Tienen/Tirlement Site of 35 FDS December 1944

The vague grid references in the War Diary have made tracing the location of a school where 35 FDS spent Christmas a little difficult. With the help of a postcard and Street View it has now found. It was partially occupied by Americans at the time. 35 FDS were designated 30 Corps' Exhaustion Centre and VDTC and were based here from 23-29 December. It’s unclear if other medical or military units used the school before or after. The War Diary records “Grand billets, and a magnificent Christmas meal enjoyed by all”. The building is still a school - Bassschool De Luchtballon Sliksteenvest 1. Site located on 1944 military map. Note the railway spur to the East has been replaced by a dual carriageway.

 

The area of Tirlemont at the time was occupied by elements of the Guards Armoured, as part of the redeployment of 30 Corps in response to the German counteroffensive in the Ardennes (Operation SMASH).

See: 16th December 1944 Battle of the Bulge begins

 

I love the smell of sugarbeet in the morning !