Memorial First Belgian Armoured Car Regiment

On May 13, 1995, a plaque commemorating the "First Belgian Armored Car Regiment" was unveiled on the façade of the St. Vincentius Institute, but was removed during the new construction of the monastery and the school complex in 2002 and kept in the monastery.
The hanging of the plaque was the last wish of the late René Pyck from Aalst, who was a member of the Brigade Piron. After research and negotiations, the plaque was restored on May 13, 2021.

Plaque at the top: "First Belgian Armored Car Regiment - 1945-1995"
Below: "Commemorative plaque First Belgian Armored Car Regiment - 1945 - 1995

On Saturday, May 13, 1995, this memorial plaque was unveiled as a reminder at this location at Pachthofstraat 3 in Gijzegem, on the facade of the Sint-Vincentius a Paulo Institute.
to the residence of the First Belgian Armored Car Regiment at the Institute in Gijzegem, with 1500 Belgian volunteers with their armored cars, from the end of January to 15 May 1945.
The 1st Belgian Infantry Brigade was a combat unit founded in January 1943 in England under the direction of Lt. Colonel Piron. On August 7, 1944, this unit was responsible for the liberation of Cabourg, Deauville, Trouville-sur-Mer and Honfleur in Normandy.
September 3, 1944 the unit crossed the border in Rongy and liberated Brussels a day later. It is in Gijzegem that the regiment was renamed "Premier Hussards" (1st cavalry) referring to the emblem worthy of Napoleon's Imperial Guard.
It is also in Gijzegem that this regiment suffered the first two losses, namely Cavalier Mignon François (23) and Cavalier Van Oost Henri (20).
On March 30, 1945, the National Vuurkruisersbond-branch Aalst handed over a regimental banner to the armored car unit with an embroidered shield of the city of Aalst and with mention of the fights fought: Normandy-Canal de Wessem.
The municipality of Gijzegem was responsible for funding this banner. Colonel Marcel Cuvelier was commander of the regiment from January 29, 1945 to April 11, 1946. On May 15, 1945, the Belgians at the Institute in Gijzegem were replaced by a regiment of Scots.

The plaque "First Belgian Armored Car Regiment 1945-1995" was re-inaugurated in Gijzegem on Thursday 13 May 2021 "

Source: Heritage Unit - Local History Circle Dender

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• Text: Marie-Christine Vinck
• Photos: Marie-Christine Vinck