Colonel Van Horen at the first Belgian Grenadiers regiment

[Stuka f]

Very glad to have been able to lay hand on some  stuff of the former Belgian colonel Van Horen.

The guy joined the grenadiers as volunteer during WWI and participated at the battle of Steenstraat and Tervate.

He ended the war as a first lieutenant.

Taken POW during the second WW, he manged to escape and joined the Belgian Forces in the UK.

He liberated (as a major)Belgium and fought along in Holland and Germany.

From 1947 until 1956 he was head of the mission of the Belgians army detached at the UN in Palestina.

A strange medal in the pack is the one I all ready posted at;

 

[coldstream]

Stuka,

Congratulations on acquiring a wonderful and what appears to be a complete Group to a Man who obviously saw more than his fair share of fighting for his Country.

Would he have qualified for any WW2 British campaign stars or did Service in the Belgian Forces in the UK not entitle him to that?

Regards Simon.

[Stuka f]

Hey Simon,

thanks for your message

But I am not able to give a answer to your interesting question....

 

cheers, Kris

[coldstream]

Kris.

Thanks for the reply, will see what I can find out about eligibility and get back to you, perhaps another Forum Member may help us.

Simon

[Hendrik]

Hello Kris,

I think he would have been entitled to both the 1939-45 Star and the France & Germany Star. Depending on the date of his arrival in Britain, he may have been entitled to the Defence Medal as well. Brigade Piron members usually qualified for those.

Regards,

Hendrik

[coldstream]

Hendrik,

Many thanks for clearing that up, learnt a lot about Brigade Piron yesterday whilst trying to find out about his medal entitlement.

Am I right in thinking that his British medals would be worn after his Belgian awards and were they permitted to be worn in uniform whilst on duty?

Regards Simon.

[Stuka f]

Thanks both, for your contribution.

The books on my first picture shows several pictures (and notes) of him, and one with our man wearing his medals, some where in the late '80 ties....

 

Sorry!!

Just realized that colonel Van Horen , must be the man not facing the camera!!!

The only pictures I got so far, are these;

 

 

[Guy]

Nice lot. But I think not al the medals of that colonel

Normally, according to his years of service, a colonel should also have Commendeur in the Order of the Crown and officer in the order of Leopold. I also do not see a military cross in the lot.

 

I also find

1938/1939

Capt Commandant Van Horen M. L. F.  ° 25-8-1895

1 regiment Grenadiers

Stamnummer 21480

In 1939 he  already got the following medals

Off Orde Crown with  palm

off orde leopold

War cross 14-18

medal war volunteer 14 - 18

Ysermedal

Victory medal

 

Commemorative medal 14-18

medal 1830-1930

Van Horen (brigade Piron)

with picture

Maj  Bde staf coy

http://www.brigade-piron.be/noms_v_nl.html

[Stuka f]

Hey Guy,

thanks for the additional information!

Sadly you never know with the clearing of houses, what is whom... generally there is nobody left to tell the story....

[coldstream]

Still a superb group and one with plenty of ongoing research potential! Keep us updated!

Regards Simon.

[Stuka f]

Going back today, I hope to get more (details...) .... ;-)

[Guy]

I hope you will find more. 

[Hendrik]

22 hours ago, coldstream said:

Am I right in thinking that his British medals would be worn after his Belgian awards and were they permitted to be worn in uniform whilst on duty?

Hello Simon,

Quite correct. The only exception, AFAIK, would have been the British War Medal 1939-45 : permission to wear it was refused by the Belgian authorities as the recipient would also have received its Belgian counterpart, the 1940-45 Commemorative Medal, for the same services rendered.

Regards,

Hendrik

[coldstream]

Hendrik,

Thanks for that information.

Simon.

[Stuka f]

I got the family photo albums and two nice desk top grenadier related items.

Not sure what the albums hold no time to check, I hope they contain army related pic's...

Got a lot to do today, but I 'll show you asap.

cheers

Kris 

[coldstream]

Kris,

Well done, look forward to an update on what you have.

Simon.

[Stuka f]

Just had a quick look, and saw some very interesting things!

But it will take me some time to go thru it all

A lot of private, but never the less interesting things, but not military related

All ready found out he didn't received any British medals! 

And found his WWI diary!! 

Strangely very little about WWII.....

Again lot's to do, I'll post some stuff asap.

chers

Kris

[Guy]

Top !!

Kris,

Iff you will find some info in the  diary concerning commandant / Major (1915) Dekempeneer (also 1ste grenadiers) I like to hear it.

Thanks

Guy

[Stuka f]

bingo!

But he writes "De Kempeneer"!!

[Guy]

Nomaly it is Dekempeneer (this is the name in his miltary file)

I have a copy of a handwritten lettre and also signed Dekempeneer

But in many times it also De Kempeneer written, after he became Baron it was written de Kempeneer de Steenstraete (where he was wounded on 8/4/1915)

Guy

[Stuka f]

I'll come to it later Guy, here is a first impression with a few pic's;

[coldstream]

Superb stuff, well done and thanks for posting.

Simon.

[Stuka f]

Pleasure is mine! ;-)

K

Our guy at younger age, and his parents;

[Stuka f]

But what is this medal doing among this guy's belongings;

The Hispano- Belgian friendship medal with Franquist coat of arms....

 

 

[Stuka f]

On 12/5/2017 at 12:51, Guy said:

Top !!

Kris,

Iff you will find some info in the  diary concerning commandant / Major (1915) Dekempeneer (also 1ste grenadiers) I like to hear it.

Thanks

Guy

Hey Guy the name you asked for  is mentioned two times in my man's diary.

He only started his diary in 1916 but lost a big part, so is mentioned in handwriting above the 1917/18 (machine written) part.