INNI

Belgium was invaded & occupied by the Nazis on May 10th 1940. After the surrender on 28th May Belgium’s government was forced into exile in London. 

Following the liberation of Belgium in 1944, 25,000 Belgians – four Infantry Brigades – arrived in Northern Ireland for training, with the intention of returning to take part in the final battles against the Germans, but with the German surrender in May 1945 they were not destined for active service. However, the brigades did return to Europe in 1946, not to fight in Germany but as the seed of a new post-war army of Belgium.

 In recognition of this, all the new Belgian army badges included a shamrock, in honour of the Northern Irish link to the new army. 

It is in a way appropriate that N.Ireland should be the place that was chosen for this new army to take shape for it was the Irish Guards 2nd Battalion who spearheaded the drive into Brussels as part of the Guards Armoured Division, being met by an overwhelming mass of deliriously happy Belgians.