318 Rtr Antoine Ad Fonck, 2e Regiment de Lanciers.
Born at Verviers on 10 January 1893, Antoine enlisted into the army in 1913. On 4 August 1914, immediately following the German invasion of Belgium, Antoine was part of a patrol moving down the Liege - Aachen road to reconnoitre the German positions when, as lead scout, he encountered advance troops of von Emmich's X Corps moving in the opposite direction. Immediately launching into a charge, he was cut down by rifle fire near La Croix Polinard (Thiminster) and became the first Belgian soldier to die in the Great War (quite faithful to his regimental motto of "Mort premier comme devant" ). Antoine is now buried in a private grave in Thiminster churchyard and a memorial in his honour stands near La Croix Polinard where, every first Sunday in August, a ceremony is held in commemoration of these events.
4 August 1914
Research by David O'Mara, Croonaert Research Services.
