Today’s world leaders should heed the “mistakes” of the past or face the consequences, warns Count Henri d’Oultremont, who celebrates his 101st birthday this Sunday (31 May).
As one of only three known Belgian survivors of the famous Piron Brigade, Henri knows what he is talking about.
The Belgo-Luxembourg unit went down in military folklore after it took part in the Liberation of Normandy and Belgium alongside the Allies.
One other member of that brave band of brothers, André Liegois, celebrated his 101st birthday a few days before Henri on 25 May.
In an interview just ahead of his birthday, Henri told this site he fears political leaders have not heeded the “mistakes” that led to the outbreak of WW2.
Speaking from his home in Brussels, he said, “Yes, that is my big fear. The people in charge of our lives today either do not remember or do not even know about what happened back then.
“I was lucky in a way because my father was in the military and I learned a lot from him about war and conflict.”
With several bitter wars still raging, including in Ukraine and Iran, Henri says he is reminded of the period that preceded the beginning of WW2.
Henri has visited schools in Belgium to impart his knowledge about such things to young people and says, “I try to explain to them how dangerous times are now as well, not least when you compare today with how it was between 1935 and 1940. There is, in a way, a similar political climate today as back then so my hope is that today’s political leaders will learn from the past.”
He tells people, especially younger people, that “we shouldn’t despair,” adding, “We’ve had over 80 years of peace so why should it change? We have to look for solutions so that the same doesn’t happen again.”
In a 2025 interview with Belgium’s RTBF Actu, he echoed these sentiments, saying, “Let us hope that sooner or later, but not too late, there will be an awakening somewhere. Maybe people will begin to say to themselves it just doesn’t make any sense to make the same stupid mistakes as 80 years ago.I’m very worried; not for myself, but for my children and for my grandchildren. With all that is happening now, I remember exactly what was going on when I was 13, 14, 15, the three years before 1940. We were sure something was going to happen. And we got ready.”
RBL membership
Last year, Henri was also granted centenarian membership of the Royal British Legion (RBL), a much-loved and important UK-based charity set up to help former and serving military personnel, as well as their families.
Among its many branches worldwide are three in Belgium, in Brussels, Ypres and Antwerp, which count scores of Belgians among their members.
Perhaps, there is no better example of the Belgians who have long supported the RBL than Henri who served in the latter stages of the war in the British Army with the Brigade Piron.
For his centenary in 2025, Henri received a richly deserved certificate of appreciation from the Brussels branch of the RBL.
Still in remarkably good health (and memory), he was asked by this site what it was like to serve with such brave comrades and in such trying times, to which he, in typical modest manner, replied, “I did my best.”
He thinks there are, today, only three known survivors of the brigade but is not quite sure, adding, “There could be more of course. Another one came forward just last year which was a bit of a shock.
“So, if there are out there who are still alive it would, of course, be wonderful to hear from them.”
He was born in 2025, the year the Treaty of Locarno was signed by France, Germany, the UK and Belgium, guaranteeing post-WWI territorial boundaries and fostering an all-too-brief era of European peace.
That was shattered by the outbreak of another world war, one in which Henri served with real pride and valour.
Comments
4 responses to “101 and Still Going Strong: Henri, a Brave Belgian Warrior”
-
Blimey, 101 and still sounding more political than half of our leaders! Maybe we should just prop him up in the European Parliament—at least he has some actual experience with conflict resolution! 😄🇧🇪
-
Ah, 101 years old and still dishing out life lessons like a seasoned politician at a town hall meeting! If only today’s leaders took notes from a brave Belgian warrior instead of their social media feeds. 😏
-
Well, if 101 years of life experience doesn’t make you an expert on avoiding history’s blunders, what does? Maybe today’s leaders should take a page from Henri’s book instead of swiping left on history! 😂
-
Oh, brilliant! A centenarian still waiting for today’s leaders to learn from history, like that’s going to happen. 🍻 Maybe if they had a pint with Henri, they’d finally grasp the concept of “not repeating the same mistakes”!
-
Seems like Henri’s 101st birthday isn’t just a celebration but a masterclass in how to age like fine Belgian beer while dishing out wisdom that politicians today seem to have misplaced, eh? 🍻 “Learn from the past” they said, but maybe they’re just too busy scrolling through TikTok to notice! 😂
Last News
101 and Still Going Strong: Henri, a Brave Belgian Warrior
As one of only three known Belgian survivors of the famous Piron Brigade, Henri knows what he is talking about.
The Belgo-Luxembourg unit went down in military folklore after it took part in the Liberation of Normandy and Be
AUKUS Launches Undersea Drone Initiative to Strengthen Defense Partnership
Canaan
The Canaanites were t
Soaring High: Iconic Aircraft’s Model Version Takes Flight
But the latest addition to the collection of models at Brussels’ Mini-Europe, Belgium’s captivating world of miniature monuments, displays, and animations, has already taken off with visitors.
The replica of Emirates Airbus A380 aircraft, reproduced to the finest detail, has taken its place among the 350 icons at the 22,00
Kanzlertausch und der Herbst der Entscheidung – Mit Veit Medick
YHWH
In the biblical text, this name is notably linked to God’s revelation to Moses at the burning bush. When Moses inquires about God’s name, God responds: “I am who I am” or “I am who I am” (Ex. 3:14)
The body representing Europe’s business community has elected a new head.
This came during a meeting of BusinessEurope in Dublin on Friday. The organisation represents the business world at EU level.
The Council of Presidents of BusinessEurope unanimously elected Maciej Witucki to succeed Fredrik Persson as President from 1 July.
Witucki was, until recently, Chairman of the Main Council of Confederation Lewiatan, BusinessEurope’s Polish member federation. He is elec
Hidden Risks Still Lurk in European Holidays
Beyond tourism, this reveals how European consu
Oil Supply Disruption May Prolong Inflation and Postpone Rate Cuts, Fed Warns Washington, 2026
Germany’s Church Tax Faces Rights Scrutiny
In 2025, Germany’s church tax generated approximately €12.7 billion for the country’s two largest Christian churches, with around €6.7 billion for the Roman Catholic Church and about €6.0 billion for Protestant churches, according to the Institut
Leave a Reply