this week Sabine’s battlefield guide Saturday is not what I planned to post but women are allowed to change their mind.
Which German troops were in Ieper on October the 7th 1914 ? we will focus on the 5th Dragoner regiment freiherr Von Manteuffel this week.
5th Dragoner regiment
After a short delay at Geluveld and transient artillery east of Ieper, this beautiful city was reached at 4 pm. We rested in the shadow of the wonderful architectural beauties: the famous cloth hall, the town hall and St. Maarten’s cathedral. The regiment was later ordered to move to Poperinge. However, a counter order from the divisional staff was handed over at 6 p.m. A squadron had to prepare itself as scouts and the second squadron was made available, reinforced with officer Von Scotti of the first squadron.
the Butler reconnaissance squadron was given the following task to establish whether troop movements were taking place on the roads leading east from the St Omer – Aire line, whether train traffic was taking place on the railway lines running from west to east and from north to south. is there anything to report about the arrival of British troops? suppression of all telephone and telegraph traffic.
After a detailed discussion of the situation and the plans and intentions of the cavalry captain Von Butler, arrangements concerning reporting assembly points and fortifications, the reconnaissance squadron with 30 cyclists of Jaeger Battalion 6 leaves at 8.30 in the evening with the dispatch of 3 distant patrols:
lt. von Scotti to the observation of the road Watou – Cassel- St Omer
Lt. d Reserve Mappes to observe the road Cassel -Castre and Steenvoorde – Cappel
Lt. freiherr Riedesel zu Eisenbach to observe the road Steenvoorde- Hazebrouck- Aire
During the night, all three patrols have to reach the Belgian-French border. While the reconnaissance squadron was operating during 08/10/1914 first east of Steenvoorde, later in the area of Sylvestre, the following reports were already received from the remote patrols : heavy train traffic on the railway line Duinkerke – Hazebrouck. The railway is covered by strong enemy cavalry detachments.
Lt AD freiherr Riedesel zu eisenbach died 15/081915 he was from Ludwigseck, Rotenburg
sources :
Die Kriegsgeschichte des Dragoner-Regiments Freiherr von Manteuffel (Rheinischen) Nr. 5 by Von Scotti