This week’s Sabine’s battlefield guide Saturday is going back to Oostkamp, we were there weeks ago remember the two English pilots who were shot by Otto Parshau ?
A German unit in Oostkamp
The first regiment of the 46th division to stay in Oostkamp was RIR 215, from 11th till the 25th of November 1915. RIR 215 fights at the front opposite Boezinge near Ypres from 15 September to 12 March 1916. When it goes on leave in November 1915 in the region of Zeebrugge Heist Knokke, it was diverted to Oostkamp by the shelling that took place . After a year of fighting, they are happy to stay in this beautiful landscape, they look forward to a visit to Bruges. On November 16, 1915, they march with the regimental brass band to the city theatre to watch films. The following days the men are given leave in the afternoon to visit the town without supervision. In the following days they take part in large practice maneuvers in Knokke and Torhout. The commander recognized the increasing importance of machine guns and had a large group of men trained. So that there are always reserves in case the machine gun operators are switched off. The complete ” Minenwerferabteilung” is also trained in the use of machine guns. On November 25th, the regiment leaves Oostkamp again to take up their old positions. From 11 to 25 December they come to Bruges for a break. On February 27th they arrive in Oostkamp again. Many corporals were billeted in small cafes, where they could drink an elexir d’Anvers or a so-called cognac for 10 pfenning. Those who had lived frugally at the front could indulge in all kinds of pleasures. At Tiez in Bruges (see a previous blog) you could buy a kg apricot jam for 1 franc. On the 9th of March new marching orders will arrive, the next the regiment will leave for the north of France from where it will be deployed in Wijtschate and at the Somme.
One soldier that served with RIR 215 : Gefreiter Jens Jensen 19. 06.1894, Skas SkastParish – 21.03.1916, Wervik, Belgium Son of Peder Hansen Jensen and Mare Hansen Jensen . He had 2 brothers Peter and Carl and two sisters Anne and Petra. He was not married and lived in Haderslev .He came to the front in Belgium after becoming a war student from Haderslev Cathedral School in the autumn of 1915. I found 2 letters one he wrote to his brother Karl while he was in a unterstand. ( This was in Danish and that is a language I do not speak or understand, a translator program online didn’t feel good so I asked a friend in Germany if one of his Danish friends could help with this translation)
Dear Karl!
First you have to say thank you to our dear mother for the beautiful socks. We are located in a French Unterstand. These are much larger than ours. During the day we lie down and sleep. At night we are eager at work. You should see us in our dirt someday. The soil is completely soaked. If you walk in the open field, when the bums sticks one leg in a grenade hole, or the whole person sits in it. I’m still doing well under the circumstances. The Lord will keep us in faith in him, to press his name into our hearts, that we will never forget our Jesus, but thank him through our lives. God commanded.
Greetings to our dear mother, the sisters and Bertha. Be yourself your cruel-loving brother Jens.
Dear Mother
I received two packages from you last night. Good shoes in one and jam in the other. My deepest thanks for that. I know, dear Mother, I can come to you if I need anything, but I don’t want to bother you too much. Horace said, there’s a size in all things. After all, there are bounds beyond which what’s good can’t exist. Lord, I thank you that you can fulfill my desires. Now we are back in terrest ( between koekelare and Houthulst) and will again be exposed to the hardships of war. God willing, we will return to Oostkamp on December 11th.
Jens
sources
denstrekrig19141918.dk
Oostkamp en Hertsberge in de eerste wereldoorlog by Wim Deneweth
thanks to Frank in Germany and Rene in Denmark for the translation of the letters
pictures : Jens Jensen, the military in Oostkamp, RIR 215 in Oostkamp and the Kaizer on parade