Alphonse Jacques de Dixmude

Baron Lieutenant-General Alphonse Jacques de Dixmude "Général Jacques"
Birth name	Jules Marie Alphonse Jacques
Born	(1858-02-24)February 24, 1858
Died	November 24, 1928(1928-11-24) (aged 70)
Place of birth	Stavelot, Belgium
Place of death	Ixelles, Belgium
Allegiance	Belgium Congo Free State
Commands held	12th Regiment of the Line
Battles/wars	Battle of the Yser

Alphonse Jacques de Dixmude (February 24, 1858 in Stavelot – November 24, 1928 in Ixelles) was a Belgian general and colonist.

Congo Free State

Alphonse Jacques in the Congo 1903.

He founded Albertville in Congo in 1894. His role^{[Clarification needed]} in the Congo Free State was questioned in the Casement report.

Military career

Captain Jules Jacques was soon sent back to Belgium and was promoted to colonel. His greatest service was to come during the Great War when he was mobilized and later took command of the 12th Regiment of the Line. He led his soldiers with great skill and extreme bravery, becoming a hero of the Belgian army in the first days of the invasion of the powerful German forces. In 1914, his troops successfully repelled two heavy German attacks near Antwerp that was crucial in giving the Belgian forces time to withdraw to the Yser. Later, on the Belgian soil, he commanded the 3rd Belgian army division from 5 February 1917 to 4 October 1919. His troops prevented Diksmuide falling into the hands of the German army. This military achievements led to his elevation to Baron of Dixmude in 1919.

Commemoration

"General Jacques" is commemorated by several statues and monuments around Belgium, including the "Boulevard Général Jacques" in Brussels as well as others in Nivelles, Chaudfontaine and Verviers and numerous statues. A bas-relief of Baron Jacques is included as part of the Liberty Memorial in Kansas City.

External links

• (French) Ingels, A. "Jacques de Dixmude, Baron". congoposte.be. http://www.congoposte.be/jacques_de_dixmude.htm. Retrieved 13 December 2012.