Lieutenant-general BEM Victor Jean Clement, Baron van Strydonck de Burkel[a] (16 July 1876, Antwerp – 4 August 1961, Etterbeek)[b][1] was a general of the Belgian Army and the primary architect of the formation of the Free Belgian Forces after Belgium's official surrender on May 28, 1940 in World War II.

For his role in the charge, van Strydonck was made a baron and given the title "de Burkel" in 1937 after the location of the battle.

In 1938, Van Strydonck announced his retirement from the army but was re-activated in late 1939 when war between Britain, France and Germany broke out although Belgium remained neutral.

[2] Initially, morale among the several hundred soldiers was extremely low among the troops in Tenby and drunkenness and insubordination presented a major problem.

[2] Van Strydonck lobbied the British to improve the conditions and, to keep the soldiers busy, organized a major parade on Belgian National Day (21 July) 1941.