Essen · Belgian-Dutch border region

A place with a
rich history.

From Hornick Farm, Jos Loos gave shelter and assistance to Allied servicemen and people in the resistance during the Second World War.

Discover the story

Read on

A hidden history

Jos Loos and Hornick Farm

The farm stood only a stone’s throw from the Netherlands. This location made it a valuable link in a network of safe houses and escape routes.

Jos Loos joined the White Brigade Fidelio, unit G. He hid Allied servicemen, helped people find safe passage and worked with trusted contacts on both sides of the border.

This website grows with the historical research. Whenever possible, facts are linked to the available family records.

The farm through the years

Historic photographs

These images show what Hornick Farm looked like in the past and bring the daily life of Jos Loos close again.

Historic view of the front of Hornick Farm
Historic view of the rear of Hornick Farm
Second historic view of the rear of Hornick Farm
Hornick Farm before its renovation
“He looked like a scarecrow.”

Jos Loos on his first encounter with Samuel J. Melancon

01

23 February 1944

The American on the dirt road

While travelling to the fields by horse and cart, Jos saw a small figure in an oversized coat and an oddly fitting cap.

It was Samuel J. Melancon, an American tail gunner in a Martin B-26 Marauder. His aircraft had been hit after a mission over Gilze-Rijen. After landing in the Netherlands and travelling on foot, he reached Hornick Farm.

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Samuel suffered severe frostbite. He was cared for and hidden at the farm. The resistance checked his identity before he was given false papers and escorted via Antwerp and Mechelen to a safe house near Brussels, where he remained until liberation.

The silhouette of Samuel J. Melancon on the corten-steel cylinder

More than one story

The people behind the stories

The monument tells one encounter, but the network around Jos Loos helped more people. Each story will eventually receive its own page with sources and a timeline.

United States

Samuel J. Melancon

Tail gunner. Hidden and cared for at Hornick Farm after the crash of his B-26 Marauder.

Canada

Tom Inverarity

A Halifax crew member who, according to the available notes, spent three months in hiding in 1944.

Royal Air Force

Collins & Webster

Two RAF airmen who were escorted to a hiding place in 1944.

The Netherlands

Van Voorst tot Voorst

Escorted from Mariahoeve to Heide-Kalmthout; the precise identity and context are still being checked against sources.

Resistance

Mit Van den Buys

Escorted from Essen to Mariahoeve. Her complete story is still being researched.

From memory to a place

Building the memorial

The memorial was designed as a resting place for walkers and cyclists. Corten steel, stone and a bench connect the historical story with the landscape around the farm.

The steel cylinder during production
Preparing the ground for the memorial
Memorial during construction
The completed memorial and resting place
Completed memorial
People by the bench at the memorial

Explore the sources

Documents

Original testimonies, maps, certificates, letters and research material provide context. The source collection is available below by subject.

PDF · 37 pages · TestimonyExperiences of resistance fighter Jos LoosPDF · 3 pages · MapsLocation of Hornick Farm and the border regionPDF · 12 pages · ResearchThe crash of Samuel J. Melancon
Vladdi Theuns, Robin Theuns and Gerard Loos at the memorial

Why this place exists

About us

When Vladdi and Robin Theuns renovated Hornick Farm, they wanted to preserve more than its walls and character. Its remarkable history also had to remain visible to future generations.

From this farm, Jos Loos helped Allied servicemen and people in the resistance during the Second World War. The story was closely tied to the building and the surrounding border region, but risked becoming less known over time.

Hornick Farm lies on a cycling and walking route. Vladdi and Robin saw an opportunity to share the story with everyone who passes here. The memorial is therefore both a place of remembrance and an accessible resting place.

The monument stands on private land and was realised entirely with private funds. We are pleased whenever people stop, read the texts or simply enjoy the quiet and the landscape.

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General contact: vladditheuns@outlook.com

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