Raoul Daufresne de la Chevalerie
Encyclopedia
Raoul Daufresne de la Chevalerie (17 March 1881 – 25 November 1967) was a Belgian
sportsman.
He was born in Bruges
and died in Ukkel
.
He was a football
player for Cercle Brugge from 1903 until 1907. In his last 2 years at Cercle, he was also president of the team, succeeding Leon De Meester. His player career and presidency at Cercle Brugge ended abruptly when he moved to Cercle's rivals, Club Brugge
to become a member of the board as well as a player for the blue and black side.
But football wasn't the only sport Raoul Daufresne de la Chevalerie was practising. He was also an equestrian
and he played hockey and tennis
. At the 1920 Summer Olympics
in Antwerp, Daufresne de la Chevalerie was coach
of the Belgian football team. He also represented Belgium as hockey player (winning the bronze medal
) and tennis player at these Olympics.
During the military mobilisation of Belgium in 1939, he was appointed to command the 17th Division. After the Germans occupied Belgium he was captured, but quickly released. He fled from Belgium to Great Britain
, where he was given command of the Free Belgian land forces
with the rank of Lieutenant General
. After the war ended he was briefly a military attaché to Czechoslovakia
, and subsequently retired from the military.
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
sportsman.
He was born in Bruges
Bruges
Bruges is the capital and largest city of the province of West Flanders in the Flemish Region of Belgium. It is located in the northwest of the country....
and died in Ukkel
Uccle
Uccle or Ukkel is one of the nineteen municipalities located in the Brussels-Capital Region of Belgium.Uccle is known for its well-to-do areas, its green spots and its high rental rates.-History:...
.
He was a football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
player for Cercle Brugge from 1903 until 1907. In his last 2 years at Cercle, he was also president of the team, succeeding Leon De Meester. His player career and presidency at Cercle Brugge ended abruptly when he moved to Cercle's rivals, Club Brugge
Club Brugge
Club Brugge Koninklijke Voetbalvereniging is a football club from Bruges in Belgium. It was founded in 1891 and is one of the top clubs in Belgium. Its home ground is the Jan Breydel Stadium, which has a capacity of 29,472....
to become a member of the board as well as a player for the blue and black side.
But football wasn't the only sport Raoul Daufresne de la Chevalerie was practising. He was also an equestrian
Equestrianism
Equestrianism more often known as riding, horseback riding or horse riding refers to the skill of riding, driving, or vaulting with horses...
and he played hockey and tennis
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
. At the 1920 Summer Olympics
1920 Summer Olympics
The 1920 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the VII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event in 1920 in Antwerp, Belgium....
in Antwerp, Daufresne de la Chevalerie was coach
Coach (sport)
In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople.-Staff:...
of the Belgian football team. He also represented Belgium as hockey player (winning the bronze medal
Bronze medal
A bronze medal is a medal awarded to the third place finisher of contests such as the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, etc. The practice of awarding bronze third place medals began at the 1904 Olympic Games in St...
) and tennis player at these Olympics.
During the military mobilisation of Belgium in 1939, he was appointed to command the 17th Division. After the Germans occupied Belgium he was captured, but quickly released. He fled from Belgium to Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
, where he was given command of the Free Belgian land forces
Free Belgian Forces
The Free Belgian Forces were members of the Belgian armed forces in World War II who continued fighting against the Axis after the surrender of Belgium and its subsequent occupation by the Germans...
with the rank of Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages where the title of Lieutenant General was held by the second in command on the battlefield, who was normally subordinate to a Captain General....
. After the war ended he was briefly a military attaché to Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
, and subsequently retired from the military.