1st Belgian Infantry Brigade
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The Belgian 1st Infantry Brigade, also known by the name of its commander as the Brigade Piron, was a Belgian infantry formation formed after the fall of France in 1940. It began as miscellaneous elements from the European mainland, as well as Belgian military remanants which had crossed the English Channel. However, by the end of 1940 it had expanded to a "fusilier" battalion, by 1941 it had been mustered as a pair of such battalions. In January 1943 it assumed the official brigade designation. Various schemes were considered during this time for utilizing the brigade overseas, but it was decided to reserve it for the actual liberation of Belgium and its neighbouring countries of France, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands.
The Belgian 1st Infantry was famous as having the bulk of all Luxembourg army personnel who had fled to Britain following the invasion of their country. A group of seventy volunteers from the Army of Luxembourg had joined the brigade along with various other volunteers primarily from Belgium. [1]
The brigade landed in Normandy in August 1944 and served with British 6th Airborne Division under the 1st Canadian Army. The brigade had advanced to Le Havre by the beginning of September and participated in the liberation of the Côte Fleurie. It was then transferred to the British Second Army and advanced to Brussels. Withdrawn from the line in November, the brigade reorganized, expanded, and re-entered the line with the First Canadian Army in April, but with its 2nd Battalion detached to Walcheren Island.
[edit] Unit History after WWII
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