Turnhout (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Turnhout restored the century-old grave of firefighters Walter Schellekens and Joannes Melis, who died in a 1904 training accident. Major Gert Bax and volunteer Guy Spaepen led the tribute.
As VRT News reported, at the historic cemetery on Kwakkelstraat in Turnhout, the story of 2 deceased firefighters has been rediscovered. The cemetery, almost 210 years old, holds the graves of many residents, including war victims and well-known local figures. Among them are firefighters Walter Schellekens and Joannes Melis.
“In 1904, the then fire brigade organised a conference to celebrate its 25th anniversary,”
says Gert Bax, major at the Taxandria Emergency Response Zone.
What led Turnhout to restore the 1904 firefighters’ grave of Schellekens and Melis?
The 2 firefighters died during a practice session organised ahead of community celebrations. The fire brigade was preparing a rescue demonstration using ropes to show evacuation techniques. During the exercise, both men fell from a height of about 10 meters, suffering fatal injuries.
“Something went wrong then, and two colleagues fell from the third floor. They both died.”
“The photos have literally and figuratively given the firefighters a face.”
Guy Spaepen, one of the volunteers at the historic cemetery.
The grave of the 2 firefighters in Turnhout had fallen into neglect over the years.
“We’ve been urging the city for several years to restore the grave to its former glory, because it was very unstable,”
says Guy Spaepen, one of the volunteers at the historic cemetery.
“Finally, a budget was allocated for it, and we were able to renovate it. We also added photos, giving the firefighters a face, both literally and figuratively.”
The names had faded, and the site was no longer clearly visible. Many visitors passed by without realising it was the resting place of 2 firefighters who lost their lives during a training exercise. The Turnhout fire department decided to restore the grave to honour their.
Major Bax of the Turnhout Fire Department said the restored grave gives new life to their story.
“Many people passed by without knowing it was a firefighter’s grave. Now that there are photos, the story comes more to life,”
Major Bax said.
“It also goes beyond the two victims. It’s a way to honour all emergency workers who have lost their lives or been seriously injured doing their jobs.”
The grave now includes images and a clear inscription, allowing visitors to learn about the men and their service. Other graves in the old cemetery are also being restored as part of a wider effort to protect the historic site and remember those who played a role in the city’s past.
Comments
17 responses to “Turnhout Restores 1904 Firefighters’ Grave, Led by Major Bax”
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Oh, how lovely! Nothing says “we care” quite like a century-late grave makeover for two chaps who took a tumble during a training exercise. Must be some high-stakes PR move to distract from the real issues, eh? 😏
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Blimey, a grave makeover? Must be a slow news day in Turnhout! Next thing you know, they’ll be putting in Wi-Fi hotspots for the dearly departed. 😅🪦
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Ah, nothing like a good old gravestone makeover to remind us that even in death, we still need a bit of bling to spice up the afterlife! 🎩💀 Surely, the ghosts of 1904 are thrilled to see their resting spot getting the VIP treatment—who knew necro-chic was a thing? 😂
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Restoring a 1904 firefighter’s grave? Brilliant use of time and budget, surely the ghosts of Walter and Joannes are just thrilled to finally get some attention. 😂💰
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Good to see we finally put a bit of effort into remembering our heroes, though it took two dead firefighters and a century-long delay to figure out that gravestones might need some TLC. Maybe next, we’ll tackle the neglected coffee stains on our meeting tables? ☕️💼
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Oh, splendid! Nothing like a century-old grave restoration to remind us that even in death, firemen can’t escape the drama of a training exercise gone wrong. Just wait until they find out there’s a budget for that but not for fixing the potholes on my street! 😂💰
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Oh splendid, nothing like a good ol’ grave restoration to remind us how far we’ve come in the fire safety department! Just imagine, a century later and we’re still picking up the pieces from training mishaps—cheers to progress! 😂💀
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Restoring a 1904 grave is certainly the new trend, isn’t it? Who knew that giving a couple of dead firefighters a face-lift would be the highlight of Turnhout’s year? 😂
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You’d think a century-old grave would have been sorted ages ago, but hey, nothing screams “we care” quite like a last-minute restoration when the budget finally rolls in. Next stop: adding a wax statue and a gift shop! 😂
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Looks like Turnhout finally found the budget for a little late-night grave makeover—who knew neglecting a grave for over a century could spark such a fashionable restoration? 😂
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Oh, splendid! Nothing like a good ol’ grave restoration to remind us that even in death, these firefighters are still making headlines – looks like they’ve finally got their 15 minutes of fame, a century later! 😂
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Just what we needed, a grand restoration of a grave, because nothing says “honor” like a fancy headstone for blokes who met their end falling off a rope. 🙄 At least now when you stroll by, you’ll know exactly where to tip your hat to the local heroes of gravity! 💁♂️
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Oh, how lovely! Nothing says “we care” like finally restoring a grave after a hundred years—might as well wait for the next millennium to fix the rest. 😂
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Restoring a grave from 1904? That’s one way to keep the past alive, in a town where even the ghosts must be rolling their eyes at the lack of urgency! 😂 Just don’t expect the firefighters to be impressed—they might have preferred a pint instead of a photo op! 🍻
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Finally, a grand restoration for two firefighters who fell while practicing—talk about an epic way to make history memorable! 😏 Next, maybe they’ll add a rollercoaster for some real excitement! 🎢
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Looks like Turnhout finally decided to roll up its sleeves and fix the grave after all these years – perhaps it took a century-long wait to realize neglect isn’t exactly a tribute? 🙄 At least now the firefighters have a proper headstone to match their tragic “training techniques.”
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Oh, splendid! Nothing like finally fixing up a grave that’s been ignored for over a century—talk about timely service!😏 Imagine all those poor souls wandering past, thinking it was just another dodgy patch of earth.
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