Henri was killed in action on 28 September 1918 at Wieltje, near Ypres. In 1922, his remains were repatriated to the small village of Lanaye, on the border between Flanders and Wallonia. He still rests there today.
Henri is one of more than 15,000 fallen servicemen who were given a private grave in their town or village. Around 9,000 of them lost their lives during the First World War.
At first, it was not permitted to return fallen soldiers to their home communities. Some families secretly exhumed their loved ones so they could be buried at home. Under growing pressure, the authorities eventually gave permission.
Over time, thousands of these graves disappeared. Private grave concessions expired, and during the 1960s and 1970s entire cemeteries made way for car parks and new infrastructure. Today, only about 9,000 remain.
For many years, these graves were not covered by any specific legal protection. Today, they can be included on a heritage register. Once approved, the municipality assumes responsibility for their upkeep, ensuring that the grave can no longer simply disappear.
These silent witnesses to our wartime past now finally have a chance to be preserved.