photographs of Paris grave and of Cyriel Camiel Lesage
At the cemetery of Père Lachaise in Paris lay 103 Belgian soldiers who died in Paris during WWI, including one unknown soldier. They have been buried in the monument dedicated to the Belgian soldiers who died in France during WWI. One of them is Cyriel Camiel Lesage, a light infantry soldier who died at a Paris hospital on March 17 in 1916 at 10 pm and was first buried at Ivry in Paris before being re-buried at Père Lachaise. Cyriel Camiel Lesage was born in Westrozebeke (Belgium) around 1890 as the son of Emile T. Lesage and Eudoxie R. Lammens; He had been with the Belgian army since 1910. He was a soldier with the company “2e Regiment Jagers te Voet 3/4 (12 Cie)” (in Flemish) or “2e Régiment de Chasseurs à Pied 3/4 (12 Cie)” (in French). The “2e Régiment de Chasseurs à Pied” were stationed at Bergen (Mons) in Belgium. The first battle between the Germans and the 2e Régiment de Chasseurs à Pied took place at Geldenaken on August 16, 1914. Later that month heavy battles between the two armies took place around Antwerp. On September 26 and 27, 1914, the 2e régiment de Chasseurs à Pied fought the battle of Buggenhout. On October 6, 1914, the 2e régiment de Chasseurs à Pied attacked the Germans at the river Nete and lost many lives. Between 16 and 31 October they have victorious at the river Yser near Ypres during the first battle of the Yser and were able to stop the Germans at the river Yser. This was the beginning of the trench war. The 2e Régiment de Chasseurs à Pied have received the following distinctions: Antwerpen, Ertvelde, Diksmuide, Yzer and the Order of Leopold colors and nestle. These distinctions are still commemorated on their flag. Cyriel Camiel Lesage has received the Croix de Guerre and also the Yser Medal. His brother, Hector Alidor Lesage, was killed on September 23 1918 and is buried at the Belgian war cemetery of Houthulst in the Vrijbos forest.