Thank you, enfant perdus. And thank you for posting the evocative image of a dismounted French cuirassier. He is wearing the tan helmet cover too, which was also worn by dragoons to cover the shiny helmets on campaign.
As an example of cuirassiers in action, 1st Cuirassier Brigade was involved in the Battle of Longlier on 20th August 1914. The brigade comprised two cuirassier regiments: 5th; and 8th. They were part of 9th Cavalry Division, which in turn formed part of Corps de cavalerie provisoire (also known as Corps de cavalerie Abonneau) because the GOC was General Abonneau. The two cavalry divisions in the corps were on a reconnaissance mission, heading north via Neufchâteau.
5th Cuirassier Regiment crossed Neufchâteau at 0830 hours. The lead element was directed towards Hamipré, which is almost due east of Neufchâteau. This change in direction was dictated by the fact that contact had been made by the French cyclists with German infantry approaching Longlier to the northeast of Neufchâteau. 5th Cuirassier Regiment set up a machine gun section and a squadron (dismounted) "on a knoll north of Hamipré with special responsibility for overwatching the woods east of Longlier".
8th Cuirassier Regiment operated on the left flank of 5th Cuirassier Regiment. "The three squadrons of 8th Cuirassiers under the command of Colonel Mesple moved forward from the eastern exit out of Neufchâteau along the dirt road leading to Hill 475. The squadrons made their way up behind the knoll, which they used to screen their movement that was performed under fire from enemy infantry who had debouched southwest of Longlier.
The squadrons nevertheless managed to dismount just to the north of Hill 410 and commenced firing [with carbines] on enemy infantry debouching to the south of Longlier (2½ [squadrons from the] regiment fought dismounted and the reserve squadron remained mounted). At that moment, however, enemy artillery was set up south of Tronquoy and brought the squadrons under fire."
The German infantry were elements of 88th Infantry Regiment. Its regimental history describes the assault on the French cyclist company that was holding Longlier. The second paragraph then describes what happened as the German infantry came under fire from the French cavalry:
"…5th Company was able to move left again, taking the two men wounded by artillery fire, and head towards Longlier to join in the battle. The enemy appeared to have machine guns because the automatic rapid rate of fire, which the German machine guns could not achieve, was clearly heard from certain directions above the din of the battle. Having deployed, the companies now commenced the firefight. The air was rent with the loud German musketry. As the enemy's fire diminished, Oberleutnant Eger strained to get his 6th Company's skirmish line forward. The men at the front refused to get up. The "Fix bayonets!" signal rang out. Then the village was stormed! The leutnants rushed ahead of their platoons with swords drawn. The assault parties cheered as they entered the village. Savage house-to-house fighting broke out wherever the enemy resisted stubbornly. Individual fanatical civilians joined in, to whom no quarter was given. The cyclist battalion, which had defended Longlier, fell back. They pressed between the burning buildings in Longlier, rushing through our men.
Enfilade fire then struck our left flank. From the edge of the village, one-year volunteer Unteroffizier Otterbein spotted the dark line of firing enemy skirmishers on a small hill beyond an intervening hollow. He raced over to Oberleutnant Eger in order to gather together part of his 6th Company. The range finder enabled the new enemy to be brought under fire at 700 meters. The opposing French forces received reinforcements, however, beginning with an enemy machine gun coming into action on the flank. The thin German firing line came under heavy enemy fire. Oberleutnant Eger received an arm wound but he continued to lie next to his men throughout the tough struggle. The brave Reserve Unteroffizier Guth was shot in the head and fell dead with a hoarse cry. Immediately afterwards, the skilful and courageous one-year volunteer Unteroffizier Otterbein was shot through the eye. He lay unconscious in the firing line. The one-year volunteer Unteroffizier Bernsmuller received multiple wounds but stayed with his section. The enemy seemed to be setting up a sweeping counterattack. The valiant 6th Company attempted to thwart their intent with brisk rifle fire. A moment later the company was reinforced with some infantry sections. The battalion had rushed 7th Company into the front line."
Note that at 700 m, the French dismounted cavalry were 'a dark line of firing skirmishers'. When French infantry and cavalry were engaging in a firefight from the prone position or from behind cover then the madder red of the trousers was not a factor at all.
As to the effectiveness of the French cavalry force as a whole, it uncovered and then held three German infantry divisions. The Germans had at least a 3:1 advantage numerically but the French cavalry withdrew from contact with minimal casualties. 5th Cuirassier Regiment did not provide a record of casualties for the day but 8th Curassier Regiment, which withdrew under heavy artillery fire, suffered only 21 casualties in the whole action.
Robert
speculates about post-Innsmouth gaming.
