Royal Netherlands Motorized Infantry Brigade

During World War II, the Royal Netherlands Motorized Infantry Brigade was a military unit initially formed from approximately 1500 Dutch troops, including a small group guarding German POWs, who arrived in the United Kingdom in May 1940 following the collapse of the Netherlands. Elements of this force became the nucleus of what was originally called the “Dutch Legion.” Although augmented by conscription among overseas citizens (Canada, United States, Middle East, Dutch Antilles, Argentina, Suriname and South Africa), the Dutch force also detached troops for other duties and as a consequence grew very slowly (Commando's, Navy, BBO, etc.) On 11 February 1941 by approval of Queen Wilhelmina the Dutch Legion got a new name: Prinses Irene Brigade (P.I.B). The Greek word "Irene" means peace.

On 6 August 1944 the first troops of the P.I.B landed at Graye-sur-Mer Normandy, France later the main force landed and the P.I.B served under the Canadian 1st Army until it moved forward with the British 2nd Army. Heavy fighting around the Chateau St Come (Hellfire Corner) and liberating Pont Audemer in the progress.

In mid September the P.I.B got involved in fighting with the Germans at the town of Beeringen, crossing into Dutch territory on 20 September 1944 at Borkel and Schaft. Around this time it was involved in combat with the Dutch volunteer SS formation Landstorm Nederland. From the 26th of September the P.I.B guarded the bridge of Grave which was then the longest bridge in Europe.

After Market Garden (the operation to capture bridges across the Rhine at Arnhem which went A Bridge too Far) the P.I.B went south again. On the 24th of October the P.I.B was ordered to go to Tilburg to attack this town from the south while the 51st Division attacked from the east. The P.I.B couldn't get to Tilburg and got stranded at Broekhoven. Four soldiers were killed in the fighting there.

The Prinses Irene Brigade spent the winter of 1944/45 in the region of Walcheren and North Beveland (Zeeland) losing Lt Havelaar and several other soldiers.

From Zeeland the P.I.B went back to Noord-Brabant.

On 31 March 1945 the commander of the P.I.B, Colonel de Ruyter van Steveninck said goodbye to the three platoons of Marines, which formed II Indep. Company, who were send back to the USA to join their comrades of the Royal Netherlands Marines Brigade who loaned these troops to the P.I.B to have enough troops to participate in the liberation of Europe as demanded by the British. This gap left by the Dutch Marines was filled up with replacements from the volunteers of the liberated south of Holland who had there training at Bergen Op Zoom under command of Paul van Looringh van Beeck a South African officer.

On the 2nd of March the P.I.B was put under command of The Netherlands District under Major General Galloway based at the HQ in the town of Tilburg.

Operation "Orange"

Heavy fighting was done by the P.I.B in the town of Hedel (north of the city of Den Bosch) on the river Maas in April 1945 were they were to link up with the 30 Royal Marines (part of the 116th Infantry Brigade Royal Marines) in Kerkdriel in an attempt to liberate the Bommelerwaard but the Royal Marines gave up after opposition in the town of Kerkdriel by the Germans leaving the P.I.B stranded at the bridgehead of Hedel. The Prinses Irene Brigade was under command of the 116th Infantry Brigade Royal Marines at this time. Still they fought the Germans with great gallantry and holding the town for three days inflicting many casualties on the enemy. In these fights the P.I.B lost twelve men and around thirty were wounded. Several Gallantry medals were awarded for actions in Hedel. At 11h15 on the 25th of April the order to withdraw from the bridgehead in Hedel came from 116th Infantry Brigade Royal Marines. At 23h30 III Indep Coy withdrew from the town Hedel as the last unit to the south side of the river Maas, this effort was completed at 00h30 on the 26th of April.

The Prinses Irene Brigade entered The Hague on 9 May 1945 as liberators.

Organization in 1944:

:Three motorized Independed Infantry Coy's (I,II,III) :One Reconnaissance Company (Disbanded 31 March 1945) :One Artillery Battery (six 25 pounders) :Brigade Signals :Brigade Maintenance

After the war, the traditions of the brigade were perpetuated by the Garde Regiment Prinses Irene.