Belgian Volunteers - Belgrave Place, London, UK
N 51° 29.812 W 000° 09.081
30U E 697727 N 5708928
The plaque is in Belgravia Place close to the junction with Eaton Square. The address of the building is given as Eaton Square.
Waymark Code: WMEHF8
Location: London, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 05/31/2012
Views: 2
The bronze plaque, that is attached to a white
wall, reads:
Here
many Belgians volunteered
during World War II
to fight with their allies
on land, at sea and in the air
to liberate their country
Those who gave their lives
in the cause of freedom
shall not be forgotten
This plaque was unveiled by
H.M. Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother,
on 21st June 1964
The Glasgow Herald of 22nd June 1964 (visit
link) tells us:
"Queen Mother Unveils Plaque to Belgian
Volunteers
In the presence of about 600 Belgian
volunteers who crossed to Britain during the Second World War to volunteer for
the Belgian forces, and who had returned to London for special ceremonies, Queen
Elizabeth the Queen Mother yesterday unveiled a memorial plaque at the Belgian
Embassy in Eaton Square.
A guard of honour from the Belgian Navy,
Army Commandos, and the Air Force were on parade, and Belgian standards were
carried - including two smuggled out of Belgian in 1940 and brought to Britain.
The plaque commemorates Belgians who joined
the Allied forces and the Merchant Navy in Britain during the war.
The Queen Mother was welcomed by Prince
Albert of Liege who represented his brother King Baudouia of Belgium.
She said that nearly 10,000 Belgians served
in Britain during the war.
'From the Battle of Britain to the
liberation of Brussels and beyond, the British forces were aided and
strengthened by the presence of courageous Belgians who had found their way
across the Channel in order to continue the struggle from London'."