Career
Piron commanded the 1st Belgian Infantry Brigade, also known as the Brigade Piron, which fought on the Allied side in Western Europe in 1944-1945. After joining the army in 1914, he served in the 2nd Lincolnshire Regiment until being hospitalised for appendicitis in October 1917. Temporarily unfit to serve in the infantry, he was transferred to the air service and became an aerial observer.
By the end of the war in 1918, he had been promoted to the temporary rank of Captain (made official in 1933).
In 1936 he was promoted to the rank of Major, becoming commander of the 1st Grenadier Regiment. Second World War
In April 1941, he fled the German occupation of Belgium via France, Spain and Gibraltar, and managed to reach Scotland in January 1942.
The following year, he promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and put in command of the 1st Infantry Brigade (Brigade Piron) by Hubert Pierlot. Post-war
After the war he led the Belgian army of occupation in Germany.
In 1947 he was promoted to Lieutenant-General in the Belgian army.
From 1951 to 1957 he was chief of staff of the army and aide-de-camp to King Baudouin.
