2nd en 3rd Batallion

April 4  - May 13, 1945

Commanding officers:
Lieutenant-Colonel GENONCEAUX until half March 1945
Major LISON from half March 1945.

The 2nd Fuselier Battalion was raised in Gent, Belgium, on October 11 1944.

On december 12 1944 the battalion came under the operational command of the 21st Army Group.

After 2 months of guard duties it took up defensive positions along the Southern bank of the Waal river,
in the vicinity of Nijmegen, the Netherlands.

During the defensive operations the battalion incurred 8 deaths and 25 wounded.

On May 20 1945 the battalion returned to the camp of Brasschaat, near Antwerpen, Belgium,
where it was to be transformed into the 2nd Battalion of the 6th Infantry Brigade "DEYNSE".

Because the 2nd Fuselier Battalion was assigned to the 1st Canadian Army, the battalion was allowed to wear the formation badge of the 1st Canadian Army.

It consists of a dark blue stripe across the centre of a scarlet diamond.

During the months of March and April 1945 the men of the 2nd Fuselier Battalion wore, without authorization, the formation badge of the British 49th (West Riding) Division.

They had to remove the badge, and were strictly forbidden to wear it again.

March 1945: HQ of 4th Compagny somewhere along the Waalriver

April 1945: somewhere along the Waalriver

Commanding Officer :
Lieutenant-Colonel GÉRARD.

The 3rd Fuselier Battalion was raised at Hasselt, Belgium, on October 11 1944.

On December 12 1944 the battalion came under the operational command of the 21st Army Group.

After 3 months of guard duties on the Lines of Communications in Belgium,
the battalion followed the 2nd British Army on its advance into Nazi Germany.

The battalion crossed the Rhine on March 13 1945.

After cleaning-up operations in Germany, where more then 3.000 prisoners were made by the battalion,
it returned to Belgium on May 1st 1945.

On June 10th 1945 the 3rd Fuselier Battalion became the 3rd Battalion of the 6th Infantry Brigade "DEYNSE".

Formatie badge:

A scarlet lion on a white shield with a scarlet edge.
The lion comes from the coat of arms of the Province of Limburg,
from where the most of the volunteers were originated.