The War Memorial, Ypres [DVA]

In Jules Coomansstraat, just around the corner from the Lakenhalle is a sight familiar to Australians—a local war memorial. This is the Ypres town memorial listing the names of those soldiers of Ypres who died for Belgium in World War I. The centrepiece of the memorial is the image of a dead soldier in the arms of two women while above him a third, 'Victory', is about to place a laurel wreath on his head. It is a reminder to visitors that Belgium, although largely occupied for virtually the whole of the war, suffered significant loss in battle. An estimated 54 889 Belgians were wounded or taken prisoner and 38 000 died in action or from their wounds. Every Anzac Day a wreath is laid on the Ypres Memorial on behalf of the Australian government and people.

In Australia, war memorials dot the nation's landscape in city suburbs and country towns. They record the names of those who died and often those who also fought and returned. One wonders if somewhere an Australian memorial, apart from the Australian War Memorial in Canberra, records the name of Private John Van Wentswinchel, 20th Battalion AIF. Wentswinchel, aged 25, a Belgian citizen, joined up at Sydney showgrounds on 22 May 1916 giving his place of birth as Antwerp, Belgium, and his next of kin as his father, John Van Wentswinchel of 1 Straats Waag, Antwerp. His 'Terms of Service', as recorded in his AIF dossier, were for the 'Period of German War'.

On 9 October 1917, Private Wentswinchel was fighting with his battalion south of Broodseinde in the Ypres Salient. That was the day of the Battle of Poelcappelle when the attempted British advance to take Passchendaele failed utterly in the mud. The Australian official history records that the 20th Battalion suffered 151 casualties (dead and wounded) that day. As his personal AIF dossier shows, John Van Wentswinchel was one of them. He received a severe gunshot wound to the face and was evacuated to England where he died in Edmonton Military Hospital on 31 October 1917. Unlike swift battlefield burials, Wentswinchel was buried in a polished elm coffin with brass mountings in Brookwood Cemetery, Surrey, with full military honours—his coffin was draped with the Australian flag, a firing party fired the salute and a bugler sounded the Last Post. This son of Belgium died, albeit in an Australian uniform, in the defence of his homeland and the town of Ypres.