At the time of mobilisation, in August 1914, the 1st Regiment Jagers on foot was in garrison at Charleroi. on de-doubling, the 4th Jagers was formed and both regiments made up the 15th mixed brigade.
the two regiments were the only ones that persisted throughout the entire campaign: they remained constantly connected side by side.
At Sart-Tilman, where a disaterous battle took place on the night of 5 to 6 August on the Sart-Tilman plateau, which saw the German troops( 43rd brigade) retreat to their starting positions, but the1st jagers were suffering heavy losses.
At Antwerp, the two regiments took part in the raids of 24 August and 9 September.
On the Yser, the brigade Jagers defended the Schoorbakke-Tervate front from 14 October. Then placed in reserve, they took part in the battle in the Pervijze-Kaaskerke sector. During the stabilisation, the regiments occupied the various sectors of the front.
The 2nd Jagers was in garrison at Bergen in 1914. It formed there, on de-doubling, the 5th Jagers.
These two regiments made up the 16th mixed brigade, which was transported by rail to Gete on 3 August. A company of the 2nd Jagers received its baptism of fire at Geldenaken on 16 August.
The regiments suffered heavy losses at Eppegem.
On 23rd December 1916, the 5th jagers was reconstituted by incorporating recruits, several companies from the 2nd jagers and one from the 1st jagers. It had a regimental band, conducted by GODART, which composed the regimental march.
At the end of the conflict, the regiment was awarded four commendations (Yser, Moorslede, Antwerpen, Diksmuide) and the Fourragère in the colours of the Order of Leopold. After a few months’ occupation in Germany, the 5th Chasseurs returned to Mons (the “Casteau” camp) on 2 April 1919, where it was disbanded on 1st November 1923.
One of these’ jagers te voet’ was my great grandfather Jules Declercq who started his army career in 1913 with the first Jagers regiment . He ends up ill in Eggewartskapelle in June 1915 and is brought to a hospital in Dinard the 23 of June. (departement Ille-et-Vilaine.) Dismissed on the 10 of Juli and rejoins his regiment .
The 24 th of December 1916 he is transferred to the 5th regiment. He survives the war and has all the medals and 8 chevrons.
‘Chevrons’ were awarded to all soldiers who effectively fought at the front. Eight was the maximum number of front stripes that could be awarded.
A big thank you to
Luc Declercq who was so kind to share my great grandfathers military file.
