The attempted theft at Houthulst Military Cemetery has taken an unexpected turn. While checking the recovered headstones, it was discovered that there are two graves for Théophile Willems.
This soldier of the 1st Regiment of Chasseurs à Pied died at De Panne on 4 October 1918 from wounds he most likely sustained the previous day at Oostnieuwkerke. On 6 October, he was laid to rest in Duinhoek Cemetery, now known as De Panne Military Cemetery.
So far, nothing seems out of the ordinary. Yet Théophile Willems also appears to have a second grave at Houthulst Military Cemetery. An identical headstone stands in Plot G1, Grave 1554.
One person cannot, of course, be buried in two different places. We may therefore assume that Théophile Willems is indeed buried at De Panne, in Grave G-67. However, this raises several intriguing questions. How did he come to have a second grave at Houthulst? And if Théophile really is buried at De Panne, then who lies in the grave at Houthulst? Or could it perhaps be an empty grave?
For now, we are left with more questions than answers. Perhaps further research will one day solve this remarkable mystery.