Start | Geschiedenis | Tradities | Regimentsverzameling | Verenigingen | Vaandeldrager | Agenda | Actueel

Welcome

This is the website of The Guards Regiment Fusiliers Princess Irene and the Museum Brigade and Guards Regiment Princess Irene.

 

This Guards Regiment is one of two of such regiments in the Royal Dutch Army. A Guards Regiment distinguishes itself from other infantry regiments through the special bond with the Dutch Royal Family. This manifests itself for instance in carrying out all kinds of ceremonial tasks, such as the formation of a guard of honor during state visits etc. The Guards Regiment Fusiliers is the youngest of the two Guards Regiments. Whereas the history of the Guards Regiment Grenadiers and Rifles dates back more than 150 years, that of the Fusiliers does not begin until 1941, during the Second World War in Great Britain.

Regimental History
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 colors. In addition the unit was given the honorary 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 colors of the Royal Dutch Brigade 'Princess Irene' were decorated with the highest military order for valor 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 colors 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 Armored Infantry Battalion of the Royal Dutch Army in the Westenbergbarracks in Schalkhaar (near Deventer). In June 1992 the 17th Armored Infantry Batallion took over the traditions. Since then, the regimental colors, monument and museum are settled in the General-major De Ruyter van Steveninckbarracks ( named after the commander of the Irene Brigade ) in Oirschot. 17th Armored Infantry Battalion Guards Regiment Fusiliers Princess Irene is part of 13th Mechanized Brigade.

In June - December 1996 the battalion was transferred to Bosnia (former Yugoslavia). As 17 (NL) Mechanized Battalion 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 battalion 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 colleagues.

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 Battalion Guards Regiment Princess Irene will stay in Bosnia for the 3rd time as part of SFOR13.

The traditional toast with calvados (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 battalions 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.

© Stichting Brigade en Garde Prinses Irene, Oirschot. Alle rechten voorbehouden. Overname alleen na uitdrukkelijke schriftelijke toestemming. Contact via: postbus@fuseliers.nl