Jump to content
The Great War (1914-1918) Forum

Orsmaal-Gussenhoven


Niko

Recommended Posts

A couple of weeks ago, I together with a few friends, have toured the area between Louvain and Liège.

We visited Fort Loncin and a few lesser known Belgian battlefields

To start, the Battle of Orsmaal Gussenhoven, 10 August 1914

In this small village near Saint-Trond, 45 members of the 3rd Lancers dismounted and defended the bridges over the Small Gete. They kept the German cavalry at bay and sent them searching for another hole in the Belgian line further up North near Halen, with a much better known result on August 12.....

013.jpg

014.jpg

015.jpg

A few monuments, a small military cemetery and in the future a small museum remember these valiant lancers in the village today.

Grtz,

Niko.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Niko;

This is interesting, and I hope that you have more. (I have been very busy and have had to stay off the Forum for a while.)

Bob Lembke

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Good idea to talk about this little known encounter

Most accesible text on this topic is by T. Zuber 'The Mons Myth'. As usual M. Zuber shows his blind faith in German sources and did not bother with other sources.

On 10/08/14 part of the Belgian 3 Lanciers (the cavalry regiment of the 1st Division d'armée) was guarding several crossings on the river Gete. Around 12.30 they were attacked by elements of the 2nd German cavalry division under general von Krane (12 husars, 7 kurassiers, 2 dragoons, 3 uhlan, Leibhusaren, artillery, machine guns and pioneers). By late afternoon and after several german mounted and dismounted attacks, the belgian cavalry retreated. They had lost 51 killed and wounded. If the Belgian platoons were at full theoretical strength (30 men) that would have given them 210 men.

Carl

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...