Ten Days in August- the Siege of Liège 1914 by Terence Zuber

Author:Terence Zuber [Zuber, Terence]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: World War I, Battles, Fortifications, Campaigns
ISBN: 9780750957618
Amazon: 075249144X
Publisher: The History Press
Published: 2014-11-02T04:00:00+00:00

Jäger Withdrawal

At 0815 Major Donalies heard firing in the city and sent 4/ 7 to investigate. The company immediately drew fire from Liège and turned back. The city was clearly not in German hands and Major Donalies decided to rejoin 34 Brigade, marching at 0900 towards Vottem. When it reached the town a Belgian column was reported advancing from Fort Liers. This was the Liers–Lantin reserve and 3 and 4/ I/ 12 F, which had withdrawn from Redoubt 4 (west of Liers). The two Jäger companies attacked and threw the Belgians back into the fort, with the Jäger delivering their pursuit fire standing. Taking fire from the direction of Fort Loncin, 4/ 7 swung in that direction and drove back another Belgian column.

Major Donalies decided that the troops desperately needed rest, and at 1500 he moved the two companies to a ravine lined with hedges north-west of Haute Préalle that provided both concealment and shade. While moving there they took heavy shrapnel fire from the forts, which caused no casualties because it burst too high.

Patrols returned saying that they could find no trace of the brigade. This reinforced Major Donalies in the conclusion that the brigade was in Liège. At 1600 he therefore moved the two companies through Haute Préalle towards Liège. As the point entered the main street it encountered a Belgian security post with about ten men, while simultaneously taking fire from all sides. Both company commanders were killed. Major Donalies and the point element broke through, and he ordered them to take cover along a hedge. He became separated from the rest of the point and was surrounded by Belgians. He defended himself with well-aimed fire but had a stoppage while reloading and was bayoneted in the neck and killed.

Command of the two companies, now about 200 men, was taken over by First Lieutenant Weyhe, the battalion adjutant, who decided to defend a quarry; by 1700 the Jäger were in position. Belgian attacks were thrown back. A patrol reported it had found a route not blocked by the Belgians, and at 2030 Lieutenant Weyhe led the remaining men out of the quarry; the wounded and unnecessary equipment had to be left behind. It was clear, but there was no moon. The Jäger marched in single file first west, then north-east around Haute Préalle, then passing over the glacis of Fort Pontisse, whose searchlight continually forced the Jäger to throw themselves prone, at which point several would fall asleep and had to be awakened. It was dawn when the Jäger entered Hermée, where they found a wounded lieutenant colonel and NCO from IR 89. The Jäger bivouacked in a field of rye near the village, wrapping themselves in their ponchos and immediately falling asleep. They were undisturbed and when they awoke the next morning it was raining. At 0830 they set out again and that morning reached Lixhé.

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