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The Piron Brigade

Reorganization

 

 

 

 November 17, 1944, the " 1st Independent Group " is relief and goes in the area of LEUVEN.

The " Group " is dissolved.

The Armoured Squadron moves to DENDERMONDE to form an armoured regiment.

The Artillery Battery becomes also a regiment and takes its districts between ALOST and VILVORDE:
- the Staff in WOLVERTEM
- a battery in MERCHTEN
- a battery in STEENHUFFEL
- a battery in OPWIJCK

The Engineers Company moves towards DUINBERGEN to be incorporated into the 1st Battalion of Engineers Army which are there in formation.

Then, the First Belgian Group is reconstituted in an Brigade of Infantry according to the English model thanks to the incorporation of 2500 volunteers.

The 3 Motorized Units will form the cores of a battalion of infantry:
- The 1st Battalion is confined in SAINT-NICOLAS
- The 2nd Battalion in HAMME
- The 3rd Battalion in TEMSE.

Following this complete reorganization, the 1st Brigade of Infantry receives the denomination " LIBERATION " and is organized as follows:

- a Staff

- a Staff Company including amongst other things a detachment of troops of transmissions and a repair shop
(weapons and vehicles).

- THREE battalions of infantry including each one:
    - a Staff company
    - FOUR companies of fusiliers (A, B, C,D)
    - a company of support of FOUR groups
    - a group of 6 mortars 3 inches
    - a group of anti-tank guns of 6 pounds
    - a group of pioneers
    - a group of 13 Bren Carriers

- an independent company MMG (Medium Machine Gun) which includes 12 machine-guns VICKERS and 6 mortars 4.2 inches
- a transport and supply company (RASC)
- a company of repair (REME)
- a Field hospital
- an MP company
- a British liaison

January 2, 1945 begins the instruction of the brigade in Belgium and Great Britain.

During this period, a flying bomb V1 falls down on the barracks of SAINT-NICOLAS. A corporal is killed and ten soldiers are wounded.

At the end of March 45, the whole Brigade is in operations IN the camp of BEVERLOO. During a exercise, a anti-tank grenade (PIAT) explodes causing the death of 3 soldiers (Louette, Larochette and Blomme) and a lot of wounded.

The Brigade is ready to return to the front line.

April 01, 1945. Movement towards the area of LOMMEL. The Staff of the Brigade is established in the castle of EMSENS, in the small village of STEVENSVENNEN, close LOMMEL where settles also the MMG Company (Medium Machine Gun). The 1st Battalion takes its districts in NEERPELT. In the afternoon, the 2nd Battalion arrives by train in OVERPELT and takes there possession of its new quartering in the professional school.

April 02, 1945, becomes the order to return on the frontline. The Brigade is informed that on April 4, it will pass under the command of the 1st Canadian Army and that its staff with two battalions will have to make movement towards NIJMEGEN in HOLLAND.

April 03, 1945, the Brigade passes under the command of the 5th Armd Div of the 1st British Corps. The 2nd Battalion is detached from the Brigade and will be affected in an another sector. The decision surprises this unit.