THE 2ND INFANTRY BRIGADE

"YSER"

SHORT HISTORY

The 2nd Infantry Brigade "YSER" was raised on January 19 1945.

Officers and NCO's, trained in Geat Britain, started to train the recruits
in the Province of Eastern Flanders, Belgium.

From January 23 1945 until February 4 1945 the entire brigade was shipped
and tranported to Northern Ireland.

Northern Ireland, area of Antrim , March 1945. Staff of the 2nd Infantry Brigade "YSER". Second from the right : Colonel VAN LOOCKE.

Northern Ireland, area of Antrim , May 1945. Flag Parade

Following military camps were occupied by the 2nd Infantry Brigade :
Headquarters at Drumadarragh House
Ist Infantry Battalion at Ballycregy
IInd Infantry Battalion and the RASC Company at Antrim
IIIrd Infantry Battalion at Loughermore
Independant Machine Gun Company at Ballyclare
Field Ambulance unit at Doagh
REME Workshop at Antrim.

The entire brigade underwent a thorough training

Northern Ireland, Ballyclare, May 1945. 2nd Lieutenant JENNAER of the Independent Magine Gun Company.

.

From June 30 1945 the 2nd Infantry Brigade "YSER" left Northern Ireland for the United Kingdom
where they stayed until the beginning of August.

The brigade returned to Belgium where they were billeted at the Belgian coast until the departure for Germany.

Schladern, Germany, December 1945.

Pfals am Rhein, Germany, November 1st 1945.

The 2nd Infantry Brigade "YSER" took part at the occupation of Germany
until it returned to Belgium on March 2 1946.

The 2nd Infantry Brigade "YSER" was disbanded on March 15 1947.

Commanding officers :
Colonel VAN LOOCKE from the start until September 10 1945
Colonel DECOUR from September 14 until August 31 1946
Lieutenant-Colonel SOUKA from December 30 1946 until disbandment

FORMATION BADGES AND INSIGNIA

A first formation badge was realised by the 2nd Infantry Brigade "YSER".

On initiative of Colonel VAN LOOCKE a competition was launched and 5 designs emerged.

One was retained and was manufactured in Great Britain.

A yellow heradic lion, facing to the left, in front of a scarlet capital "Y".
Beneath the lion a green shamrock, the symbol of Ireland.
The whole on a black shield.

By decree of the Belgian Minister of Defense, issued on June 15 1945,
all the infantry brigades had to wear a more uniform badge.

The 2nd formation badge contained the same symbols, but more rationalised.

Despatch Rider of the 2nd Infantry Brigade "YSER" wearing th 1st Formation Badge		2nd Lieutenant JENNAER wearing the 1st Formation Badge

The badges from the first delivery had a yellow shamrock (!!!) but nobody seemed to matter
until the commanding officer of the 4th Infantry Brigade wrote a letter to the Minister of Defense
explaining that it was impossible to wear this badge in Northern Ireland without being ridiculised.

All brigades, except the 4th Infantry Brigade "STEENSTRAETE",
received a second delivery with the correct shamrock.

	1st Formation Badge of the 2nd Infantry Brigade "YSER" Printed version
	1st Formation Badge of the 2nd Infantry Brigade "YSER" Embroidered version

2nd Formation Badge of the 2nd Infantry Brigade "YSER" Version with the correct green shamrock		2nd Formation Badge of the 2nd Infantry Brigade "YSER" Version with the yellow shamrock

Breast Pocket Badge made in 1945		Breast Pocket Badge smaller version
Breast Pocket Badge made in 1946 during the Occupation of Germany		Breast Pocket Badge variant, made in 1946 during the Occupation of Germany

Lapel Badge worn on civilian clothing

When the first elements of the Brigade arrived in Northern Ireland
a shortage of Belgian rampant lions for the beret occured.

A British headgear bdage was found, the lower part was cut off, and the remaining lion
was worn as the "Belgian Lion" on the beret.

Once the normal lions arrived and were distributed, most of the men who had received
 the British lion continued to wear it.

The surrogate "Belgian Lion".