Origins of the Belgian Saint-Georges day.

 

During WWII and after the capitulation of the Belgian Army in may 1940, a small Independent Infantry Brigade was formed in Great-Britain.

This Brigade-Group was centred around an armoured car squadron, 3 independent infantry companies and an artillery battery as its main manoeuver elements.

The armoured car squadron was fully trained by british standards when it landed in Normandy in august 1944.

Soon it was attached to the 6^th airborne division and became the division’s main recce and light armour element.

Later on the squadron went on to Belgium and participated in operations in Holland, it was during this later phase that it was removed from the line and its troops and cadre was used to form the first Armoured Car Regiment of the new Belgian Army.

The officers, NCO’s and troops had been trained by the british during four years and so these motivated servicemen brought new habbits and traditions to the newly formed Army, one of them being the  Saint-Georges Day celebration.

To this day, even with depleted numbers and units, this fine tradition is being kept alive and the Belgian Royal Armed Forces Mueseum’s Land Dept. is included in the parade by carrying the unit  Standards  on board vehicles once used by the cavalry…

Most of these vehicles are restored and maintained and often driven by our volunteers, it is a fine occasion for them to work with the “real” troops, so much so that nobody notices the difference anymore…

April 2009 was again a fine occasion, some pictures taken during the ceremonies can be viewed on this site.

 William Testaert.