By October 1918, the Belgian army was advancing back into territory that it had lost in 1914 and the German front line began a fighting withdrawal eastwards.

During the night of 18/19 October, the Germans began to retreat rapidly from the sector, covered by battalion-sized rear-guards.

[2] In the afternoon of the 19 October, Major Victor Van Strydonck in command of two squadrons of the 1st Regiment of Guides received orders to "cross the enemy lines by surprise.

After advancing in silence, the cavalry charged the German rear-guard in the forest of Burkel at 16:30,[3] to the cry of "Forward, my children!

Van Strydonck, who had commanded the charge, was made a Baron and given the title "de Burkel" in recognition of his heroism.