The management, the chief of corps, the officers, the non-commissioned officers, the career volunteers and the civilian staff of the Royal Museum of the Armed Forces and of Military History have the painful task of communicating the passing away of Mr Piet De Gryse.

Mr De Gryse joined the Museum in 1982, first as curator for the Arms and Armour collection, later as head of Scientific Department 1, and finally, from 2014 onwards, as acting manager with Mrs Christine Van Everbroeck. He had to step down for medical reasons in 2015.

For over thirty years Piet De Gryse was devoted to the Museum. As president of the Beoordelingscommissie Musea van de Vlaamse Gemeenschap and as chairman and later treasurer of the International Committee for Museums of Arms and Military History (ICOMAM) he also played a part in the larger museum world.

The Museum therefore loses one of its most precious members. Piet will remain in our thoughts for his drive, his sense of humour and his boundless enthusiasm.