Halen 36
The first wavering noticed in the 24th Line Inf Regt ranks was in the IJzerbeek Creek sector. The departure of the Lancer squadrons had a disastrous effect. As he noticed the fleeing 4th Mixed Brigade elements, de Witte ordered the platoon “Kunnen” that was assigned as the Color Guard to unfold the 4th Line Inf Regt colors and carry them into battle. These Colors were present on the battlefield when en retraite (“retreat”) was shouted. After the yell en retraiteby an unknown source, the skirmisher line wavered and the men fled. On their path, the men met Scheere, who ordered nearby officers to reassemble the men.
Now the infantrymen of the 4th Mixed Brigade retreated. They came towards us in chaos, determined to avoid the fight. They consider themselves lost and abandoned as they were without officers, and bullets were coming down on them from all directions. Capt. Colpin [4th Mixed Brigade Staff] tried to address them. The regimental colors came towards them. While waving the Colors, an ensign tries to get the men to go forward. A few brave men follow him; however most continued to retreat further. [This must have been the colors of the 24th Line Inf Regt.]
The machine guns at our right [Velpen] are silent now. Rifle fire rattles along the IJzerbeek Creek. The IJzerwinning Farm is on fire. Then the cannon are silent. I want to make sure that the fight has ended. Along the Halen-Loksbergen Road, I enter a house full of line soldiers. They eat the food they found in the closets. From the roof window, I scan the area. No fight any longer. No friend or foe to be seen! Sun now goes down towards the horizon. A warm mist spreads over the fields. Nature basks in the silence of the evening.
1800 Hours. The Germans started to retreat! Now that the Belgian defense staggered, the order was issued to the German units to go back behind the Gete. In the German testimonies, overestimation of 4th Mixed Brigade fighting powers was common. As mentioned earlier, one of the most difficult things to do in combat is to determine when you have won. Both sides were exhausted and had sustained a significant shock, but the German cavalry doctrine was to pull back into bivouac.
On the German side, darkness eventually led to abandoning position:
At about 1600 hours, the 1st and 2nd Company were taken from their positions north of Halen and deployed in the western area of Velpen. [The 3rd Comp and the MG Comp already occupied this area.] The fight goes on until dusk. As the enemy, after resisting bravely, finally gives up his positions, the order comes to break off contact and assemble near Waterkant. We go back, and by 13 August at 0215 hours, we are back in Herk-de-Stad. . . . One platoon stays behind to assemble the wounded and the dead. We suffered eleven dead [one officer, ten Jäger]. We have 31 wounded. The enemy suffered more losses. This must be due to their strange way of fighting—giving up cover by running house-to-house and opening fire.
The Belgians had been reinforced by a hastily called-in infantry brigade halting the assault on Velpen. Combat had to be aborted by divisional order. The disconnection from the enemy succeeded, without being pursued. It was in the middle of the night as we arrived in Alken.
As a result of the Belgian reinforcements, further success seemed to be impossible. The fight was aborted at about 2000 hours (German Time).
The 9th Batt of the Belgian Artillery positioned near the Loksbergen church shelled the IJzerwinning Farm, thinking it was in German hands. Maj. Leconte of 1st Bn/24th Line Inf Regt saw his chance. “He assembled a patrol of some brave men and advanced towards the scorching farm. There he captured one German soldier and some horses.” This was one of the last deeds to be executed that 12 August. Coincidence had been the reason the previously well-preserved IJzerwinning Farm was finally shelled and destroyed by Belgian gunfire.
1800 Hours. Information was extremely confused at Belgian SHQ in Leuven. That headquarters had positioned an officer, Lt. Fontaine, at kilometer marker 7 of the Tienen-Diest road on the morning of 12 August, where he connected with SHQ by telephone. His position was fifteen kilometers away from the battlefield. Other sources of information were two gentlemen working for the Cav Div Staff: one located in Aarschot, the other in Geetbets. Also, Lt. Van Dooren was defending the town of Diest with Civilian Guard and firemen (in all, some 150 men). From these sources, most messages were sent to Leuven. Until 1800 hours, these messages were not particularly alarming, mainly reporting “the guns that could be heard in the direction of Halen.” Then, a message came from Fontaine: the 4th Line Inf Regt was fleeing and the Cav Div retreating toward Kersbeek-Miskom. “There is not much left of the division.” Then, accounts of Lt. Ouverloup, commander of the machine gunners that had been positioned near the Mettenberg (now with Fontaine), were sent forward. Before we blame Fontaine entirely, remember he only reported what he heard and saw, positioned fifteen kilometers from Halen.
1845 Hours. A message came in from a patrol of an uninvolved 3rd Lancers unit. It said that up to 1315 hours, 4th and 5th Lancers, with the Cyclists and artillery, stood and resisted at Halen. Then they had been replaced by 4th Line Inf Regt, which was partly retreating. Shortly before 2000 hours, Van Dooren reported that the Cyclist Comp had retreated from Zelk toward Diest.
2059 hours. The SHQ received a telegram sent by de Witte from Kortenaken. It was poorly written, with many dashes and other confusing language:.
The Cav Div has fought the whole day—since 0800 hours until dusk. They had to battle one German cavalry division: six regiments, supported by 2,000 infantrymen, artillery, and many machine guns. This division had tried to penetrate—coming from Halen and Zelk—the Loksbergen zone. The dismounted Cav Div occupied this zone. The difficult terrain had caused the Germans to retreat to Halen with severe losses in men and horses. The 4th Mixed Brigade—committed to throw back the enemy on the right Gete bank—came into action at about 1500 hours. The men were exhausted, and because the lack of officers, it had not been able to pursue the enemy. A complete report will be transmitted later and inform you about the losses. These can be estimated at about three dead [sic] and 200 wounded; many officers are amongst them, for the complete force. The conduct of all cavalry division units had been brilliant.
2230 Hours. A message was sent from Belgian 1st Army Div to SHQ. “Halen is still occupied by strong enemy troops. Diest and Zelk are abandoned by the Germans. Cav Div in Kortenaken; 4th Mixed Brigade is north of Loksbergen. Generals de Witte and Scheere [4th Mixed Brigade] plan to resume the assault on Halen tomorrow.”