Halen 9 – German Jaeger’s Attack 1
0300 Hours. A telephone call was received by the Belgian Cavalry Division Staff. “From Herk came the message that twelve German cavalrymen had crossed the town and were heading towards Halen.” This would be the last message to be transmitted from Herk. The carabiner cyclist battalion sent the machine-gun section from Drieslinter to Halen. Remember there was a platoon of carabiner – cyclists sent far away to guard the bridge at Drieslinter. (in Halen 7)
An account left to us by François de Braeckeleer of 1st Company/Cy Battalion makes it very clear that the movement of artillery onto the Bokkenberg did not happen until this time of the morning. He had been standing sentry when Lt. Gen de Witte gave him the instruction. “Cyclist: You will inform the major who commands the artillery on the road north of the village to take positions on the Bokkenberg Hill.” This seems like a very haphazard method to ensure that a keystone of the defense was in place.
0530 Hours. German forces began marching towards Halen. The march began at about 0630 hours German time (0530 Belgian time), rather later than the common practice (normally, marching began at early dawn). A column of four German cavalry regiments and FAR Nr 3 riding artillery battalion, G MG-Abt Nr 2, and Jäger Battalion Nr 9 reinforced by a Jäger Battalion Nr 7 company—marched past Wellen, Alken, and Stevoort towards Herk-de-Stad. Jäger Bn Nr 9 had spent the night in Sint-Lambrechts-Herk and had then moved in the direction of Herk-de-Stad. Repeatedly overtaken by 4th Cavalry Division’s mounted elements, they sometimes halted to let the horses pass. “Marching on in an accordion movement with the cavalry, a spectacle that lasted for ninety minutes, powdered them with dust and dirt.”
The Belgian 5 Lancers Regiment received its standard: General de Witte comes riding—accompanied by his staff—just as in Napoleonic times to hand over the standard. . . . We are assigned to protect the 1st Battery/Art à Cheval. Now there is a discussion on the matter whether to keep the horses with us—to ride an assault—or to act dismounted. The decision is to position three platoons dismounted and to have one platoon stand by, mounted. The commanding officer wants us to stay behind the ridgeline. I suggest going a bit higher to have a better view. I am called Sale Gamin,“little rascal.”
0745 Hours. Although the Belgian scheme of maneuver had been decided in advance, it was not transmitted to the brigade commanders until the morning of the battle—verbally. The 2nd Cav Brigade (Lancers) would be deployed, dismounted, east of Loksbergen between the edge of the pinewood 800 meters southeast of the Loksbergen church and the crossroads 800 meters north of the church tower at De Hope, a hamlet in the Kanonnierstraat. The 1st Cavalry Brigade (Guides) was assigned to act mounted on the enemy’s left flank when the Germans emerged from Halen in full strength.
0800 Hours. A telegraph was transmitted from the Belgian SHQ at Korbeek-Lo to 1st Division at Kumtich, directing 1st Division to send their 4th Mixed Brigade to reinforce the Cavalry Division:
“An attack on Halen and Diest by cavalry, infantry, and artillery is to be feared. The 1st Division will dispatch the Mixed Brigade now standing at Sint-Magriete-Houtem towards Kortenaken. This brigade is to be at the disposal of the Cav Div commander. The commander of the Mixed Brigade will contact General de Witte at Loksbergen. In case the enemy should manage to cross the Gete River, the Cavalry Division and the Mixed Brigade have the task to repel him.”
Gen. Proost, Commander of the Belgian 2nd Cavalry Brigade, received his deployment orders. Based on his reconnaissance, he adjusted the deployment line to maximize visibility northeast towards Halen. With 4th Squadron/4 Lancers already designated to the barricade at Zelk, he decided to rest his main force left flank on the IJzerwinning Farm. From there, the brigade would deploy southward. The 4th Lancers Regt was positioned from the farm to the present Lansiersstraat. The extreme left wing was situated left of the IJzerwinning Farm, with 2nd Squadron on the far left. Then came 3rd Squadron, and finally 1st Squadron in a small hollow leading past an orchard. The area of the IJzerwinning Farm itself was defended by five platoons of 4th Lancers. The 3rd Pl/2nd Squadron was in the shallow, hollow track north of the farm. The 3rd Squadron was at the right bank of the IJzerbeek Creek, and 4th Pl/2nd Squadron was kept in reserve. In reality, this platoon would occupy the farmhouse. The best field of fire was the one at approximately 700 meters in front of 4th Pl/2nd Squadron. However, there was little or no visibility to the north. The 3rd Pl/2nd Squadron was able to position itself in the sunken track; other units had no real cover at all. Fortunately, the ditches were dry, so they served as some cover for the prone rifleman. South of these were two squadrons of the 5th Lancers Regiment: 3rd Squadron, followed by 4th Squadron. The 2nd Squadron/5 Lancers stayed in reserve, east of Loksbergen village.