Flemish family find historical links to helmet heirloom

A Flemish family have turned detective to trace the well-connected owner of a piece of WWII hardware which had been in their possession for more than 40 years. 

After hours of research Jean-Marie Gillis and his wife Martine Callewaert (pictured) discovered that the military helmet gathering dust in a cupboard of their Belgian home belonged to one Dennis Clementi, a descendant of the famous Italian musician Muzio Clementi, who personally knew Mozart and is buried in Westminster Abbey in London.

The father and grandfather of Col. Clementi, who served in the Corps of Royal Engineers, were officers in the Indian Army.  As part of their Remembrance activities in November, the authorities in Knokke-Heist on the Belgian coast handed over the helmet to Fordingbridge in England where Col. Clementi lived and, aged 91, died in 2000.

It has now been donated to the Museum of the Royal Engineers in Gillingham, Kent where it will go on display.  The Gillis family, who live in Knokke-Heist, had the helmet since the early 1970s but even Jean-Marie says he can no longer recall who gave it to him.  "To be honest, it´s a bit of a mystery as to how we came by it," he said. "But we started to research into the helmet´s history and ownership and it turned out to be a fascinating story."

With 2015 being a key year for military anniversaries, including in June the bicentenary of the Battle of Waterloo, combining a visit to the Royal Engineers Museum with other attractions in Kent makes for an ideal short break.  Any winter trip should take in Dover Castle, one of the most striking and best preserved of England's castles with tunnels deep in the cliffs which were so significant during WW2 and now include a vivid recreation of the Dunkirk evacuation.  Just up the road, Walmer Castle recalls some key political figures in Walmer's history, including its role in hosting military planning when William Pitt the Younger met his ministers at the castle to plan the country’s defence from invasion by Napoleon and how, years later, Prime Minister Herbert Asquith's cabinet met to plan the Dardanelles Campaign during the early months of WW1.

As 2015 marks 200 years since the Battle of Waterloo, the story of the Duke of Wellington's later life is also vividly told at Walmer. As Lord Warden of the Cinque ports Wellington spent many years at Walmer Castle and it was here that he died in 1852.  With the acclaimed movie "Mr Turner" proving a hit with cinema goers in Belgium and elsewhere, you should try to visit the new Turner Contemporary Art Gallery in nearby Margate which is dedicated to the great English artist and whose latest display, "Self Image and Identity", presents more than 100 artist self-portraits from the 16th century to present day.

The museum is situated of the site of Sophia Booth´s guest house where JMW Turner spent some time during the last 25 years of his life.  After touring the museum´s world-class exhibitions try to catch its delightful cafe which boasts local beers, lovely modern seasonal cuisine and stunning views across Margate bay.  Another great local attraction is the fascinating Shell Grotto, made of 4.6 million shells, 70ft of winding underground passages leading directly to a rectangular chamber of 2000 square feet of mosaic.

Also well worth a visit nearby is Wildwood Wild Animal Park, a woodland discovery park with over 200 native animals set in 40 acres of beautiful ancient woodland. Kids will love the adventure playground, including a zip wire and Kent´s tallest vertical drop slide.  An excellent base for overnight accommodation is the wonderful 30-room Botany Bay Hotel at Broadstairs, said to be Charles Dickens´s favourite holiday home, which boasts an unrivalled cliff top beer garden and is owned by Faversham-based Shepherd Neame, which dates back 500 years and is the UK´s oldest brewer.

A stylish, contemporary coastal retreat overlooking one of Britain’s most spectacular beaches and located on the magnificent clifftop at Kingsgate,this 3-star hotel has just undergone an impressive €1.8m refurbishment. Just a stone´s throw from the beach, this well-appointed hotel also features a fine a la carte restaurant and "Orangery" bar with perhaps the best view in Kent where diners can enjoy spectacular panoramic views of the sea while choosing from a menu of classic British cuisine, with seafood a speciality.  An alternative base might be the equally delightful 20-room Sands Hotel in Margate town centre, an exciting and tastefully-designed new hotel and restaurant with stunning views over Margate Sands and skies above Thanet described by the artist Turner as "the loveliest in all Europe."

Guests can relax and enjoy time spent in a beautifully restored building, with lovely views out to sea.  Managing Director Nick Conington, who is also involved in restoration of the town´s famous Dreamland heritage theme park, says the hotel´s design and décor takes its inspiration from the magnificent seascape, with the vast open skies, sparkling sands and drama of the sea all influencing the choices for colour and lighting.  Both hotels are situated very close to the newly-connected Viking coastal trail where you can explore dramatic scenery and a wealth of local historical gems.  For those travelling on a budget, a terrific eating option is Margate's "Great British Pizza Co", notable not just for its very flavoursome pizzas, cooked in a wood-fired oven and using the best of Kent produce, but also for the many accolades it has received, including inclusion in the Guardian´s "top 10 budget restaurants."

Margate is a traditional English seaside resort currently undergoing a period transition and development but one which continues to attract thousands of visitors to its pleasant Old Town, Blue Flag beaches, Victorian bathing pools and some fine buildings, such as the Theatre Royal, a lovely Georgian theatre with a programme of touring dance, drama and established comedy acts.

The WW2 helmet uncovered by the Gillis family from Belgium will be on display at the Royal Engineers Museum which has lots of other things to see, everything from armoured vehicles to rare skills from China and is where you can learn about the Corps of Royal Engineers - Col Clementi´s regiment - and the different countries they have visited.  Kent has never been easier to reach from Belgium and, with the school half term break looming, a quick 90-minute cross-channel ferry makes for an ideal way to help discover the best of this pretty county.  P&O Ferries has 23 daily crossings on the Calais/Dover route, with prices for a daytrip starting from €24 return (same calendar day). A long stay (over 5 days) costs from €39 each way while a short break is from €44 return. All prices are for one car and up to nine passengers. Upgrade to club lounge and add a little luxury for as little as €14 per person.  So, with one of Kent´s many fine museums now boasting a brand new donation from Flanders, it seems a great time to pay a visit to the "Garden of England", not just for its military connections but much more besides.

Weblinks:  www.visitkent.co.uk  www.visitthanet.co.uk  www.botanybayhotel.co.uk  www.sandshotelmargate.co.uk  www.greatbritishpizza.com  www.turnercontemporary.org  www.shellgrotto.co.uk  www.poferries.com  www.wildwoodtrust.org

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