Flier captured by husars

[rammjaeger]

A question refering to 1914 again. I hope I will nobody bore too much but I have tons of notes and articles dealing with this early time which were published in temporarly books.

On 3.September 1914 10 husars under command of Lt. Horn captured a landing French flier near Chalons (another articles says near Mourmelon) who was not aware that the cavalry was following him.

Is there a loss report of a French pilot (captured or missed) for this day existing?

Regards

Hannes

Hello Hannes !

No known loss for 3 September 1914, but Lt Faurite (a pilot of escadrille Bl C2) was missing in action on 4 September in the V° French Army sector.

VBR, Christophe.

[rammjaeger]

Thanks Christophe,

that date is possible as well. My two sources did not mention a clear date but in one source the the incident was mentioned after discussing the events of the 3rd. If the 5th French Army was serving in range of the named towns than it could be the right man. Additional the loss could be writen down also a day to late - especially because it is a missed pilot.

VBR

Hannes

[rammjaeger]

If the 5th Army was fighting in some distance to the mentioned towns there is still the possibility that Lt Faurite made a navigational error or should bring a message to another Army.

[leo]

Are there any differences between dragoons, hussars, and Uhlans? Or, are they different names for the same types of horse mounted regiments?

leo

[rammjaeger]

Leo,

there were at first in history very big differences but these were levelled during the late 19. and early 20.century. After WWI these names were only a kind of tradtional names in the Reichswehr and Wehrmacht.

Dragoons: At first in Piemont or France. In 17th Century a kind of "riding infantry" (in combat fighting like infantry) in Germany. In Sweden more a light cavalry. Under Frederick II., King of Prussia, the Dragoons were turned into heavy cavalry. They were using the Pallasch (a Sabre) and carabine, since 1890 also the steel lance like the other German cavalry units.

Hussars: were the national cavalry of the Hungarians in 15th century. At first amored and heavy armed, later changed into a light cavalry.
Tasks: scouting, securing and persuing.

Uhlans: The word comes from the Polish "ulani" and the Turkish "oghlani", which were taken over as Tatars in Royal Polish-Saxon service and later also introduced in other German states like Prussia. Since 1876 also with carabine armed.

Kürassier (English name?): since 16th century. Predecessor were the "Kyrisser" under Kaiser MAximilian I. (1459-1519). At first complete armored, later only the upper body with the "Küraß". Used sword and pistols and were fighting (unlike Husars) in close formations. The armor vanished later but was reintroduced in 18th century. Since 1890 the "Küraß" was only used on parades. Pallasch, lance and carabine like the other cavalry formations used since this time.
In WWI partly used as Infantry.

My father was trained in a cavalry unit which was continuing the tradition of the Totenkopf-Husaren
Main weapon was the lance. They were trained on horses, used later bycicles and finally used as infantry on the Eastern front. The Deathhead on their caps were often misinterpreted as SS-signs by the Russians and reduced the survival chances considerably.

[rammjaeger]

The sentence "Main weapon was the lance." belongs to the Uhlans and not to my fathers training.

[leo]

Thanks hannes, my father was in the US Cavalry right after WWI. He was always terrified of and hated horses.

leo