THE 1ST BELGIAN
FIELD ARTILLERY BATTERY
1941 - 1944
THE 1ST BELGIAN
FIELD ARTILLERY REGIMENT
1944 - 1946

SHORT HISTORY

The 1st Belgian Field Battery was raised at Tenby, Wales, United Kingdom, on February 14th 1941.

Composition of the 1st Belgian Field Battery :
Staff
Staff Troop
A Troop
B Troop

Each Troop consisted of 4 artillery guns.

At first the unit recieved 75mm gun, wich were rather older canons.

In December 1941 the Battery recieved the well known 25 pounder guns,
which will be used until the end of the War.

Villindre, Wales, United Kingdom. Gunners of A Troop, 1st Belgian Field Battery		Crickhowell, United Kingdom, 1942. Gunners of A Troop.

On January 3rd 1943 the 1st Belgian Field Battery is integrated in the 1st Belgian Independant Grouping.

On March 24th 1944 a C Troop is created manned with gunners, NCO's and officers
of the Grand Duchy of Luxemburg.

Only the Troop Commander was a Belgian officer.

The 1st Belgian Field battery participated in the Normandy Campaign in August 1944.

Christmas Card 1943 of the 1st Belgian Field Battery		Normandy August 1944, at the front.

After entering Brussels on September 4th 1944, the Battery continued the campaign in Belgium
and the south of the Netherlands.

On November 17th 1944 the Battery left the front and was reorganised into
the 1st Belgian Field Artillery Regiment.

Composition of the 1st Belgian Field Regiment :
Regimental Staff
"P", "Q" and "R" Battery.

After thourough training the Field Regiment paricipated in the 2nd campaign in the Netherlands,
until the end of the War.

1st Belgian Field Regiment, Summer 1945, Westphalia, Germany. Training with the 25 pôunder gun.

The 1st Belgian Field Regiment also participated in the ocuupation of Germany, Westfalia,
until it returned to Belgium on Christmas 1945.

Commanding officers :
Major HIRSCH from the start until half November 1942
Lietenant-Colonel DE RIDDER from half November 1942 until 1946.

Major HIRSCH 1st Commanding Officer		Lieutenant-Colonel DE RIDDER 2nd Commanding Officer

FORMATION BADGES AND OTHER INSIGNIA

The 1st Belgian Field Battery and the 1st Belgian Field Regiment
wore the Formation Badge of the 1st Belgian Infantry Brigade "PIRON".

The first Formation Badge was created in 1943 in the United Kingdom.

A yellow lionhead, facing front, in a black turned upside down triangle with a large red border.

When the Field Regiment started its training end 1944, the second Formation Badge came into use.

A yellow lionhead, facing front, in front of a red cross, the whole on a black shield.

2nd Formation Badge of the 1st Belgian Field Regiment		Variant

Corporal JACOBS wearing the 1st Formation Badge		1st Lieutenant DELORI wearing the 2nd Formation Badge