Belgian General Goosens

[Marc verstraete]

Is there anyone here with interest in Belgian history of the period 1940 ?

Today I was offered a trunk with the complete uniform and equipment of a Belgian general who "supposedly" took part in the may 1940 campaign.
There is a Field tunic, a few trousers, a coat, his visor, boots, lots of other stuff.

All the items are tailor marked and named Lieutenant general Gooses with dates of 1937 -38 - 39 and 40 for the coat.

This grouping is still in the hands of a related family.
The general supposedly died in a concentration camp in 42 ...

I know enough about militaria to see that all this stuff is 100% real and authentic.

Problem .... I can't find any Lt General Goosens in any of the Belgium army lists of the Belgian History !!! ???

Lieutenant general is the highest rank under the king ... He cannot just have disappeared from history ????

All help appreciated, Pictures will follow when possible ..;
Marc

[Uncle Goose]

Did you try the ABL forum? They deal exclusively with anything Belgian military.

http://www.ablhistoryforum.be

[BRUNO FRANCK]

hoi Marc

i have send your link to Werner Palinckx , maybe he nows he have contakt in the belgium museum,,,

i am also curious

greetings Bruno

[JanC]

It wasn't a Divisional or Corps commander for sure in Mai 1940. I've checked all the units.

Maybe some General from the GHQ or other services branch?

Great find though

[Marc verstraete]

Im' going to look at the stuff closely tomorrow at the family's home.
Will post pictures if I can buy it ( means, if the price is acceptable)

Marc

[starikurac]

Keep us updated please

[Marc verstraete]

As usual, to good to be true ...
When looking at the stuff personally at the family's place, ( I only had a description and pictures) It was not a general but a Captain / commander ... And the name was misspelled ... But, still a very nice grouping of a real May 1940 combatant !
Thank you all for the info and links, it helped a lot !
Marc

[Marc verstraete]

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[Marc verstraete]

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[Marc verstraete]

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[JanC]

Oh great the set I've missed...

[ccj]

Very nice quality. I hope you learn more about the man.

[Marc verstraete]

I traded the trunk for a complete RAD mannequin in parade uniform with aiguillettes and shovel ... value 2.400 euros ... Could not let such a offer go ...
M.

[justin1939]

Captaine Commandant's Uniform Information and Questions

I traded the trunk for a complete RAD mannequin in parade uniform with aiguillettes and shovel ... value 2.400 euros ... Could not let such a offer go ...
M.

Hello Marc and other Forum Members,

The collar and cap insignia seems to be from the Belgian General Staff, probably he was an Aide to a General, or had a position there.

Here is the Weblink to the Worldwide Uniform Insignia Encyclopedia, open on the Belgian Branch of Service Insignia from 1949, but I think is most likely, mostly the same from the Prewar and Wartime years (apart from the Commandos which were most likely created in Exile in Great Britain) -

http://www.uniforminsignia.org/?opti...53&result=2055

I particularly like the quality and design of the Gold embroidery on the Collar Patches and Epaulets.

Escuse me for asking, but would you mind telling me what price you bought it for, so if I am lucky enough to see another one for sale, I know roughly how much it is worth, please ?

As for me, Prewar Officer's and Early Wartime uniform items from the less commonly seen Non Communist Nations of the World are the ones which I am most keen on collecting myself, because of their history and rarity, especially in this condition and this complete, which would most likely suggest that the family kept his uniform, in this unopened trunk, for all these years, in his memory.

A real treasure chest for the Belgian Army officer collectors !!

Did you confirm his tragic death in a Concentration Camp, in 1942, please ?

Thank you very much.

Justin