12/13th Battalion of the Line

The 12th of the Line (Prince Leopold) – 13th of the Line Battalion (French: Bataillon 12e de Ligne Prince Léopold - 13e de Ligne, Dutch: Bataljon 12 Linie Prins Léopold - 13 Linie) is an infantry unit in the Land Component of the Belgian Armed Forces. It maintains the traditions of the 12th Regiment of the Line and 13th Regiment of the Line. From 2011 until 1 January 2017 the regiment was a part of the Light Brigade and on that date the regiment joined the Motorized Brigade.

12th Regiment of the Line 1831-1993 13th Regiment of the Line 1874-1947, 1976-1993 12th "Prince Leopold" - 13th Battalion of the Line 1993-
Active	1831–
Country	Belgium
Branch	Land Component
Type	Infantry
Role	motorized infantry
Size	650 soldiers
Part of	Motorized Brigade
Motto(s)	À l'avant-garde
Colors	Red and Yellow
March	Marche du 12e Régiment de Ligne Prince Léopold
Commanders
Notable commanders	Alphonse Jacques de Dixmude

History

12th Regiment of the Line

The 12th Regiment of the Line is the oldest active Belgian infantry regiment. It was created on 31 March 1831, and since 1984 has been authorised to bear the title "Prince Leopold" which was originally bestowed on it in 1915, during the First World War.

The badge of the 12th Regiment of the Line was based on the coat of arms of the city of Liège where the regiment had its barracks. It depicted the city's perron column.

13th Regiment of the Line

The 13th of the Line was founded in 1874. It was disbanded in 1947, but in 1976 it reformed as an anti-tank regiment.

Amalgamation

In 1993, the 12th of the Line and the 13th of the Line were merged to form the 12th Battalion of the Line "Prince Leopold" – 13th of the Line.

Standard

Coat of arms of Liège, on which the 12th Regiment of the Line's badge was based

The standards of the unit carry the following citations:
For the 12th Regiment of Line:

• Liège
• Anvers
• Dixmude
• Yser
• Merckem
• La Lys
• Campaign of 1914-1918
• La Lys 1940

For the 13th Regiment of Line:

• Namur [1914]
• Termonde
• Yser
• Merckem
• Zarren
• Handzaeme
• La Lys 1940

As well as a fourragère of the Order of Leopold.

Organisation

The 12/13th Battalion of the Line comprises:

• HQ staff
• 1st company
• 2nd company
• 3rd company
• 4th company (reserve company; only solely German speaking unit?)
• service company

Sources

• "Regiment 12th of the Line Prince Leopold - 13th of the Line" (in Dutch). Defence Belgium. Retrieved 2007-08-28.
• "Regiment 12th of the Line Prince Leopold - 13th of the Line" (in French). Defence Belgium. Retrieved 2007-08-28.