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Brussels query 1940 and 1945

Discussion in 'Western Europe 1939 - 1942' started by grandchild, Dec 6, 2013.

  1. grandchild

    grandchild New Member

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    Dear WW2 forum members,

    my grandfather, an English officer, was captured in Calais. While being marched south-east he escaped and along with two others made it to Le Crotoy on the Somme estuary. They were recaptured and brought to Brussels. There, according to my grandad's memoirs, they were "put into Guards Barracks".

    Does anyone know or can anyone tell me how to find out where exactly these barracks were/are? I would like to visit them.

    At the end of the war, after spending the intervening years as a POW, my grandad was flown back to England from Brussels Airport. Am I right in assuming that this is the airport at Zaventem?

    Any help gratefully received!
     
  2. Skipper

    Skipper Kommodore

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    The airport could be Melsbroek
     
  3. LJAd

    LJAd Well-Known Member

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    I am not certain that Zaventem already existed in 1945,and,Melsbroek was used by the military .
     
  4. LJAd

    LJAd Well-Known Member

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    It COULD be (but I am not certain) that the"guards barracks" were the barracks of the préwar Belgian regiment of Guides (who were unofficially considered as the regiment of guards)
     
  5. grandchild

    grandchild New Member

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    Thanks LJAd amd Skipper for your comments. Yes I think the airport must have been Melsbroek. Am not sure either about the regiment of the Guides . . . someone suggested to me that the Guards Barracks my Grandad referred to were those in Etterbeek. I wonder how I can find out?
     
  6. hubbar1949

    hubbar1949 New Member

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    Regarding the "Guards barrack", we had plenty of them along the Boulevard General Jacques.and Avenue de la Couronne
    But, specificaly, the Royal Guard is a mounted Unit of the Gendarmerie (now disbanded) which is now in the United Police.
    They are at the corner of these roads!
    In Wikipedia, enter "Garde royale belge"

    And the "airport" in the Vicinity of Brussel could as well be Evere! Now, covered with big buildings, like Nato HQ, Air Force Logistic centers, ...

    Hubbar49
     
  7. Fred Wilson

    Fred Wilson "The" Rogue of Rogues

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