| A group of
Dutch soldiers were forced to withdraw in May 1940 after the unexpected
invasion of the Netherlands by the Nazi armies. Faced by the choice: to
surrender or to continue the fight alongside the Western Allies, they opted
for the latter. Via several ways they finally arrived in Great Britain,
where they formed a new unit: the Royal Dutch Brigade.
In August 1941
this unit received from the hands of the Dutch Queen Wilhelmina, who remained
in exile in England, its own regimental colours. In addition the unit was
given the honourary name of "Princess Irene", named after the Queen's granddaughter.
This name is also symbolic, as the name of Irene means: "she who brings
peace" (in Greek).
As a small detachment
in the British Liberation Army (the unit only numbered approximately 1400
men) the Brigade took part in the campaign in Western Europe.
 In
May 1945 the Nazis capitulated in the Netherlands which also led to the
disbanding of the Irene Brigade, which to a large extent was made up of
war volunteers and conscripts. To remember their special bond, the men
of "the first hour" proudly wore their special distinction: a orange-blue
lanyard called "invasion-lanyard".
The regimental
colours of the Royal Dutch Brigade "Princess
Irene" were decorated with the highest military order for valour known
in the Dutch Army. So as not to let the name of that small Dutch unit fade
into history, it was decided that the traditions surrounding the regimental
colours were to be continued by a new regiment. The Princess Irene Regiment
was formed in April 1946.
Five battalions of the new regiment were on active duty during the so called
"police-actions" in the years 1946 - 1949 in the former Netherlands East
Indies, or to-day's Indonesia. 90 young Dutch "Irene"soldiers were killed
there in that black period of Dutch military history.
The Regiment
Princess Irene became Guards Regiment Fusiliers Princess Irene in the 50's.
The traditions of the regiment were carried on by 13th Armoured Infantry
Batallion of the Royal Dutch Army in the Westenbergbarracks in Schalkhaar
(near Deventer). In june 1992 the 17th Armoured Infantry Batallion took
over the traditions. Since then, the regimental colours, monument and museum
are settled in the General-major De Ruyter van Steveninckbarracks ( named
after the commander of the Irene
Brigade ) in
Oirschot. 17th Armoured
Infantry Batallion Guards Regiment Fusiliers Princess Irene is part of
13th Mechanized Brigade
In june - december
1996 the batallion was transferred to Bosnia (former Yugoslavia).
As 17 (NL)
Mechanized Batallion Guards Regiment Princess Irene they served in
the IFOR-II operation
under British command, just as the Irene Brigade 50 years before them.
In Bosnia the men and women of the batallion wore the invasion-lanyard
of the former Irene Brigade on active duty. It was handed over to them
by veterans of the brigade to illustrate the bond with their young collegaes.
This is only the beginning of
the peacekeeping operations for the Fusiliers. They went to Bosnia again in
december - june 1999 as part of the SFOR5 force. June - december 1999 13
Fusiliers stayed on Cyprus, with UNICYP3. A Fusiliers company transferred to
Kosovo (jan - may 2000) with KFOR1. In december 2002 17 (NL) Mechanized
Batallion Guards Regiment Princess Irene will stay in Bosnia for the 3rd time
als part of SFOR13. 
The
traditional toast with calavados (a strong drink from Normandy)
The traditions
of the Guards Regiment Fusiliers Princess Irene are very much alive today.
Veterans of the Brigade of
the Second World War and of the batallions of the former East Indies
are very much involved in everything that happens with the Regiment and
partake in all kinds of activities and festivities in Oirschot. |
