the copy I have. (Assuming is comes out okay).

Where do I find the Belgian tourist bureau? Is there one in the USA or do I call overseas to find it?

Reinout · 14 September 1998, 06:44 AM

Dear Stephen,

Finding the Belgian tourist bureau is something that you might accomplish by ringing the......Belgian embassy!

P.S.: it has been hours now and I've dried up nicely!

Kind regards,

Reinout

mike_baram · 14 September 1998, 10:26 AM

Stephen,
Not knowing where you live, all I can suggest is that you check the phone book of the nearest major city and look for a Belgian consulate, if you can't find a tourist bureau. The only embassy (naturally) would be in Washington, but even a small country like Belgium has to have several consulates in major cities.
As for finding the city in Belgium...don't forget that that tiny geographical area hosted two major wars this century, and possibly some small towns or villages are no longer in existence. (Just a thought...)
Mike