On 5 April 1944 the last order of the Supporting Arms Battalion was given.
The next day1 we received the first order of the Independent Heavy Machine Gun Squadron (see attached order2).
In accordance with English standards (this time the reorganisation was the result of the British command) the unit was named Independent Machine Gun Squadron and belonged to the Division (not of the Infantry Brigade). The equivalent English name was Independent Machine Gun Company.
That the detachment became a 'Squadron' rather than a Company is probably because it was traditionally drawn from the 1st Reconnaissance Regiment, had most of its officers from the Cavalry Corps and also because it belonged to the Division3 (and there, after all, it was 'all' cavalrymen) rather than an Infantry Brigade4. They once took issue with the fact that we were called a squadron and not a company.
Kazimierz Duda - Chronicles of War - April 6, 1944 - Page 29
1 6 April 1944.
2 Document not found.
3 10th Armoured Cavalry Brigade.
4 3rd Infantry Brigade .
Translation from French version: Steven Duda
Original page 29