THE 1ST BELGIAN
ARMOURED CAR SQUADRON
1941 - 1944
THE 1ST BELGIAN
ARMOURED CAR REGIMENT
1944 - 1946

FORMATION BADGES.

When the 1st Belgian Armoured Car Squadron comes under the operational command of
the 49th (West Riding) Division, the squadron is allowed to wear the formation badge of the Division.

A white icebear, head down, on a white iceberg, the whole in a black rectangle.

Formation badge of the 49th (West Riding) Infantry Division, 1st pattern. Printed version, as worn by the 1st Belgian Armoured Car Squadron.

Formation badge of the 49th (West Riding) Infantry Division, 1st pattern. Embroidered version, as worn by the 1st Belgian Armoured Car Squadron.

Private BOUHISSE wearing the formation badge of the 49th (West Riding) Division

The 1st Belgian Armoured Car Squadron starts wearing the formation badge
of the 1st Belgian Independant Brigade "PIRON",
from the moment the badge is created in 1943 in the United Kingdom.

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

1st formation badge of the 1st Belgian Independant Brigade, as worn by the 1st Belgian Armored Car Squadron		variant

Once the squadron is reorganised into the 1st Belgian Armoured Car Regiment,
the second formation badge comes into use.
A yellow lionhead in front of a red cross, the whole on a black shield.

2nd formation badge of the 1st Belgian Independant Brigade as worn by the 1st Belgian Armoured Car Regiment		variant

This 2nd formation badge is worn until the end of the Regiment as such.

Private BOUHISSE wearing the 1st formation badge of the 1st Belgian Independant Brigade		Corporal DE MULDER André wearing the 2nd formation badge of the 1st Belgian Independant Brigade

BATTLE DRESS INSIGNIA

The rank insignia worn by the 1st Belgian Armoured Car Squadron are the British Rank Insignia.

Once it is reorganised into the 1st Belgian Armoured Car Regiment, Belgian Rank Insignia had to be worn.

On the right arm everybody wore the Belgian national colours with the black in front,
and beneath the Formation badge the "strip" of the armoured units.

On the left arm the title "BELGIUM" is worn, dark red during the "Squadron"period , white during the "Regiment"period.

The regiment also wore white crossed swords, and a "1" beneath, on the shoulder straps.

		National Colours
Insignia worn on the shoulder straps		Armoured Units strip
"BELGIUM" title worn by the squadron
"BELGIUM" worn by the regiment

BERET INSIGNIA

Everybody in the Squadron,and subsequently the regiment, wore a silver Belgian lion on their black beret.

During a short period in February-May 1945 the regiment tried to rename itself into the 1st Hussards Regiment.

They even created a new beret insignia.

A "Shako" in front of two crossed sabres, the whole in a large circle with the inscription "Premier Hussards".

Unfortunately the Belgian Minister of Defense forebid the wearing of the badge,
even the name of "1ste Hussards" was not allowed.

Most of the men continued to wear the badge as a breast pocket badge.

Belgian silver lion		Beret Badge of the 1st Hussard