Brigade Piron Armoured Car Squadron – Uniform grouping

Original WWII Brigade Piron – Armoured Car Squadron uniform grouping to a Corporal. This grouping was acquired by a collector in 1994 from an antique shop in Rue Blaes, Brussels. Unfortunately the uniform is unnamed, although what appears to be a service number is handwritten inside the jacket (see photo). The grouping consists of a black armoured corps beret, Battle Dress jacket and trousers, a shirt and tie, and a leather jerkin. The black beret bears the Belgian silver Lion cap badge, manufactured by Supak, dated 1945, size 7¼, shows staining on top of the beret. The P40 Battle Dress jacket retains its original applied insignia, including Brigade Piron shield patches on both sleeves, BELGIUM embroidered shoulder titles, yellow-red Armoured Corps distinction strips, a Signaller trade patch, Corporal rank chevrons, and the Belgian volunteer metal badge. The jacket retains its original maker’s label W.R. McBride & Co., with WD stamp and letter “N” indicating 1943 production. The P40 Battle Dress trousers show clear signs of wear with moth damage, mainly on the left leg, and are WD stamped with letter “M” indicating 1944 production.

The leather jerkin no longer retains its label but features Belgian buttons, a nice period modification, and shows one area of damage (see photos). The shirt is in good condition and bears a name label most likely unrelated to the original wearer, and comes complete with a tie. Overall, this is a very rare and complete uniform grouping attributed to a Brigade Piron armoured trooper.

Within Brigade Piron, the armoured element consisted of an Armoured Car Squadron rather than a heavy tank unit. It was equipped with light British and American armoured reconnaissance vehicles such as the Daimler Armoured Car, Daimler “Dingo” Scout Car, White M3A1 Scout Car, and Staghound. The unit’s primary roles included reconnaissance, escort duties, patrols, and mobile support during the Allied advance of 1944–1945, before being reorganised in late 1944 and later becoming part of the 1st Belgian Armoured Regiment.