WW2 Belgium First Grenadeer Regiment Side Cap

Very nice khaki wool cap with blue piping and red tassle. Gold numeral 1 and flaming grenade badges.

Thanks to Kirstof for sending the following information:

"Your sidecap belonged to an enlisted man of the 1ste grenadeer regiment. The colours of the piping (black) and tassel (red) refer to the infantry branch. The flaming grenade refers to a grenadeer regiment, the number to the specific regiment, in this case the 1st grenadeer regiment. The same colours could be repeated on the collar tabs on the uniforms of the grenadeer regiments (red base colour with black piping and a metal collar badge in the shape of a flaming grenade).

The cap is of pre WW2 manufacture (slightly smaller compared to the world war 1 version). It is not an official 'army production', but rather a private purchase.

The 1st grenadeer regiment was mobilised and re-activated in march 1939. Part of the 6th infantry division, the 1st grenadeers were stationed near the Albert Channel, in the Tessenderlo sector at the outbreak of the war (10/05/1940). They quickly pulled back to the Koningshooikt-Waver line and took up positions near Lier (13/05/1940). By 19/05/1940, the 1st grenadeers reached the Belgian defensive positions near the Gent-Terneuzen Channel. The regiment finally surrendered on 28/05/1940 (general surrender of the Belgian army) and layed down arms in the Roeselare area. During 18 days of fighting, they had suffered 68 KIA's and many more wounded.

Code: 52740