8th battalion of hunters to foot

The 8th battalion of hunters to foot is a unit of infantry, French Army .

History

Following the exemplary behavior of its hunters in the Battle of Sidi-Brahim in 1845, it took the name and is known like the “battalion of Sidi-Brahim”.

It in particular stationed with Wittlich until its dissolution.

----

Extract of the booklet given to each new recruit on its arrival with the Foch district in Wittlich (at the Hunters one does not say barracks but district).

ORIGINS

The 8th Group of Hunters Mechanized, as well as the other of the same bodies arms, was created by royal decree of September 28th, 1840, an ordinance of the same day, the organization of these battled was entrusted to the Duke of Orleans, Lieutenant Général of the kingdom of France, from where the name of “Hunters of Orleans” which was useful, during a certain time, to indicate the battalions of hunters to foot, Formé on November 1st, 1840 with the camp of Saint-Omer, and ordered by the major Uhrich, 8th assisted, on May 12th, 1841, with the camp of Romainville, the review of the king and the handing-over of the flag entrusted to the guard of the hunters to foot.

FIRST COUNTRYSIDE

June 10th, 1841, the battalion, with its staff, embarked in Toulon, bound for Africa. Unloaded the 14 in Mostaganem, it took share, on March 21st, 1842, with the combat of Sikack, under the orders of the Bedeau general. It was battalion of avant-garde to the battle of Isly, gained by the Marshal Bugeaud, on August 14th, 1844.

September 23rd, 1845, under the orders of the lieutenant-colonel from MONTAGNAC, the 80 battalion ordered by the commander Froment - Coste, reinforced hussards of Courby de Cognord, carried out these extraordinary exploits which immortalisé the name of Sidi-Brahim. The commander, 8 officers and 152 warrant officers and hunters were killed there.

September 26th, dying of hunger, the hunters tried to reach fears it of Djemmaa, but attacked by thousands of Arabic, they were killed before there arriving, Fifteen of them only could reach that point, two died at once of exhaustion.

It is in Sidi-Brahim that the glorious tradition of the 80 and all the hunters was based, which is “TO DIE AS a COMBATANT WITHOUT SE TO NEVER RETURN”.

Reformed by the arrival of 400 volunteers taken in the Battalions of Hunters of Orleans in garrison in France, 8th was with the attack and the catch of Zaatcha, on November 26th, 1849. It took share, under the orders of colonel Canrobert, with the attack of Naarha on January 5th, 1850. This last victory marks the end of its stay in Algeria. The next May 6th, 8th was of return in France. It holds garrison in Lyon, Besancon, Paris, Douai and Vincennes.

August 14th, 1853, it receives the order to go to Dieppe, to make the service of honor there during the stay of the emperor and the empress of the French in this city.

SECOND COUNTRYSIDE Of ALGERIA

April 1st, 1856, 8th embarks in TOULON. It takes part in the pacification of Large Kabylie and is distinguished with the combat from TAMEZRIT from AIN YACOUB and with that from the village from TARSOUTH, on July 11th, 1857, which saw the total defeat of kabyles and “where all the task force, extremely of 25.000 men, had taken share on an extent of almost 10 square miles.” “The losses of kabyles were enormous. Also they in stupor were and came presses some to offer to subject itself without condition”. In the first days of February 1859, the RENAULT division to which belongs 8th, employed since October 1858 with the construction of the active railroad of ALGIERS with BLIDA, received the order to be held ready to return to France. February 10th, 8th embarks for MARSEILLES.

COUNTRYSIDE Of ITALY

May 2nd, 1859, 8th crosses the collar of the Cenis Mount. The 17, it crosses Marengo, on June 4th with the Imperial Guard, it supports the shock of the Austrians with fears of Buffalora, episode of the battle of Magenta. The ZIMMERMANN hunter of the 7th company had a very beautiful control there.

August 26th it returns in its old garrison: Besancon, which it will leave in 1859 for Rennes, Boulogne, Metz, Vincennes, Paris, Toulouse. July 25th, 1870, it joined the Army from the Rhine in Strasbourg.

THE COUNTRYSIDE OF 1870

It leaves STRASBOURG on August 3rd, under the orders of the commander POYER. Belonging to the army corps ordered by the Marshal of MAC MAHON, it takes share on August 6th with the battle of FROESCHWILLER. During this day it had to support shocks very violent one, if one judges of it by enormous losses that it undergoes.

Reorganized with TRAWL-NETS, 8th was again on line on September 1st, 1870, for the battle of Sedan. It was mingled with serious actions this day and lost part of its manpower. The remainder with all the army of Sedan, was made prisoner and interned in Germany.

After Sedan, a Eighth of Walk is created. It fights under the orders of the General of RED LAMOTTE in the area of Orleans, under those of Colonel Rousseau in Landelles and Retoncelle. It takes share with the battle of Orleans and Mans. It takes again its name of: “8th Battalion of Hunters to foot” while returning to Toulouse, where it is reformed with the 2 companies of deposit of the 8th Battalion of Hunters to foot which were not in Sedan.

THIRD COUNTRYSIDE Of ALGERIA

April 19th, 1875, the 8 unloads in Algiers. It is indicated to hold garrison in Fort National which it leaves in October for Dellys then on May 2nd, 1876 for Millianah.

October 11th, it unloads in Toulon and will join its new garrison: Amiens.

IN FRANCE

1878: October 2nd, the battalion celebrates the birthday of the combat of Sidi Brahim according to a program stopped between the commanders of the 30 battalions at the time of their meeting to the camp of Trawl-nets (July 78). Certain old of September 1845 assist to with it (Roland - Lavayssiere and probably Pegues).

1898: December 11th, a delegation of the 8th share of Amiens to attend the inauguration of the monument to the glory of the Heroes of Sidi Brahim.

1899: The Battalion counts among its officers the captain adjudant major PETAIN and lieutenant GOURAUD.

1913 the battalion is indicated on May 5th, 1913 to go to hold garrison with TIN close to VERDUN It is there that the declaration of war finds it, it is from there that it gains its positions of cover.

The Great War

1914

After the first engagements in extreme cases Northern of the department of the Meuse with BEUVEILLES and with the Wood of SLAPS, it is the heroic defense of ARRANCY, on August 23rd, 1914, against enemy forces ten times higher of number. The battalion, after twelve hours of burning fight, its fulfilled mission, is folded up on order and receives from General ROCQUES the promise of one mention in dispatches which will not be followed of effect, the General having been killed a few moments later.

BATTLE OF THE MARNE

September 5th at the evening, the half-turn is ordered. The battalion holds initially the passages of Broussy and Saint-Hinge then combat towards Villeneuve and Soizy with Wood. It brings its assistance to the heroic defenders of Mondement and, on September 8th, supports a violent one fights in the wood of BOTRAIT. The continuation of the overcome enemy starts; the Battalion passes the Marne the 12, holds the sector of AUBERIVES ON SUIPPES, then that of RHEIMS.

FLANDRES

At the end of October it leaves for Belgium with the 42° D.I of which it forms part and takes share with the battle of the YSER. It is distinguished with the Royal marines with the attack from the castle from DIXMUDE then, after a last combat with Vousten where it loses its chief, the Commander Clavel, it returns to France.

1915

The ARGONNE - The CHAMPAGNE

It goes up in line in ARGONNE. Its heroic defense with Bagatelle the June 30th and July 1st is worth to him its first mention in dispatches. September 25th, it is Champagne offensive.

1916

VERDUN

February sees to ignite the battle of Verdun. In the night from March 11th to 12th, the Battalion goes up on line in Douaumont and remains there until the 31.

THE MORT-HOMME

It goes up on line with the Death-Man whom it defends April 9th and 10th against desperate attacks of the enemy. It undergoes very heavy losses. Its chief, the commander Savornin is with the number of deaths. In May the Battalion takes the sector of Caurettes before going at rest in the area of Toul

PICARDY

To relieve the face of Verdun, the Joffre Marshal assembles the offensive of the Sum. The 8 takes part in it under the command of the commander De Grilleau, it seizes the village of Rancourt on September 25th, 1916 and gains a new mention in dispatches before being distinguished again, in Sailly.Saillisel, on November 5th.

1917 the AISNE

The 8 receives the Fodder one with the colors of the Military Cross. During the offensive of Aisne, 8th illustrates itself in Berry with the Vat where, after having removed all its objectives in the day of April 16th, 1917, it holds this very hard sector during 21 days. In November, it receives the Fodder one with the colors of the Military decoration.

1918

THE SUM

At the beginning of the month of August 1918, the battalion takes part in the great offensive of the SUM then to the attack of VOUZI ERS. November 11th, it is in Saint-Germain where it learns the signature from the armistice.

December 19th, 1918, holder of SIX mentions in dispatches, it receives the fodder one with the colors of the Legion of Honor.

Between the two wars, the battalion holds successively garrison in METZ, FORBACH and TOUL. August 13rd, 1939, in the presence of the Gamelin general, 6th gives to 8th, on the slopes of Schratz, the flag of the Hunters to FOOT.

SECOND WORLD WAR

August 23rd, 1939, 8th leaves Toul for its sector of cover.

In September, in the area of Sarreguemines, with the 1st Half brigade of Hunters (11th DI.) it forms part, it takes part in the crossing of the Saar, seizes the Wood of Vorderwald and occupies the village of Klein Blittersdorf, it maintains the contact for several weeks.

It will hold the position of Cadenbronn and remains there until November 13rd It returns the honors to King d' Angleterre who visits the face. It is on the Maginot line in Lixing and remains there until May 10th, 1940. May 11th it occupies the sector of Cocheren-Rossebruck-Morsbach in the south of FORBACH. The 12, the German attacks, Of the 12 to the 16, the 8th tien head with the enemy.

The 16 at the evening, the 11th DI. is withdrawn from the face of LORRAINE to be thrown in front of the invader who broke the frond in the area of Sedan.

May 25th, 8th occupies the crossroads of the Pheasantry in Compiegne.

June 2nd, it is organized defensively on left bank of Aisne but on June 8th, the Germans, who crossed in another sector, oblige all the 11th DI to move back. The 3rd Co is distinguished in Ormoy-Villers. The-fold continues in order, while preserving the contact of the enemy that 8th slows down in particular in Trilbardou on the Marne. Folded up by road way then by railway the 8 reached the Loire. June 17th, it settles on left bank and, the 18, contains the German. June 19th, it is the fold on! E Expensive in Mennetou. 8th the access defends some after having blown up the bridge. The evening, the order of fold arrives.

June 24th, with AUMONT which it gained by road way, the 8th battalion of Hunters to foot learns, by radio, the armistice.

Whereas it held garrison has Magnaclaval, it east dissolves.

“… The Arlabosse General bade his farewell with the executives affirming his certainty of the German defeat and underlining the need for all for being held ready to take again the fight. Its councils will be heard. The ones will join Africa, of with the rec. will be useful in clandestinity, others will know detention or the deportation…”

REBIRTH

By decision of the de Gaulle general dated August 11th, 1944, it was proceeded, in the area of Paris, with the rebirth of the 8th Battalion of Hunters.

The Lieutenant-colonel Soak was appointed to take the command of it.

The “8” was consisted of the personnel of Sidi-Brahim, military company of preparation, which, under the command of the Lieutenant of reserve De Menteguiaga, had been reformed under the occupation and had fought for the release of Paris, in the XIV district. It was to be supplemented by other elements F.F.I of the Paris region.

Placed at the disposal of the XX C.A.U.S., 8 participle with the Release of Metz, then with operations in the Saar. Brought back to Souppes on Loing, it passes to the 3rd D.B.

It leaves Epernay in 1951 to turn over to Germany where it remains in garrison with Wittlich until its dissolution.

Carried on half track, it passes on VTT AMX 13 in 1959.

In 1968 it takes the name of the 8th Group of Hunters Mechanized. It is then on the type of the division 1967.

Modern structures, it is composed primarily of two squadrons of tanks AWJX 13 (gun of 90 mm) and of two mechanized companies equipped with VTT, without counting the company of lighting of brigade which is attached to him, and which comprises a section “Reassured”.

It must thus have many specialists in high-tech of which it ensures the formation and in dynamic frameworks animated in N spirit undertaking and skilful. Member of the French Forces in Germany, pertaining to the 1st Mechanized Brigade of the 1st Division, the 8th group of Hunters Mechanized is stationed with WITTLICH and is twinned since 1962 with Panzer Grenadier Battalion 152 and since 1971 with the 2nd Battalion of Police officers Belgian Cyclists.

Its life with WITTL ICH is devoted, like all the units in times of peace, to L instruction. The parade ground of Mesenberg allows the evolution of the tanks and of the VTT and the installation of the shooting “Genshow” strengthens the chiefs of tanks in the choice of the objectives and their commands of chief of armoured vehicle.

The team of shooting was classified third with the championship of France 1969.

The gunners gun and missiles frequently go to the camps of Mailly and Mourmelon, whereas Baumholder is the camp of drive of the gunners to the machine-gun, the LRAC and the gun of 106. On average, 8th accomplishes two stays in camps, each year.

Refrain

You beautiful ace to run you me rattrap' close-cropped step!

Each battalion has its refrain and the 8th GC does not derogate from the rule. His seems to be one of the less ribalds and relates to only the military field: the hunters with foot are considered to go quickly and advance vigorously with the face.

Decorations

The battalion carries the red Fourragère of the Légion of honor.

Actually, the Group has (vait) the three fodder ones (Legion of Honor, Military decoration and Military Cross 1914-1918) but by humility (like any hunter), it carried only the most raised…

Random links: