Joseph Dujardin

### Biography

Joseph A.J. Dujardin was born in Liege on 8 June 1920, the son of Louis Jean Dujardin and Joséphine Marie Dessart.

Dujardin started cycling around 1937 and was a strong debutant who raced mainly in the Liège area. He was a member of the Royal Cyclist's Pesant Club Liège and also of the Vélo Club Préallien of Herstal. In 1937 and 1938, Dujardin participated in the national championship for debutants on the road. In 1938, he won at least three races in the debutant category, including the provincial championship of Liège at Statte.

In 1940, Joseph Dujardin was doing his military service and was stationed as a soldier in the Fort of Ében-Émael when the German invasion began. During the bombing of the fortress by the Germans, casemate Maastricht 1 exploded. His date of death differs on his grave (10 May) and on his death record (11 May 1940).

Joseph Dujardin was reburied in 1948 on the cemetery of his hometown Herstal. His name appears on the monument in the La Préalle quarter of Herstal and on the commemorative plaque at the Fort de Ében-Émael.

#### 1937 | debutant

* 25-04-1937: DNF Beyne-Heusay (flat tire)
* 06-05-1937: 2° Visé
* 23-05-1937: 5° velodrome Wandre
* 13-06-1937: 3° Heure-le-Romain
* 27-06-1937: participation National Champioenship, road, debutants, Jodoigne (number 43)
* 29-06-1937: 6° Jupille
* 05-07-1937: 6° Le Laveu (Liège)
* 11-07-1937: 4° Romsée
* 19-07-1937: 15° Provincial Champioenship, road, debutants, Bellaire – Henri-Chapelle – Bellaire
* 15-08-1937: 5° Villers-l’Evêque

#### 1938 | debutant

* 20-02-1938: 11° training race R.C. Pesant Club, Liège
* 06-03-1938: 7° Final standing training races R.C. Pesant Club, Liège (3° debutant)
* 10-04-1938: 6° e.a. Juslenville
* 17-04-1938: 3° Battice
* 24-04-1938: 1° Dolembreux
* 23-05-1938: 3° Jemeppe
* 24-05-1938: 9° Jemeppe
* 26-05-1938: 4° Haccourt
* 29-05-1938: 3° Magnée
* 06-06-1938: 4° e.a. two days Barchon
	+ 05-06-1938: 5° Barchon
	+ 06-06-1938: 5° Barchon
* 11-05-1938: 5° Wegnez
* 12-06-1938: 1° Fléron
* 20-06-1938: 4° Ans
* 23-06-1938: 5° Awirs
* 26-06-1938: 1° Juslenville
* 30-06-1938: 1° Provincial Champioenship, road, debutants, Statte
* 03-07-1938: participation National Champioenship, road, debutants, Merksem (number 4)
* 24-07-1938: 5° Amay
* 21-08-1938: 8° Grivegnée, juniors
* 28-08-1938: 9° Jehay-Bodegnée
* 22-09-1938: participation Provincial interclub Champioenship, Liège, with Pesant Club, Waremme
* 02-10-1938: participation National interclub Champioenship, with Pesant Club, Waremme

#### 1939 | junior

* 05-03-1939: 14° training race R.C. Pesant Club, Liège
* 23-04-1939: 18 Pepinster \*
* 29-04-1939: 3° in 4° heat sprint, juniors, velodrome Wandre \*
	+ 29-04-1939: 3° in 50 km couple's race (with Timmermans), juniors, velodrome Wandre \*
* 14-08-1938: 10° Souverain-Wandre \*
* 17-08-1938: 3° e.a. Omnium junior, velodrome Wandre

### Sources

* Belgian War Dead Register - https://www.wardeadregister.be/nl/dead-person?idPersonne=56932
* Fiche Dienst oorlogsgraven - https://files.warveterans.be/pdf/DeRadzitzky-Gerwe/0605.PDF
* Bel Memorial - https://bel-memorial.org/photos\_liege/eben\_emael/DUJARDIN\_Joseph\_50832.htm
 https://bel-memorial.org/cities\_liege\_2/eben-emael/eben\_emael\_fort\_plaque\_combattants.htm
 https://bel-memorial.org/cities\_liege\_2/herstal/herstal\_mon\_40-45.htm