Halen 29 – charge number seven
Charge Seven was entirely the domain of the Ulanen Regt Nr 9. While 5th Esk/Kü Nr 2 finished charging, Ulanen Regt Nr 9 came up to the battlefield. The first elements of Ulanen Regt Nr 9 already were charging towards the IJzerwinning Farm. Their 1st Esk landed in the south part of the sunken Betserbaan; the 5th Esk immediately followed and suffered the same fate. The charge was aborted due to the confusion caused by the rifle fire from the IJzerwinning Farm defense, along with the turmoil and clutter of the fallen troopers and horses.
Halen 30 – charge number eight
The Eighth Charge was a combined affair for the entire 3rd Kav Brigade. With Kürassier Regt Nr 2 and Ulanen Regt Nr 9 having a total of five squadrons streaming to the rear, both regimental commanders ordered the bugle call “Make Front” to reform their forces. The charge began with a huge whirling cloud of dust. The previously unengaged 2nd Squadron/Kü Nr 2 moved a bit to the right, where the sunken road was less deep. The remnants of 4th Squadron joined up with 2nd Squadron. Suddenly, the Belgian 4th Mixed Brigade appeared, marching towards Loksbergen. The flank fire from this infantry brought the Germans the heaviest losses. The commander of Kürassier Regt Nr 2 then decided to attack the 4th Mixed Brigade ‘s infantry under cover of this dust cloud, to deflect fire from the main charge. He assigned the mission to 2nd and 4th Squadron, but the objective contact was lost due to the poor visibility; they were tempted to follow the Ulanen. The Kürassier Regt Nr 2 Staff and 5th Squadron followed the same course 5th Squadron had taken earlier—the charge ended in front of the IJzerwinning Farm, where the 5th Squadron had shattered on the fences. Most troopers that escaped came to the northern part of the sunken road (Betserbaan), which slowly became congested with wounded and dead cavalrymen and horses
The Ulanen (Ul) Regt Nr 9 was deployed from Velpen towards the IJzerwinning Farm. As they left the cover of Velpen, heavy artillery and infantry fire crashed down, mainly from the Loksbergen direction (Belgian 4th Mixed ). Nevertheless, the Regimental Staff charged in front, followed by 1st Squadron. Suddenly, the regimental commander recognized that this charge was impossible. The 1st Squadron had received heavy fire and was held up by a sunken road. Stumbling horses and troopers of 1st and 5th Squadron had followed the 1st and became trapped in the sunken road. The Ulanen Regt Nr 9 tried to reassemble on a lower part of the terrain north of Velpen. There, somewhat protected against the fire, the 1st, 4th, and 5th Squadron/Ul Nr 9 regrouped. These squadrons were once again positioned to charge, just as on the training field: regimental staff leading, then the squadron commanders and platoon leaders positioned in front of their units. (The 2nd Squadron never managed to cross the Landwijk pontoon bridge). Again shouting “Hu-rah” and “Marsch-Marsch,” just as on the maneuver field, they charged up to the IJzerwinning Farm—riding through enemy infantry and galloping over the Cyclists.
Despite continuous flank fire from the arriving 1st Bn/4th Line Inf Regt, Ulanen Regt Nr 9 had advanced until wire fences that bordered the corners of the IJzerwinning Farm halted them. One part of the regiment turned to the north; the other part to the south along the wire fences. They rode through an almost completely congested sunken road: dead men and horses lay everywhere. They retreated toward the southwest exit of Halen and arrived with only twenty-eight troopers present at first count! But several troopers and stray horses assembled in Halen, where an emergency dressing station was set up. Some dismounted troopers then joined the company of Jäger Bn Nr 9. “4th Squadron/Kü Nr 2 is now only seventy-six horses strong, so seventy are missing; 5th Squadron has only thirty-five left. In the following days many troopers will return but 272 horses are lost.”