Major General Jean-Baptiste Piron - National hero of WWII: Profile Picture

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Jean-Baptiste Piron was the commander of the 1st Belgian Brigade of the Free Belgian Forces, which had (re)formed in England during WWII. He was nationally and internationally thé face of the Belgian resistance and fighting spirit during the Second World War.

Piron

History

History

The name Piron is inseparably linked to the Brigade that participated, alongside the Allied forces, in the Liberation of Belgium in September 1944. Jean-Baptiste Piron was the commander of the 1st Belgian Brigade of the Free Belgian Forces, which had (re)formed in England.

At 17 years old, Piron entered the Military Academy and had already experienced a world war: he was still under twenty when he was called to lead a platoon within the 2nd Line Regiment in August 1914. Engaged in the battles on the Yser, the lieutenant (promoted in 1916) became an observer with the 6th Reconnaissance Squadron in 1917, where he was wounded following a forced landing. At 22, when the war ended, he was appointed temporary captain, with confirmation coming only in 1933. The army was to be his destiny.

Continuing his studies, he joined the staff of the 2nd Army Corps in Antwerp before moving to a grenadier regiment. As a commander, he joined the border cyclists’ regiment in Henri-Chapelle. Promoted to major in March 1936, he returned to a grenadier regiment. When the Phoney War began, J-B Piron became part of the staff of the 5th Army Corps. Following the 18-Day Campaign and the surrender announced by King Leopold III, Piron refused to become a prisoner and, after several months of wandering, he reached Scotland in February 1942, after passing through Gibraltar.

On January 6, 1942, Jean-Baptiste Piron (1896-1974), who had managed to escape from captivity, set foot on Scottish soil in Greenock. He trained with the British and gained the necessary experience to lead various infantry, artillery, and armored units. In January 1943, Piron was appointed commander of the 1st Liberation Group, the 1st Belgian Infantry Brigade, also known as the ‘Piron Brigade.’ This brigade included the former 1st Fusilier Battalion, the artillery battery, the armored vehicle squadron, and several smaller units. Piron was promoted to lieutenant colonel.

Thanks in part to Georges Truffaut, several initiatives were already underway in Great Britain to form battalions for an operational Belgian army. It was just as Truffaut lost his life in a shooting exercise that Piron was tasked with forming the 1st Fusilier Battalion, an artillery battery, and an armored squadron. He formed his own staff, and in December, Hubert Pierlot entrusted him with the command of a group of soldiers ready to assist the Allied forces. Appointed colonel on the eve of the Normandy landings, he and his men landed in France in August 1944. Kept in reserve for the eventual liberation of Belgian soil, the Piron Brigade participated in some combat in Normandy before being thrust to the front lines. The north of France was liberated more quickly than expected, and the Piron Brigade accompanied the British troops in their liberation effort, mainly in the Flemish provinces. The men of the Piron Brigade would also take part in the Battle of the Bulge and fight fierce battles in the Netherlands (late 1944 - early 1945).

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At the end of the war, the Brigade became one of the foundations upon which the new Belgian army was built.

Appointed as aide-de-camp to Prince Charles, who became Regent (September 1945 - July 1950), and commander of the 2nd Infantry Division, J-B Piron was promoted to Major General in December 1945. For a year (from December 1946 to December 1947), he led the Belgian troops occupying part of Germany alongside the Allies. Promoted to Lieutenant General in December 1947, he was relieved of his duties in Germany and became the chief of staff of the Belgian Land Force and aide-de-camp to King Baudouin (January 1951). Although this seemed like a promotion, Piron did not appreciate it, as he wanted to retain his post in Germany. In 1954, against his will, he was placed at the head of a Supreme Council for the Armed Forces. His military career ended in July 1957, after which he dedicated his free time to writing his memoirs. On September 4, 1974, exactly thirty years after the grand victory parade in Brussels, he passed away.

A Military Career Overview

Career

Born: April 10, 1896, in Couvin, Belgium.

1913: At the age of 17, Jean-Baptiste Piron is admitted to the Military School, 64th Promotion - Infantry and Cavalry.

1914: Upon mobilization, he joins the 2nd Line Regiment stationed in Ghent, where he is assigned a platoon in the 2nd Company of the 2nd Battalion. On August 18, 1914, he experiences his baptism of fire at Hautem-Ste Marguerite, participating in the Battle of the Yser.

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1914

1916: On March 26, Piron is promoted to the rank of lieutenant. In December, he transfers to the 22nd Line Regiment.

1917: In October, Piron is hospitalized in Cabourg due to appendicitis. Temporarily unfit for infantry service, he is assigned to the air force as an observer with the 6th Reconnaissance Squadron.

1918: On August 11, Piron is injured after a forced landing. After a brief stay in the hospital, he rejoined his squadron. On November 11, the armistice is signed, and Piron is promoted to captain at the age of 22.

Post-WWI: Piron resumes his studies at the Military School and then at the War School. In April 1926, he is assigned to the staff of the 2nd Army Corps in Antwerp, where he remains for three years before joining the Grenadiers Regiment.

1933: Piron is appointed Captain-Commander of BEM.

1934: He joins the Border Cyclist Regiment in Henri-Chapelle.

1936: In March, Piron is promoted to Major BEM and is assigned to the 1st Grenadiers Regiment. This year, Belgium once again adopts a policy of neutrality.

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1937

1939: In September, he is admitted to the General Staff of the 5th Army Corps.

1940: On May 10, the 18-Day Campaign begins. Belgium surrenders on May 28. The Germans gather Belgian officers at Maria-ter-Heide, but Piron refuses to accept confinement and escapes. On April 12, 1941, after a long journey, he reaches England via Marseille, Nîmes, Montpellier, Tarragona, and Gibraltar.

1942: On January 6, Piron lands in Greenock, Scotland. The formation of the Belgian Combat Unit begins in June 1940, and Piron plays a key role. In February 1942, he is officially assigned to the staff of the Ground Forces. By April 30, 1942, Piron becomes the senior officer responsible for training the 1st Fusilier Battalion, artillery battery, and armored squadron. On June 4, the Belgian forces in Britain are placed under Allied command.

1943: On February 14, Piron is appointed to lead the 1st Grouping, which becomes the 1st Belgian Infantry Brigade. In January 1943, he is promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and continues his training efforts.

1944 - Normandy: On August 4, Piron is promoted to Colonel. On August 7, the Brigade lands at Courseulles, marking the beginning of the Normandy Campaign and the return to Belgium. His unit continues to advance, leading the campaigns in the Belgian Limburg, the Netherlands, and concluding with the German surrender.

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1945

1945: Piron’s growing prominence in military leadership is solidified. In September 1945, he becomes the Aide-de-Camp to Prince Regent Charles and assumes command of the 2nd Infantry Division. In December 1945, he is promoted to Major General.

1946-1947: In December 1946, he commands the 1st Occupation Army Corps in Germany. The following year, he is promoted to Lieutenant General.

1951-1957: In January 1951, Piron becomes Chief of Staff of the Belgian Land Forces. He ends his military career as Aide-de-Camp to King Baudouin and President of the Chiefs of Staff Committee, retiring on July 1, 1957.

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1954

Jean-Baptiste Piron’s legacy is defined by his unwavering dedication to Belgium’s military forces and his role in the liberation of his country during WWII.

Decorations

Honours and Decorations

National (Belgian) Honours and Decorations

  • Eight Front Stripes
  • War Cross with Palm
  • Victory Medal
  • Commemorative Medal of the 1914-1918 War
  • Medal of the Volunteer Fighter 1914-1918
  • Gilded Lion on the ribbon of the War Cross 1914-1918
  • Knight of the Order of the Crown
  • Knight of the Order of Leopold
  • Centennial Medal
  • Fire Cross
  • Officer of the Order of Leopold
  • Military Cross 2nd Class
  • Officer of the Order of Leopold II with Swords
  • Military Cross 1st Class
  • Commander of the Order of the Crown
  • Grand Cross of the Order of the Crown with Palm
  • War Cross 1940 with Palm
  • Commander of the Order of Leopold
  • Commemorative Medal 1940-1945 with two crossed sabers
  • Grand Officer of the Order of Leopold

Foreign Decorations and Honours

  • Order of Companion Honorary of the Distinguished (United Kingdom)
  • Croix d’Officier de la Légion d’Honneur (France)
  • Croix de Guerre Française with Palm (France)
  • Commander’s Cross of the Grand Ducal Order of the Crown of Oak (Luxembourg)
  • Commander’s Cross of the Legion of Honour (France)
  • Grand Cross of the Order of Adolphe of Nassau (Luxembourg)
  • Grand Cross of the Order of Orange-Nassau with Swords (Netherlands)
  • Croix of the Military Merit Order TAIGUK (Korea)
  • Defence Medal (United Kingdom)
  • France and Germany Star (France)
  • 1939-1945 Star (United Kingdom)

Sources

Sources
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