2nd regiment of hussards

The 2nd Régiment of hussards (the 2nd RH) is a regiment made up in 1735. It was distinguished during the revolutionary and Napoleonean wars in particular (battles related to the standard) with Valmy (1792), Austerlitz (1805), Friedland (1807), the Isly (1844), Solférino (1859), Flandres (1914) and on Avre (1918)

It is currently the regiment armor-plated of search for information of the Army.

Creation and various denominations

  • January 25th 1735: creation with Strasbourg of the regiment of Esterhazy Houzards , with the profit of the count Valentine-Joseph Esterhazy

  • August 1st, 1743: the regiment of Esterhazy Houzards becomes the regiment David Houzards , with the orders of the knight Zsigmond David
  • January 1747: the regiment takes the name of its new Mestre of camp, the count Lancelot Turpin de Crissé of Sansay and is made known under the name of Turpin Houzards
  • 1756 - 1763: War Seven Year old
  • February 1761: its new Mestre of camp, the marquis Andre-Claude de Chamborant of Clavière gives him its name
  • 1791: Famous 2nd Regiment of Hussards

By tradition, the first 5 regiments of hussards are called with the old " term; Houzard" , in memory of the first squadrons of Hungarian houzards. The name of tradition of the 2nd Hussards is " Chamborant Houzards" or " hussards of Chamborant" and sometimes " the brothers bruns".

  • 1814 : regiment of Hussards of the Queen

  • 1815: the name of 2nd regiment of hussards begins again, laid off in September 1815
  • 1816: regiment of hussards of Meurthe , organized at Metz, on February 21st, 1816
  • 1825: the name of 2nd regiment of hussards
  • 1939 takes again: dissolved and transformed into 16th GRCA and 23e, 39e, 71e, 74e and 80e GRDI
  • 1940: 2nd regiment of hussards
  • 1942: dissolved
  • 1944: 2nd regiment of hussards
  • 1946: dissolved and immediately recreated with the elements of the 4th regiment of hussards

Colonel s/chef-of-brigade

Old mode

  • 1735-1743 : count Esterhazy, owner of the regiment which bears its name

  • 1743-1747: knight David, owner of the regiment which bears its name
  • 1747-1761: count de Turpin, owner of the regiment which bears its name
  • 1761-1791: marquis de Chamborant, owner of the regiment which bears its name

Revolution and Empire

  • 1792 - 1793: count Charles Louis Joseph de Gau de Fregeville - chief of brigade (**)

  • 1793 - 1806: baron Jean-François Therese Barber - chief of brigade then colonel (*)
  • 1806 - 1809: baron François-Joseph Gerard - colonel (**)
  • 1809 - 1813: baron Gilbert-Julian Vinot - colonel (*)
  • 1813 - 1815: baron Alexetre-Louis de Séganville - colonel
  • 1815 - 1821: prince Joseph-Marie of Savoy-Carignan - colonel

(*) officers become Brigadier general thereafter.
(**) officers become Major general thereafter.

Colonels killed or wounded by ordering the regiment for this period:

  • Chief of brigade Barber: wounded the December 2nd 1805
  • Colonel Gerard: wounded the November 3rd 1806
  • Colonel Vinot: wounded in 1808

Officers wounded or killed while being used for 2nd Hussards between 1808 and 1815:

  • killed Officers: 7
  • dead Officers their wounds: 5
  • wounded Officers: 59

Restoration

  • 1821-1830 : Viscount Gauthier de Rigny

  • 1830-1843: Count Duroc de Chabanne
  • 1843-1848: Gagnon

2nd Republic and Second Empire

  • 1848-1855 : Dumor

  • 1855-1862 : the Oilcan
  • 1862-1868: Gadic
  • 1868-1873 : Sail needle

1870 - 1914

  • 1868-1873 : Sail needle

  • 1873-1875: Aubert
  • 1875-1882 : of Good
  • 1882-1887: Roustan
  • 1887-1894 : of Bellegarde
  • 1894-1898: of Chalendar
  • 1898-1904: of Hombres
  • 1904-1908: Gouget de Landres
  • 1908-1914: Carles de Carbonnières

First World War

  • 1908-1914 : Carles de Carbonnières

  • 1914-1917: Gouzil

Between two wars

  • 1919-1920 : Boullaire

  • 1920-1921 : Huet
  • 1921-1923 : Pichon-Vendeuil
  • 1923-1930 : Pumpkin of Boisfleury
  • 1930-1932: Cyr de Lafon
  • 1932-1934: Testard
  • 1934-1936 : Bridoux
  • 1936-1939 : Dodard of the Cabins
  • 1939: Abrial

Second world war

  • 1940-1941 : wood of Calande

  • 1941-1942: Boutaut de Lavilléon
  • 1942: Désazard de Montgaillard (*)

(*) With the invasion of the free Zone colonel de Montgaillard refused to deposit the weapons and enjoignit its regiment to continue the combat in North Africa or Resistance.

From 1945 to our days

  • 1944 : Darizcuren

  • 1945 : Roy
  • 1945 : O'Neill
  • 1946 : Séguineau de Préval
  • 1946-1951: Salesse-Lavergne
  • 1951-1953 : Gentien
  • 1953-1955 : Laurent
  • 1955-1956: of Charbot
  • 1956-1960: Bernard
  • 1960-1961: Moreau
  • 1961-1962: of Champeaux of Boulaye
  • 1962-1964: Mery (*)
  • 1964-1965: Douat
  • 1965-1967 : of Vanssay
  • 1967-1969: Menard
  • 1969-1971 : Mazin
  • 1971-1973 : of Bermondet de Cromières
  • 1973-1975: Maisonnet
  • 1975-1977 : Dupuy of Grand' Rivets (**)
  • 1977-1979: Zwingelstein (***)
  • 1979-1981: Rimaud
  • 1981-1983 : Dumouchel de Prémare
  • 1983-1985: Böy
  • 1985-1987 : Barrois
  • 1987-1990 : of Harcourt
  • 1990-1991: Bart
  • 1991-1993: Millet (****)
  • 1993-1995: Martin
  • 1995-1997: Xavier Michel
  • 1997-1999: Ballarin
  • 1999-2001 : Lépinette
  • 2001-2003 : Nicolazo de Barmon
  • 2003-2005: Lacoste de Fontenilles
  • 2005-2007: Fox
  • 2007: Maury

(*) Future chief of staff of the Army (**) Future Inspector of the Armor-plated Weapon Cavalry (***) Future ordering 1st Army (****) Future General inspector of the Army

History of the garrisons, combat and battles of 2nd Hussards

Revolution and Empire

(*) battles carried to the flag of the regiment.

From 1815 to 1848

The regiment takes part in the campaigns of Africa against Abd El-Kader and receives the nickname of “Lions of the Desert”.
  • 1844 : Battle of Isly (*)
  • 1845: Sidi Brahim where the 2nd squadron of the regiment is almost destroyed at the side of the hunters to foot of the 8 {{E}} battalion.

Second Empire

  • June 14th 1859: Battle of Solférino (*):

In 1859, the Emperor Napoleon III, after the agreements of Plombières signed the previous year with the kingdom of Piedmont Sardinia, engages 120.000 men to drive out the Austrians of Italy of North and to allow the Unit Italian. 2nd Hussards, in garrison with Vesoul, receives the order to train 4 squadrons of war with 150 men and 120 horses. The 3°, 4°, 5° and 6° squadrons designated to go leave Vesoul with the orders of colonel Huillier, in 2 columns the 20 and on April 27th, 1859. The regiment forms with the 7 {{E}} Hussards, the Brigade Clérembault, first brigade of the division of light cavalry of the Partourneaux general, attached to the 3rd body under the orders of the marshal Canrobert.

The 4 squadrons are joined together with Tortone on May 21st, but are quickly separate to ensure of the missions of before guard for various divisions of the 3rd Body, the 3rd squadron ensuring the protection of the Canrobert marshal and his staff. Finally the 4°, 5°, and 6° squadrons are again joined together on June 13rd and 2nd Hussards takes part with the other regiments of the division of light cavalry Partourneaux and those of the Desvaux general, with the continuation of the Autrichienne army. June 24th, 1859, by an overpowering heat, divisions of Partourneaux cavalry and Desvaux are availability of the 4° Corps, ordered by the general Niel. This last has the role of seizing the village of Guidizzolo, in the plain of Médole, in the south of the French device. The center of the engagements soon will be around the farm of Put-Nuova that the 2 {{E}} Division of Infantry of the 4° Corps, ordered by the Vinoy general attacks with energy. This farm is surrounded by ditches and hedges behind which the Austrians shelter to maintain a terrible shooting. Has 14 hours, the Niel general resists the efforts of the IX°, XI° and XIII° Austrian Corps, and the Vinoy general always clings to the farm of Put-Nuova. This last begs the Partourneaux general to come to the help from the exhausted infantry and end from ammunition. After having placed 7th Hussards in support, the Partourneaux general launches ahead, through the fields of mulberry trees, 2nd Hussards. Colonel Huillier places himself at the head of the 5° squadron, places the 6° squadron as a fourragor on his left and the 4° squadron in support behind him: the music of the regiment without order will charge on the initiative with its chief with the 4° squadron. Led with much spirit this load is every success; good number of Austrians are sabred, the others release foot and the relieved French infantry can take again the offensive. When 2nd Hussards bivouacs the evening even on the battle field, after being remained with horse during 18 hours, 3 officers and 36 hussards miss with the call, but the regiment will have the honor to bear the name of Solferino in the folds of its standard, and fifty years later, in 1909, the town of Milan, will give its gold medal to 2nd Hussards in remembering this glorious countryside.

From 1871 to 1914

The 2° Régiment of Hussards holds garrison with the District Ordener de Senlis of 1894 to 1912. (source: commemorative plaque of the regiments having held garrison with the District Ordener de Senlis)

First World War

Inter-war period

Second world war

From 1945 to our days

  • dissolved

    on February 20th, 1946 in the country of Bade

  • re-creation of the 2nd Regiment of Hussards on April 1st, 1946 in Orleans (Sonis district), with the elements of the 4 {{E}} Regiment of Hussards
  • June 1st, 1956, 2nd Hussards becomes Center of Instruction of Infantry
  • 1958: 2nd Hussards becomes Center of Instruction Arms Armor-plated and Cavalry
  • September 1st, 1962: incorporated the elements of the 12 {{E}} Regiment of Dragons and takes again its role of regiment of cavalry
  • July 1st, 1979: in garrison with Sourdun (77) to replace the 9 {{E}} Regiment of Hussards

The 2nd Hussards , since it received in 1996 its new mission of information in the depth, carried out a major transformation and rapid under the impulse of colonel Ballarin then under the orders of colonels Lépinette, Barmon, Fontenille and Renard. It acquired very quickly a recognized competence and was engaged, in particular, in Yugoslavia, in Ivory Coast and Afghanistan.

Currency of the regiment

“Nobility obliges, Chamborant as much”

It is not a question of the currency of the family of Chamborant. The currency of the family is " oncque faillit"

Decorations

Decorations of the regiment

The regiment of the " hussards bruns" or " hussards of Chamborant" carry the gold medal of the town of Milan in remembering its participation in the countryside of 1859 (Solférino). The squadrons were quoted during the 1st World war, but not the regiment in entirety. Like the majority of the regiments of light cavalry, it is decorated little for two reasons:
  • the current system the fodder ones relates to only the 20th century
  • after the war of 1870, the cavalry was generally committed squadron by squadron: it is them which received decorations and not the regiment as a whole.

Today

The 2nd hussards is an atypical case in the French Army; it offers a rare example of radical change of trade, (like its predecessor, the 13 {{E}} RDP in 196 3).

At the request of the Chief of staff of the Army, in 1996, which wanted to increase the French capacity in the field of the information of anticipation, it undertook a complete change of mission, while being based on the spirit of audacity and freedom of thought inherited the tradition of the hussards.

In less than 5 years, it obtained the capacity to carry out missions of point, in a context of rise to power, within NATO, of the " Special Warfare" operations;.

Missions

This unit has the role the research of the information. These actions are carried out by small teams (patrols) of 6 men acting as complete autonomy on the backs of the enemy. The infiltration towards the objective can be done in VBL, by transport by helicopter or any other means adapted to the zone of conflict or crisis. To in no case the means of transport (terrestrial or air) are not used until the objective: the final stage of the approach is done only with foot for reasons of discretion.

To the difference in the traditional units, the patrols do not communicate between them and do not constitute a tactical device. Each one receives an precise objective which it approaches while infiltrating furtively at a distance of about 80 to 150 km. It sends then the fruit of its observations, in an encrypted way, in a center which analyzes the information and transmits it to the command of the theater of operations, with which it makes it possible to direct its action and to anticipate.

These patrols have the capacity to guide aircraft on the objective observed, by direct designation or radio operator guidance.

The 2nd regiment of hussards has been announced for several years by its capacity of innovation and implementation " on-mesure" new methods of information adapted to the need for the employer (ordering theater of operations). By its effectiveness in the zones of crisis, he was also noticed by high ranking authorities of NATO, and was indicated like major research unit of Eurocorps.

Composition

The 2nd hussards is composed of 850 soldiers divided into 6 squadrons:

  • 4 squadrons of research of the information comprising each one 11 patrols of armor-plated research and 2 to 4 specialized patrols (nautical patrols, motor bike, safety, specialized information)

  • 1 squadron of command and logistics
  • 1 squadron of administration and support
  • 1 squadron of reserve.

Equipment

He is mainly made up of light Armored vehicles (VBL) amphibious of 3,5t.

The patrols are equipped with ultramodern means of catch of sight, of observation of night and quantified transmission with long distance, by hertzian way or satellite.

The men have behaviors of camouflage and equipment (special bags, brelages) adapted to the port of very heavy loads at the time of the infiltration to foot.

Traditions

Uniform

The uniform of tradition of the regiment consists of a brown fur-lined coat, a brown Dolman and breeches azure. When Louis XVI decided that the regiments of cavalry would be identified by a color, the queen Marie-Antoinette proposed with mischievousness with the marquis de Chamborant that its hussards (soldiers considered turbulent and proud) carries the color of the frieze of the monks capuchins (brown). The marquis, piqué with sharp, answered: " the King will see my monks with the œuvre". Several years then, when one second color became necessary to distinguish the regiments, Marie-Antoinette asked Chamborant which second color it would choose. Chamborant answered " if my queen likes it, I will choose the color of his yeux". Thus Chamborant Houzards carried from now on the brown one and the azure.

Names of the squadrons

The squadrons of the 2nd RH bear a name of tradition, generally in memory theirs principal feat of arms.

  • 1st squadron : Texel

In memory of the load of the hussards against the Dutch fleet taken in the ices with the mouth of Texel. Battle of the countryside of Algeria where the 8 {{E}} battalion of hunters to foot and the 2nd squadron of the 2nd hussards covered glory. " Sidi-Brahim" became the festival of tradition of the hunters (with foot and alpine).

  • 3rd squadron : Wood of the Back-yard

War 14-18 fights in which the 3rd squadron resisted heroically in glazing bar of the Sum. The squadron was decorated with the Military Cross 14-18 for this act of heroism.

  • 4th squadron : Stockem

August 7th, 1914, between Stockem and Arlon (Belgium), whereas the French troops move back under the German offensive, the 4th squadron charges with against three a group with squadrons with the 7th German regiment with hunters with horse in progression close to the village of Stockem, which loses in this meeting nearly 50 dead and to many prisoners. The squadron is decorated with the Military Cross 14-18.

  • 5th squadron : Ferme of Put-Nova

At the time of the Battle of Solferino, the 5th squadron carries out the load against the Austrians to release the division of Vinoy infantry in danger with the farm of Put-Nova.

  • 11th squadron of aministration and support (EAS) (instruction): Montereau

In 1814, young conscripts of the regiment, named " Marie-Louise" because of their beardless face, illustrate themselves in a heroic load in front of the bridge of Montereau. In spite of their youth in service and their lack of preparation, they are characterized by their courage at the time of this action.

  • Squadron of command and logistics (ECL): Oncques failed ( never failed ), currency of the Chamborant family.

Song of tradition

The song of tradition of the 2nd Regiment of Hussards is entitled " Chamborant". It was composed by Philippe Constant.

THE CHAMBORANT

1. By seeing them passing without mounting,
One says oneself: " where are their destriers? "
Because each one guesses with its allure
That they are cavaliers.
The enemy will not carry out any broad,
Because with horse, in A.M. or tank,
They will be, when the load sounds,
Always hussards.

Refrain
Let us sing all: " nobility obliges,
Chamborant autant."
Let us keep in the middle the prestige
Proud riders of antan,
Who, scorning the mate,
Sabred full with energy,
Charging bravely,
With the houzarde.

2. Wire of those whose large sabers strike,
Hustling the rows of the enemy,
Of the heroes of Austerlitz, Jemmapes,
Friedland and Valmy,
Houzards which charge boot with boot,
In Texel in the middle of the ice floes,
Encircling, transfer a whole flotte
To lower pavillon.

3. Grounds to be conquered, ground to be defended,
Sun of summer or fogs of winter,
Out of Champagne or in the mud of Flandres,
At the edges of Yser,
Raising the saber or pointing the lance,
To charge through the coppices,
When the 2nd hussards springs,
Oncques faillit.

See too

Internal bonds

  • List of the French regiments
  • List of the ranks in the French Army

External bonds

  • Site of the Army
Site of the descendants of the marquis de Chamborant

Sources and bibliography

  • DUPONT (Marcel), Our old men houzards , Paris Shepherd-Levrault, 1934,184 p.

  • DUPUY (Raoul), Historical of the regiments of hussards (1690-1892) , Paris, Lib. Dubois soldier, 1893,171 p.
  • BUSH, of RANCOURGNE, MALASTRIE, REY, hussards of Chamborant (2nd Hussards). preface of the colonel de Chalendar , Paris, Firmin Didot, 1897
  • MASSONI (major), Historique of the 2nd hussards , Saint Dié, Imp. of Ormont, 2002

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