Brigade Piron – Belgium & Luxembourg

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  • Memorial Text
  • In honour of the men from Belgium and Luxembourg, who participated in the liberation of France, Belgium and Holland.
  • The Independent Belgian Brigade was a Belgian and Luxembourgish military unit in the Belgian forces during WWII, commonly known as Brigade Piron after its commanding officer Jean-Baptiste PIRON.
  • More than a hundred Luxembourgers volunteered. Most of them formed the ‘Luxembourg Battery’, an artillery unit (Troop C) consisting of four 25 pounder guns named after Luxembourg princesses, Alix, Elisabeth, Marid-Adelaide, Marie-Gabrielle.
  • The Belgian Brigade participated in Operation PADDLE. Its first units arrived in Normandy on 31 July 1944 and the main body set foot on Normandy soil at Arromanches and Courseulles on 8 August. It was placed under the command of Lieutenant Colonel J-B PIRON.
  • It took part in the battles of Normandy, liberating Cabourg, Houlgate, Villers s/m, Deauvile, Trouville, Honfleur. From 31 August to 1 September, it crossed the Seine and advanced towards Brussels, which was liberated on 4 September 1944.
  • During OP Market Garden, the brigade was assigned to guard the right flank of the British 30th Corps.
  • Pushing northwards, the brigade reached the Wessem canal and endured heavy fighting. They continued their fight to liberate the Netherlands from September 1944 until April 1945,
  • In 1945, the brigade took part in the occupation of the Ruhr (British Sector).
  • In June 1945, the Luxembourgers were demobilized and ended their service with a military parade in front of thousands of compatriots in Luxembourg City.
  • The Brigade lost 80 members during the combat campaigns.
  • WE WILL REMEMBER THEM in the Allied Special Forces Memorial Grove – National Memorial Arboretum.

Memorial Location in the Allied Special Forces Memorial Grove.

Page Updated 9th March 2026