Important note
Photos provided on this website are not an endorsement of any political idea or of war. War is one of the most regrettable human activities.
All photos on this page are copyright Robert Mary and may only be reproduced with my express permission. You may contact me here
Practical information
The goal of the open doors day of the 2nd/4th Lancers Regiment of the recon unit of 7th Brigade is to promote the link Army-Nation by showing its vehicles and its know-how.
You will find the Order
of Battle of the Belgian Army in 2007 which includes the 2nd/4th
Lancers Regiment using primarily Leopard 1 A5 tanks.
History of the Regiment
The"2nd/4th Lancers Regiment" is built up on 17/06/1994, by
the merge of the "2nd Lancers Regiment" and"4th Lancers
Regiment". The new flag of the Regiment has been deliverd by the
King Albert II during a ceremony hold in Leopoldsburg on 21/10/1994.
In 1994 the Regiment gets its first modernized Leopard
1 A5 (BE) tanks.
In 1938, the 2nd
Regiment is fully modernized and equipped with light tanks. During the 18 days
campaign in 1940, it gets a distinction in
Tongeren
, Zwijndrecht, Dadizele and Passendale. "LA LYS 1940" award
is added to its flag due to its heroic behavior during the 1st phase
of the campaign..
On 1/10/1946, a new tank battalion is built up.
In July 1951, the Regiment is equipped with
Sherman tanks and moves to Euskirchen (West Germany). The Regiment
will be equipped with Patton tanks from 1952 and Leopard1 from 1969.
In 1976, the "2nd Lancers" returns to Leopoldsburg (Belgium),
its news garrison.
During the 18 days
campaign in 1940, the 4th Lancers Regiment gets multiple citations.
After WW2, the Regiment is dissolved. In 1952, it is built up in
Leopoldsburg, as tank battalion equipped with Patton tank. In February
1957, the Regiment is turned into a reconnaissance battalion of the 1st
Infantry Division. The Regiment
is equipped with recon light tanks M41 Walker Bulldog. The Regiment
moves to its new garrison of Wer, in West Germany.
In October 1961, the Regiment is reorganized and gets back its original
assignment: Armoured battalion with Patton tanks, within the 4th Infantry
Brigade.
In August 1962, the Regiment moves to 'Kanaal van Wessem' quarter in
Soest, where it is equipped with
Leopard1 tanks from 1968.
More information is available on
the Belgian
Army website.
The « 3rd US
Armored Division Spearhead » Belgian Historical Reconstitution
Group
The open doors day
(15/09/2007) was also the opportunity to meet the « 3rd US Armored
Division Spearhead » Belgian Historical Reconstitution Group
which is managed by the BHRG non profit making organization located
at 3 rue de Hodeige
4350 Remicourt (Belgium).
Why the 3rd US Division ? Because this unit (among others) liberated
our Region.
The BHRD is a « living museum » which includes and infantry
section, a medical section, a radio section, a MP section, a chief of
staff section and a kitchen section.
It shows up US military camps and liberation convoys.
To get info on this association, contact the
BHRD Association
You will see some pictures of a US field hospital 1944 with re-enactors.
More photos of the 3rd Spearhead group can bee seen on the Blog of
the Association.
Historical information
about the 82nd Airborne in Werbomont
The following text comes from an article found on the CRIBA (Center of Research and Information on the Battle of the Bulge) here and has been written by M. Lucien CAILLOUX.
With the Artillerymen of the 82nd Airborne Division: "All American" in December 1944
17 - 18 December 1944
During the night of 17-18
December 1944, men could scarely sleep at the Camp of Suippes in Champagne
(France), as it is the big turmoil among
the troops of the 82nd Airborne Division "All American". A
rest and training period comes to an abrupt stop when the alarm is given
around 20 hours.
After the religious service in the morning, followed in the afternoon
by a show, a movie show and a performance of Russian ballet, on that
dull Sunday all the commanders of units of the Divisional Artillery are
summoned to the Headquarters of the Division. Major General James M.
Gavin, commanding General of the 82nd Airborne, acting as temporary Chief
of the XVIIIth Airborne Corps, and Brigadier General Francis A. March,
Divisional Artillery Commander, inform them of a quick move to be made
to the Ardennes area where a sudden German offensive has just been launched.
Early morning of 18 December
At once, orders of gathering
are communicated to all echelons for a departure in the early morning
of 18 December. Few soldiers will sleep
on that misty night as everyone is busy packing up their personal clothes
and things and assembling the weapons, material vehicles, etc…
At foggy down and under an overcast sky, start the departures of the
long motor convoys which move out about mid-morning. The 456th Parachute
Field Artillery Battalion of Lieutenant Colonel Wagner d'Alesion starts
at the head at 1030 hours along with the 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment
and their first elements will arrive at Werbomont (Belgium) around 1930
hours. Followed by the 376th Parachute Field Artillery Battalion of Lieutenant
Colonel Robert H. Neptune accompanying the 504th Parachute Infantery
Regiment which moves off at 10 52 hours. Then the 320th Glider Artillery
Battalion of Lieutenant Colonel Paul E. Wright leaves at 11 17 hours
at the same time as the 325th Glider Infantry Regiment. The 319th Glider
Field Artillery Battalion of Lieutenant Colonel James C. Todd make its
start at midday with the 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment. As the Brigadier
General Francis A. March, he has left the Camp at Suippes at 10 00 hours
together with his Headquarters and his Heaquarters Battery to ride to
Sedan and Bouillon.
The day is damp and cold and a covery sky, only the traffic jam and the
problems of bridge crossings may well slow the mouvement of the long
convoy. Early evening, the head elements, that is the 505th Parachute
Infantry Regiment and 456th Parachute Field Artillery Battalion move
through Houffalize where a muffled rumbling of artillery resounds in
the distance which announces the proximity of the front lines. This is
one of the scarce indications of the enemy breakthrough since the news
was rare and somewhat confused.
Already the first convoys discharge their loads of men in the vicinity
of Werbomont at 19 30 hours. During that frosty and
damp evening the 456th align their twelve guns near the road to Hamoir.
During the whole night,
long files of trailer-trucks and other vehicles unload the total strength
of the Division.
Werbomont
The 376th Battalion is at Werbomont by 05 20 hours,
the 320th Battalion by 06 00 hours, the 319th arrive between 06 20 and
10 00
hours and all the
units take up their positions in the vicinity of the crossroads at Werbomont.
As to Brigadier Genral March, he sets up his Command Post near the crossroads,
starts coordinating the moves of the countless troops unloaded and settles
them under cover of the nearly forests. The regrouping is being made
in the morning of 19 December around 10 00 hours. Infantry Regiments,
Artillery Battalions and other small units have arrived in the Werbomont
area, ready to fight an invisible enemy but nevertheless present in all
minds since he has unleashed an offensive and that, in the north, surprisingly,
resound the detonations of a battle in course.
254th Field Artillery
It concerns the fights at
Stoumont where the doughboys of the 30th Infantry Division "Old Hickory" confront
the advanced panzers of the 1st SS Panzer Division "Leibstandarte
Adolf Hitler". Early
morning, the 254th Field Artillery Battalion under the command of Lieutenant
Colonel William M. Thomson consisting of twelve towed 155mm guns arrive
from Germany through the road from Aywaille for general support. While
the heavy howitzers are settling in the vicinity of the Hamoir road,
one of these batteries already takes up a firing position in order to
intervene in case of emergency. A little later, the 290th Artillery Observation
Battalion of Major Woydygo is also attached to the 82nd Airborne at a
place near Ferrieres.
During afternoon of the 19 December
During afternoon of the 19 December, the Major General Matthew Ridgway
recently arrived at Werbomont in an atmosphere of confusion set up the
Command post of the XVIIIth Airborne Corps having become operational,
in the hamlet near by Bosson. He give his first directives in coordination
with the Headquarters of General Hodges's First Army.
The 82nd Airborne Division has soon to extend its perimeter to advance
towards the East, locating the enemy and getting in contact with the
troops isolated in the Salient from Vielsalm - Saint-Vith and so, along
the Salm valley. After a reunion of the unit commanders early evening
at the Command Post of General March, the 456th Battalion's Commander
removed his unit to Neuville in order to support the advance of the paratroops
from 505th Regiment in the direction of Basse-Bodeux and Trois-Ponts.
The 376th Battalion settles at Oufny at 22 40 hours to support the advance
of the 504th Regiment toward Rahier and Cheneux.
During the day of 20 December
General Gavin's 82nd Airborne Division deploys the effectives of its
four regiments widely. During the evening the artillery Battalions
in support of the advancing units effect covering fire and also displace
their batteries. The 376th of Lieutenant Colonel Neptune, at Oufny,
opens fire at 1950 hours firing 145 shots on the village of Cheneux
besieged by the 1st Battalion of 504th Regiment then it moves to Froidville.
Battery "C" leaving at 21 30 hours and the rest following
the move the next morning.
The 319th Battalion of Lieutenant Colonel Todd moves out at 1900 hours
to Goronne, in support of the 508th Regiment while the 320th Battalion
of Lieutenant Colonel Wright moves out during the afternoon to the
town of Brux, near Lierneux in support of the 325th Glider Regiment.
Finally, the heavy howitzers of the 254th Battalion leave at Werbomont
at 1815 hours to settle in position in the vicinity of the Town of
Lavaux, also near Lierneux.
On 21 December
General March moves his Command Post to the town of Bra-sur-Lienne where as an ammunition dump (ASP n°130) is set up by the services of the First Army near Saint-Severin and Nandrin in the Condroz region, to supply the units of WVIIIth Corps (and VIIth Corps later on). On that same day, the 82nd Airborne Division also received the renforcement of the 187th Field Artillery Battalion equipped with 155mm howitzers, which left the Hurtgen Forest area at 1930 hours to settle in the vicinity of Basse-Bodeux in support of the 456th Battalion, probably advanced also towards this village (but the unit report does not mention it!) and the Trois-Ponts area where the 505th Regiment has set up a bridge-head on the right bank of the Salm River.
21 - 22 December 1944
During the night of 21-22
December, this same Battalion comes under enemy fire in the proximity
of Battery "C" and its Command
Post, and consequently makes a slight move to new positions and, during
the following days, many volleys will be shot to prevent the enemy from
crossing the Ambleve and Salm rivers.
On 22 December a new menace appears in the South divisional area as an
important movement of vehicles is detected from the side of the plateau "des
Tailles". Therefore, the 320th Battalion steps in soon to harry
the enemy columns whereas from 1530 to 1830 hours the 254th Battalion
fire six hundred shells on the town of Ottre which is reduced to a heap
of ruins.
On the following day
Under a sky finally cleared
from its veil of fog and in a brisker cold allowing a better field
and air observation, begins the withdrawal from
the "Fortified Goose-Egg of Vieslalm - Saint-Vith. The troop of
the 7th Armored Division and the men rescued from the 106th Infantry
Division, the strength of Combat Command "B" of the 9th Armored
Division and the 112th Infantry Regiment together with various troops
separated from theirs units in the heat of combat, are crossing in long
motorized columns the divisional positions in the Lierneux area, where
the 319th et 320th Battalions are settled.
The 376th Battalion moves to Basse-Bodeux except Battery "C" which
remains at Froidville to defend the high ground held by the 504th Regiment
near Trois-Ponts. Moreover, the 592nd Field Artillery Battailon pertaining
to the 106th Division that follows the withdrawal from Vielsalm is attached
at 0700 hours to the Divisional Artillery and it emplaces its batteries
in the vicinity of the Town of Chevron.
24 December 1944
Christams Eve, is an eventful day. Marshall Montgomery, who had come
personally to the Command Post of WVIIIth Corps of General Ridgway at
Bossonimposes, not without reticence from the paratroops officers, a
movement of withdrawal of the 82nd Airborne Division to new defensive
lines going from Trois-Ponts to Haute-Bodeux, Erria and Villettes, Bra
and Vaux Chavanne.At Nightfall all the units abandon progressively the
position occupied then to set on move towards the North and during a
very sad Christmas Eve night where cold increases sharply under a nice
moonlight.
General March set up his new Command Post not far from the crossroads
of My while his Battalions withdrawed in echelon.
The heavy howitzers of the 254th Battalion after having fired 2926 rounds
since 20 December at Lavaux, moved out to the vicinity of Chevron. The
376th Battalion leaves Basse-Bodeux to move first to Jevigne join the
village of Monchenoulle at 2115 hours and it completes its installation
on Christmas morning at 0600 hours. The 456th Battalion moves to around
Rahier losing one Lieutenant and a team of observers.
During that time, the artillerymen of the 319th have attended a religious
service in the little church of Goronne before sustaining enemy counterbattery
fire during the afternoon. With one ounded man, they go out at 1745 hours
leaving Battery "A" as a rear guard. This latter meets with
some difficulties to rejoin as the German menace is getting more precise
and it is mainly belated by the obstructions erected by the American
Engineers on the withdrawal road. The 319th settles in position in the
forests behind the new front line as well as the 320th which has moved
out from Brux at 1800 hours to complete its installation at 0300 hours.
Unfortunately the reports from both Battalions do not mention any emplacement
of the batteries nor any coordinates.
As to 187th Battalion its heavy howitzers with prime mover left the zone
of Basse-Bodeux to go and take up position near the Hamlet of "La
Fagne" not far from Harre while losing one officer. (La Fagne is
also spelled "La Fange")
After that frosty night full of incidents which has witnessed a constrained
but well coordinated withdrawal the Christmas day still reserves surprises.
During the withdrawal of the night before, the tanks of the 2nd SS Panzer
Division, the "Das Reich" Division had secured the town of
Manhay and Grandmenil. A close coordination is established with the 7th
Armored Division in order to reinforce the divisional limit towards Manhay
and to effect concentrated fires which pin down the SS troops.
General March once again displaces his Command Post to set it up West
of Chevron. But while scarcely be a peaceful Christmas the more so as
the cold still getting with heavy snow falls. The following days the
deep snow will strongly impair the traffic and with icy roads, it will
pose big problems of mobility for the 13 tons prime movers incapable
of towing the guns where from the necessity to use 4 tons, 6x6 "Diamond
T".
The last week of December
The last week of December is being spent in routine missions but the
fog and snow downpours hinder the observations.
The brisk frosts compel the artillerymen to dig in to resist cold and
maintain the use of the guns as the enemy still attacks the town of Erria
and it probes the defenses in other places of the front. The riposte
of the gunners is immediate at any suspicious move.
27 - 29 December 1944
On 27 December at 2100 hours, the 211th Artillery Group of Colonel Dixon
reinforces the fires of the 82nd Airborne Division and the day after
at 0800 hours the 591st Battalion (being part of the 106th Infantry Division)
is also attached to General March's artillery.
Finally on 29 December, six assault guns (105mm) self-propelled belonging
to 740th Tank Battalion, reinforce the fires of 456th Battalion towards
Rahier.
There are the last moves before the end of the year and the offensive
close at hand of 3 January 1945 where the artillerymen having improved
their camouflage start again moving their field guns methodically to
support the continuous progression of the infantrymen and this time towards
the South, in counter attack and in the very rough conditions of the
hard winter which rages on the Ardennes ridges at this begining of the
month of January 1945.
Location information
Location of the Saive barracks:
Quartier de Cuyper-Beniest
Rue Cahorday n° 1
4671 Saive
The 82nd Airborne Memorial is located in Werbomont (Belgium).