Vrasenestraat 58

Leon de Cauwer was born on October 23, 1923 in Nieuwkerken, as son of Maria Cesarina van den Hende and Alfons de Cauwer. The family lived in the Breedstraat and later moved to Vrasenestraat 50, where they had a farm and inn with coal and fruit sale. After his school time, Leon helped on the land to increase family income.

In May 1940, at the outbreak of the war, the farmer's family initially had little trouble. But that changed in the spring of 1943. Leon was called upon to report in Sint-Niklaas for work in Germany. After a medical inspection, he was found to be suitable as a nineteen year old to work in Germany. He was sent to Hanover and eventually ended up in Salzgitter, Lower Saxony, where he worked as a 'Bauer' on a farm.

Leon was one of the estimated 300,000 Belgians who were forced to work in Germany, to keep the German war economy going. Post -war testimonials describe the emotional burden he bore in Germany. Despite incentives from family and friends not to return, he feared the consequences of not returning and returned to Germany.

On July 23, 1944, fifteen months after his departure, a tragic end came to his life. During a visit to a nearby pond to wash, Leon suddenly drowned.

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