Belgian MLU "Fusiliers Bataillon"

Hello, After researching Colonel Piron's Belgian Brigade, I'm now looking for information about Liberated Manpower Units (LMUs), specifically the "Fusilier Battalions."

Sixty-two were created, but I'm only interested in those formed before V-Day. Most were assigned to the 21st Artillery Group (but a few were also assigned to the American 12th Artillery Group).

I've already found books and websites in Belgium, but they mostly focus on recruitment, assignments, anecdotes, etc.

I'm particularly interested in their organization. They were equipped by the United Kingdom, and I presume their organization must have resembled a British battalion, something like a "Rear Zone Area," since that was their mission... but these are just my personal assumptions.

There is sometimes mention of a 5th Company (5 rifle companies => odd for a British infantry battalion). Could one of these 5 companies be the Staff Company? Similarly, there is no information on the organization of the rifle companies (how many platoons?), nor on that of the Staff Company. In some photos, they have Bren/Universal Carriers. Was this their standard equipment? Were they motorized/armored, partially? Fully?

Of the 62 created, only the first 27 were formed before V-Day.

The 4th, 5th, 6th, 10th, 11th, 12th, 15th, 16th, 17th, 21st, 22nd, and 23rd Battalions were assigned to the 12th Army Group.

The following were assigned to the 21st Army Group (with more precise information when available):

-1st => 1st (Cdn) Army

-2nd => 49th (Gb) Infantry Division

-3rd => 2nd (Br) Army

-7th

-8th

-9th

-13th

-14th

-18th

-19th

-20th

-24th

-25th => (2nd Br) Army

-26th

-27th


Does anyone know anything about this?


Thanks in advance.


Eric

 

Welcome aboard.

Five threads here are id'd with an online search: "Liberated Manpower Units" site:ww2talk.com

Five different threads here id'd with the search: "Fusilier Battalion" + "BELGIAN" site:ww2talk.com

I have not looked at them.

A search with: "Liberated Manpower Unit" site:ww2talk.com found some items, so may be worth a glance.

Good luck

 

Have you seen these Belgian websites that may be of some assistance in your search:

History of the Fusiler battalions: The Fuselier Brigades and Battalions 1944-1946

ABL History Liberation forum also has some threads on the LMU's and Fusilier Batallions: De Bevrijding - la libération - ABL-History Forum

 

Hello,
I was familiar with the first site, but it didn't help me at all :-(

I'll explore the second one, hoping for better luck.

Thank you very much.

Eric