History
After the fighting in eastern Brabant, the Belgian military hierarchy decides to withdraw the field army and to send it in the direction of the Antwerp stronghold. The forces have indeed suffered heavy losses; they need time and space to rest and regroup, and the area beyond the Antwerp forts offers a safe place to do so.
As the retreat needs to be covered some companies are tasked with delaying the German advance. On the fateful morning of 19 August 1914 the 4th company of the 1st battalion of the 9th line regiment commanded by Captain Gilson awaits the enemy at the windmill along the Herseltsesteenweg in Aarschot. The Belgians offer fierce resistance and lose dozens of men, but the action is useless because the enemy simply proves too strong. In the hamlet of Ourodenberg houses are set on fire and civilians are killed, an omen of violence to come. The Belgians retreat, but leave more than 120 dead on the battlefield.
The Germans then enter Aarschot and several shootings take place. One of those kills the German commander, Colonel Johannes Stenger. In retaliation no less than 100 Aarschot citizens perish under the German bullets. The town is plundered and partly burnt down, so much so that it ends up on the list of martyr towns. Rebuilding is only launched after the war.
Casualties
92 First World War (21 unidentified)
Description
The honours court, with graves in parallel rows, is located on the right-hand side in the middle of the municipal cemetery. It is divided into a military and a civilian section, with a central monument commemorating all Aarschot war victims. The military graves are of the well-known Belgian bluestone model. The concrete graves of the civilian victims are made according to a local design.