Marcel Deslaurens

He died in World War II during an act of gallantry that allowed a number of his men to retreat safely.

[1] On 1 January 1940 he was given the command of the 60th Infantry Division of the Seventh Army (under Henri Giraud), headquartered at the castle of Esquelbecq, located in the north of France.

In the waning days of the Battle of the Netherlands, as part of a maneuver toward Breda, his division entered Belgium and arrived at the mouth of the Scheldt on 10 May.

His main concern was to defend their position and prepare an organized escape back to France, and to raise the morale of the fatigued troops.

Under severe pressure, the troops retreated to Vlissingen; orders were given to embark on French warships (under the command of admiral Charles Platon) that evening.

Marcel Deslaurens (1883-1940).
En mémoire du Général Deslaurens, Commandant de la 60 ième Division d’Infanterie, tombé le 17 mai 1940, en couvrant avec quelques soldats courageux le retrait de ses troupes .