So we are going back to that Poelkapelle Langemark area where RIR 235 was, I wanted to see what another regiment was going to write about those dreadful days in October 1914
Vizefeldwebel “Frischauf” reports on 21 October : as early as the first dawn, a constant coming and going began. The street was filled with soldiers, some of whom were getting their luggage back from the wagons. some of them were washing at the pumps. The field kitchens drove up with rations. While the companies and battalions, after much effort, finished their deployment, they left Poelkapelle and went back towards Westrozebeke. despite the fog, the enemy became aware of this and soon some shrapnel burst over the houses and streets, leaving some wounded. Commands were heard everywhere. But no one knew what was really going on. Only one thing was certain: the enemy, whom we hadn’t been able to capture for days, was close by, some suspected that we were in for a difficult day, but this increased the enthusiasm. Running through the gardens, the platoons and company went straight into lines of fire. Immediately, the infantry and machine-gun fire of an invisible enemy intensified, which the infantry could not effectively combat. The firing of our own batteries, which had rapidly moved forward and taken up positions behind us, intensified the din of battle. Soon the wounded were returning in ever-increasing numbers with pale faces and shining bandages. Some were carried on rifles or dragged in bands of tents, others leaned against the wall of a house and were bandaged there. Finally, my field guard, which had been strengthened and had retained its trench from the night as a regimental reserve, was also sent into the fray. To the left of our regiment, on the road branching off from the Poelkapelle – Kerselare road to Langemark, parts of RIR 235 tried in vain to gain ground. We had to proceed without cover, which the enemy then brought to a swift and bloody end. In the meantime, the’ Feldgrauen’ ( men of RIR 235) lay on the road and in the ditches, under the eyes of their regimental commander, Oberst von Gilsa, the promise to force the advance was repeated again and again. We were able to advance unseen through a row of gardens, forge ahead through hedges and then cross an ascending green meadow in groups without being fired at particularly hard. When we crossed the ridge and jumped down into the stream bed, we were noticed by the enemy, because suddenly volley after volley came down into the ground and the shells just swept around our heads. We were blown away, lying wide apart. All around we could hear moaning and groaning, for a grenade had hit us in the middle of our jump. Now the people are getting restless. Back! they shouted. I couldn’t stand the jerk. The air pressure of the grenade had hurled me into the stream. I was stuck in the mud with one leg and arm and had to be pulled out by two of my men. I couldn’t move on my own because I was wounded. I had received a piece of shrapnel in my stomach, which paralysed my right leg. Some of my men dragged me backwards into cover and bandaged me there. I was carried back on a stretcher through Poelkapelle under heavy artillery fire. I saw no one else of my platoon. Half unconscious, I was taken to the regimental aid post , which was at the exit of the village towards Spriet.( a hamplet) The injection from our battalion doctor, Dr Mirgel, took me to dreamland.
The discovery and salvage of the wounded was written down by “Predl”, a volunteer of the 9th Company of RIR 236: “On the morning of 24 October 1914, I was on the right of Poelkapelle, where a trench was being dug at the edge of a stubble field. The command was given by the already very grey sergeant “Müller”. He gives me the go-ahead for a patrol in which I want to find out if the enemy can overrun the trench. Immediately in front of our trench is the sloping bank of a stream. After crossing the stream with ease, I bend low and reach a wire fence. Along the wire fence I come to a hedge that runs parallel to the stream and our trench. It blocks my view. So I follow it to the right. Suddenly, as I can now see, the hedge bends to the right for about 150 m, towards the stream. when I reach the stream again, I hear a murmuring groan. After carefully straightening up, I look over the hedge and see a horrifying image. About 80 German soldiers lie motionless in the hollow. Since I heard moaning, they can’t all be dead! That’s why I scanned every lying soldier and heard the question: Will you finally take us with you? Do you have something to drink? Don’t leave us here any longer! With one on my right and one on my left, and some of them hanging on to me, using rifles as crutches, I lead the first wounded through our position, past a straw barn, to a barn where they receive further help. With water-filled canteens and a wheelbarrow, we return after a bridge is built over the stream from a barn door. Driving the severely injured and pulling the wounded and exhausted who were just able to walk, I managed to bring back more than fifteen comrades who were still alive. Their rescue not only succeeded in time with regard to their wounds and their condition, but they were also saved from captivity, for the following night the enemy shot his position up to the hedge and found only dead there. After almost 24 years, I recognised two comrades whom I was able to help, war volunteers ‘Gossmann’ and ‘Kahl’. I hope that some of the other rescued combatants are still alive.
Source : das reserve infanterie regiment 236 Mayor Arthur
Jürgen Schmieschek send me several maps, thank you for that.