The 2 Chevauleger Official History - Part Three - The Battle of Arras

Below is the third installment of the 3 Eskadron's history during the First World War. While much of this is sparse on specific details, we do learn of two casualties of which one, ironically enough, was due to being kicked in the head by a horse, resulting in death. RIP, Chevauleger Mühlbauer.

One interesting detail is that it indicates that the 3 Eskadron was first issued stahlhelms in July 1917. Interestingly enough, the author notes that if there was any wind, a noise was created in the helmet that interfered with the wearer's hearing- this was a pretty common complaint and it ultimately led to the development of the 1918 pattern stahlhelm with the cut-out ears (aka the incorrectly named "cavalry" helmet). Production models were made for testing and evaluation but the war ended before this could be implemented.

Here it is:

 The Battle of Arras

May 2, 1917 – May 20, 1917

When the great offensive of the British broke out at Arras, a number of divisions were transported into the sector with great haste to prevent the impending breakthrough. On May 3, 1917, the 6^th Bavarian Infantry Division was pulled from winter position/Army group Reserve south of Lille in the area of Raches-Flines (northeast Douai). However, it was mainly through the counter-attack of the 3^rd Bavarian Infantry Division during the period from April 10, 1917 to April 25, 1917, with its magnificent heroic commander Gilt. Von Wenninger,[1] that the breakthrough of the English at Monchy was sealed off. On the night of May 12, 1917 through May 13, 1917 the 5^th and 6^th Bavarian Infantry Divisions were relieved from their positions at Fresnon (?) so that the units from Group Vimy could assume their positions (?).

On May 5, 1917, our 3^rd Squadron was relieved by the 3^rd Squadron, 16^th Hussar Regiment and moved forward to legitimate accommodation[2]. However, the stables had to be disinfected because of Mange/Scabies. As of May 13, 1917, the date on which the division (6^th Bavarian Infantry Division?) was in position until September 8, 1917, the Squadron was in Fliers. In addition to the principal fighting, the Squadron provided reporting services and forward observation services for corps and divisional bombardments. In the bombardments, officers and warrant officers were rotated in appropriate time periods.[3]

On May 27, 1917 there was a victim of aerial bombing in the squadron: Chevauleger Toh.(?) Muhldorfer was killed at 5:30 in the afternoon in Quiry la Motte. He was buried in Beaumont (?). On July 28, 1917 Chevauleger Mühlbauer suffered a fractured skull by a blow from a horse and died shortly thereafter. He was buried in Lauwin-Planque.

In July 1917, the dispatch rider was equipped with the famous steel helmet[4]. With its fine outer shape, the steel helmet was very becoming and not remembered little of the types of military headgear worn by the riders of our regiment to Mar Emmanuel times (?). It offered protection against shrapnel under shrapnel, but the rider had the disadvantage of a disturbing bass [sound] that was especially heard [loud] in wind – an impediment, especially for our dispatch rider and patrols, which were dependent in many respects on hearing.[4]

A new branch of education must also now be practiced in the cavalry, because henceforth the squadrons were equipped with a machine gun platoon. Unfortunately, this equipment was only available to a small extent for implementation.[5]

[1] Gilt von. Wenninger and our regiment were particularly close, as he had commended the 6^th Cavalry Brigade in Regensburg in the years 1911-13. He later died a hero's death.

[2] Perhaps the squadron was living out in the field and finally they rotated into quarters. Unfortunately, it appears that whatever was being used as stables for the horses was infested with mange mites and had to be disinfected.

[3] The language is a bit sketchy but it appears that officers and warrant officers were being detailed for duty as artillery observers for both divisional artillery and corps artillery in the sector (6^th Armee). Also, it appears that the squadron was providing “observation services” which appear to be part of their normal duties as the division’s reconnaissance element.

[4] One of the most common complaint about the Stahlhelm from soldiers was that a loud sound was created when it was windy that interfered with the soldier’s hearing. This problem was addressed with the 1918 pattern Stahlhelm that was equipped with cut-outs around the ears but the war ended before it could be fully implemented.

[5] It’s a little hard to tell whether this applied to the Stahlhelm or the machine gun. Most likely it’s the machine gun platoon.