THE 24TH FUSELIER BATTALION

1945

SHORT HISTORY

The 24th Fuselier Battalion was raised in Gent, Belgium, on February 4 1945.

During its initial training period it was administratively attached
to the 13th Fuselier Brigade on February 15 1945.

On March 25 1945 the 24th Fuselier Battalion was put at the disposal of the 21st Army Group.

The battalion left Gent for Tielt the same day.

Bren carrier of the 24th Fuselier Battalion at Tielt, Belgium.

The battalion performed guard duties at several Allied logistical sites in Kortrijk, Tournai and Ronse.

On April 12 1945 the battalion was at Zedelgem, Belgium, where it assumed guard duties
at the P.O.W. camp nr 2229.

Zedelgem, POW Camp 2229.
Caricature painting on the wall of the Officers Mess.
Left : some of the British officers
Middle : the Commanding British Officer
Right : some of the Belgian officers of the 24th Fuselier Battalion.
The wall painting was destroyed, together with the mess building, after the War.

On July 17 1945 the battalion left for Occupied Germany.

The 24th Fuselier Battalion had several cantonments in Germany :
Wuppertal, Kapellen, Lichtscheid, Rheinsberg, Orsoy am Rhein.


July 18 1945, crossing of the Rhine near Duisburg, Germany.		Summer 1945. Bren carriers of the 24th Fuselier Battalion at Orsoy am Rhein, Germany.

On September 1945 the battalion was administratively attached to the 14th Fuselier Brigade.

21 October 1945, Wuppertal, Germany.
Officers Corps of the 24th Fuselier Battalion.
Front line, middle : commanding officer Major EERDEWEGH.

On November 19 1945 the battalion returned to Beverlo, Belgium.

Journal issued by the 24th Fuselier Battalion.
8 issues were edited.

The 24th Fuselier Battalion was disbanded at Beverlo on December 31 1945.

Commanding Officer
Major VAN EERDEWEGH

FORMATION BADGE

During its existence the 24th Fuselier Battalion wore 2 different Formation Badges.

The Formation Badge of the 13th Fuselier Brigade, and the Formation Badge of the 14th Fuselier Brigade.


Formation Badge 13th Fuselier Brigade		Formation Badge 14th Fuselier Brigade

It is known that at a time both badges were worn at the same time.

Some companies still wore the 13th Fuselier Brigade badge,
some other companies wore already the 14th Fuselier Brigade badge.

Leopoldsburg, December 1945.
Men of the 24th Fuselier Battalion wearing the Formation Badge of the 14th Fuselier Brigade.

Shoulder Insignia.

On both shoulder straps the crossed rifles with a "24" beneath were worn.

Metal insignia and white tread insignia were both worn.

Normally a crown with a "13" or "14" should have been worn,
once the battalion was attached to the 13th or 14th Fuselier Brigade,
but the "24" with the crossed rifles was worn until the end.

Gent, February 1945, initial training period of the 24th Fuselier Battalion.
Private LAZOORE wearing the metal crossed rifles and the "24".