17th Colonial Infantry Division
Active
  • 1915–1919
Country France
BranchFrench Army
TypeInfantry
SizeDivision
Engagements
Gallipoli Campaign
Battle of Kumkale
First Battle of Krithia
Second Battle of Krithia
Salonika front
Battle of Doiran (1916)
Battle of the River Cherna
Battle of the Crna Bend (1917)
Battle of Dobro Pole
Commanders
Notable
commanders

17th Colonial Infantry Division was an infantry division of the French Army during the First World War. It was deployed overseas, seeing action during the Gallipoli campaign, and thereafter on the Salonika front, fighting alongside British troops in both theatres of war. It was sent to the Crimea in December 1918 as part of the Army of the Danube.

Creation and nomenclature

Commanders

Chronology

1915

Transported to the Aegean

Transporting the troops by boat, for concentration at Lemnos.

The vanguard embarked on the Armand-Béhic and the Savoie (TM) at Toulon, departing 4 February; on the Djurdjura and the Vin-Long at Bizerte, the Chaouïa at Philippeville (Skikda) and the Carthage at Oran which concentrate at Sidi-Abdallah (Bizerte) to form a convoy and leave on 4 March. All arrived in Malta on 6 March to join the St-Louis and the Edgar-Quinet which set sail for Lemnos on 6 March and arrived on March 11.[2]

A second departure from Marseille on 4 March: Lorraine, Dumbéa, Magellan, Australian, Charles-Roux, Moulouya, Théodore Mante, Italy, Pelion, from Toulon on March 4: fr:La Savoie (paquebot de 1901), fr:La Lorraine (paquebot), the Paul Lecat, the Bien-Hoa, the Ceylan departed from Oran on 7 March. To go through Bizerte and then form two groups:

First group: fr:La Provence (paquebot de 1906), Dumbéa, Magellan, Théodore Mante, Moulouya, Charles-Roux. Departure from Bizerte on 14 March to arrive in Lemnos on 15 March.[2] Second group: Savoy (CA), Lorraine, Paul Lecat, Bien-Hoa, Italy, Pelion, Ceylon. Departure from Bizerte on 13 March to arrive in Lemnos on 17 March. The 1st echelon on the Hérault leaves on the 4th from Marseille, passes the 6th in Toulon and arrives in Lemnos on the 10th. The 2nd echelon on Admiral-Hammelin passed through Bizerte on the 17th and arrived at Lemnos on the 27th.[2]

25 April – 6 May

Hastily formed, after assembling on Lemnos there had been no time for the corps to undertake large-scale training before it was committed to the land campaign.[3] During the initial Allied landing on 25 April, the corps undertook a diversionary landing on the Dardanelles Asiatic coast around Kum Kale, to divert Ottoman forces away from the main landings on the Gallipoli Peninsula,[4] and to disrupt Ottoman artillery that could have fired upon the main landings. The 6th Mixed Colonial Regiment led the division ashore, supported by three battleships and a Russian warship. Part of the first wave was turned back by heavy fire, but the rest managed to get ashore and they proceeded to secure the village and an Ottoman fort. Throughout the course of 26 April, the Ottoman 3rd Division counterattacked, but the following day, having lost over 2,200 killed or wounded, the Ottomans began surrendering to the French in large numbers. Nevertheless, the French were withdrawn shortly afterwards, having lost about 300 killed and 500 wounded.[5][6]

Following this, the French force re-embarked and was landed at Cape Helles, where they took up a position on the right flank around 'S' Beach.[7] On 28 April, the commander of the C.E.O. set up the French headquarters at the old castle situated at Sedd el Bahr. With a strength of 24 companies,[8] they subsequently took part in the First Battle of Krithia on 28 April.[9] In early May, the Ottoman forces launched a heavy counterattack on the Allied positions with a force of over 16,000 men. The attack was beaten back, but the French division suffered heavy casualties – up to 2,000 men – and at the height of the assault some of the Senegalese and Zouaves "broke and ran".[10] As a result, the 2nd Naval Brigade from the British Royal Naval Division, had to take over some of their positions.[11] Reinforcements were brought in, including a second French division, which arrived between 6 and 8 May, although they did not arrive in time to take part in the Second Battle of Krithia, during which the 1st Division attacked towards the Kereves Dere gully, and although they made slow progress they eventually managed to secure the high ground overlooking this position before the attack petered out.[12][13]

6 May – 13 July[14]
Marsouins (in pith helmets) and Senegalese (in fezzes) ready to embark for Dardanelles
13 July 1915–6 January 1916[14]
A French 75mm artillery piece firing around Cape Helles during the Third Battle of Krithia

A period of stalemate followed, and the August Offensive failed to break the deadlock. Following Bulgaria's entry into the war, on 24 September, a secret telegram was despatched from the French Minister of War to Bailloud.[15][16][17] He was ordered to prepare a division of the C.E.O. composed exclusively of metropolitan units to be sent to aid Serbia. Bailloud and the reconstituted division commenced embarkation on 30 September. The French began to refocus their actions in the Mediterranean around Salonika.

In the autumn of 1915, there were concerns as to the ability of the Senegalese to cope with the winter weather, and their withdrawal from Gallipoli was proposed,[18] once the British agreed to replace them.[19][20] In order to facilitate this, the 57th and 58th regiments were to be composed of Senegalese, with the 54th and 56th composed of Marsouins. This reconstitution took place on 11 December 1915.[21] Similarly, five companies of creoles were detached from the 54th and 56th in order to be sent to a wintering camp. The plan did not go ahead. The creole companies of the 54th were detached on 15 December, and returned to their unit on 22 January 1916.[22] The two locations for the "wintering" were either Egypt or Algeria. For political reasons, it was deemed inappropriate to send them there, but to keep them on Lesbos.[23] It was usual practice for Senegalese to be sent to Fréjus for a period of "wintering" (hivernage),[24] but this location did not get proposed as an alternative, notwithstanding its previous mention by General Joffre.[25] The men of the 58th were evacuated in batches between 16 December and 5 January,[26] whilst the 57th were evacuated by a convoy of several ships on 13 December 1915. The marsouins of the 54th and the 56th were evacuated on 2 and 3 January 1916 respectively.[27] Six older artillery pieces were destroyed and abandoned, two 140 mm guns (modèle 1884) and four 240 mm guns (modèle 1876),[28] given that it was not possible to embark all of the heavy guns.[29][30][31]

1916

6 January – 10 February[14]
10 February – 28 April[14]
Strengthening of defensive positions by the 17th Division near Livadi in the Galatista sector, April 1916.
Marsouins of the 54th and 56th at an encampment near Chortiatis, photographed 26–27 June 1916.
28 April - 9 June[14]
9 June – 9 August[14]
9 August – 14 September[41]
14 September – 12 October[41]
12 October – 29 December[41]

1917

29 December 1916 – 9 May 1917[41]
9 May 1917 - 13 August 1918[41]

1918

13 August – 10 September[42]
10 September – 12 October[42]
12 October – 20th November 20[42]

1919

Order of battle

February 1915

Sources:[44][45][46]

Tirailleurs Sénégalais from a Régiment Mixte Coloniale in French positions on Gallipoli on 15 May 1915
French colonial infantry ('marsouins') from a Régiment Mixte Coloniale practising an advance at Mudros

1st Division (renamed as fr:17e division d'infanterie coloniale on 6 January 1916[47]) under Jean-Marie Brulard

October 1915

February 1916

Since February 1916, its infantry component is now made up of the 1st and 3rd regiments of colonial infantry,[54] having arrived between 18 and 27 February,[56] taking the place of the six Tirailleur battalions[57] of the 57th and 58th Colonial Infantry Regiments that have remained on Lesbos.

Regimental Aid Post of the 1st Colonial Infantry Regiment at Akritas, Kilkis in Central Macedonia in August 1916.

August 1917

All of the 75mm batteries above were grouped together in April 1917 to form the 201st Field Artillery Regiment.[59]

Four Battalions of Tirailleurs Sénégalais arrive in Salonika, the 81st, 93rd, 95th and 96th, are assigned to the division, and are collectively known as the Groupement des Bataillons Sénégalais du 17e D.I.C. with effect from 21 November 1917. The Commanding Officer of the fr:96e bataillon de tirailleurs sénégalais, Major Albert Jean René Desaulses De Freycinet, assumes overall command of the Groupement[60][61][62][63] In due course Lieutenant Colonel Auguste Marie Louis Debieuvre commanded the Groupement, following his service on the western front with the 58th Regiment and then the fr:33e régiment d'infanterie coloniale, until he was promoted and handed over command once more to Major De Freycinet.[64] Lieutenant Colonel Debieuvre had served as the commanding officer of the 58th Regiment since 21 August 1915 up to its disbandment in May 1917.[51]

May 1918

The battery of 58mm trench mortars are now redesignated as the 8th Battery of the 179th Trench Artillery Regiment, with effect from 1 April 1918.[65] The Groupe of 65mm artillery batteries of the 1st Mountain Artillery Regiment are now redesignated as the 3rd Groupe of the 13th Colonial Artillery Regiment, with effect from 1 May 1918.[66]

Notes and citations

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d Dispatched in October 1915 from Gallipoli to Salonika with the second division
  2. ^ The four companies of the Foreign Legion battalion were augmented by a further two companies[44] composed of ethnic Greek volunteers forming the 13th and 14th companies of the provisional regiment.[50]
  3. ^ a b Change of regimental name and number in August 1915. The regimental war diary records that from 16 August 1915, it was no longer designated the 8th Mixed Colonial Regiment, but was henceforth the 58th Colonial Infantry Regiment. The same nomenclature saw the 4th, 6th and 7th become the 54th, 56th and 57th too.[51]
  4. ^ Dispatched in May 1915 to Gallipoli with the second division [55]

Citations

  1. ^ a b c d e f Pompé 1924, p. 991.
  2. ^ a b c Lepetit, Tournyol du Clos & Rinieri 1923, pp. 543–546.
  3. ^ Erickson 2001, p. 1004.
  4. ^ Broadbent 2005, pp. 72–73.
  5. ^ Broadbent 2005, pp. 119–120.
  6. ^ Haythornthwaite 2004, pp. 45–49.
  7. ^ Broadbent 2005, p. 123.
  8. ^ Erickson 2001, p. 1008.
  9. ^ Broadbent 2005, p. 125.
  10. ^ Hughes 2005, p. 66.
  11. ^ Haythornthwaite 2004, p. 55.
  12. ^ Haythornthwaite 2004, pp. 55–56.
  13. ^ Broadbent 2005, p. 138.
  14. ^ a b c d e f Pompé 1924, p. 994.
  15. ^ Lepetit, Tournyol du Clos & Rinieri 1923, p. 145.
  16. ^ Telegram dated 24 September 1915. In AFGG 8,1,1 Annexes (1924) Annexe n° 367, pp. 596–597
  17. ^ AFGG 8,1,1 1924, pp. 596–597.
  18. ^ Report by General Brulard on the general situation of the C.E.D. upon taking command [on 4 October 1915] dated 12 October 1915. In AFGG 8,1,1 Annexes (1924) Annexe n° 371, pp. 600–616
  19. ^ See dispatch from French Minister of War to London Military Attaché dated 25 October 1915 and response dated 4 November 1915. In AFGG 8,1,1 Annexes (1924) Annexe nos 374 & 375, pp. 619–620
  20. ^ The British had been asked 'to meet the wishes of the French,[that] the whole of their Senegalese infantry was [to be] withdrawn from the peninsula' Aspinall-Oglander (1932), p.461
  21. ^ Memorandum by Chief of Staff C.E.D. 'relating to the reconstitution of the 1st and 2nd brigades and the occupation of the front' dated 11 December 1915. In AFGG 8,1,1 Annexes (1924) Annexe n° 412, pp. 683–685
  22. ^ a b Historique du 54e RIC 1920, pp. 6–7.
  23. ^ Secret memorandum from French Minister of War to General Joseph Joffre dated 22 December 1915. In AFGG 8,1,1 Annexes (1924) Annexe n° 423, pp. 705–706
  24. ^ Dez, Bastien (2008). "Les tirailleurs " sénégalais " à l'épreuve de l'hiver". Regards sur... la Première Guerre Mondiale 1914 – 1918 (in French). Retrieved 19 September 2020.
  25. ^ Memorandum from General Joseph Joffre to French Minister of War dated 20 December 1915. In AFGG 8,1,1 Annexes (1924) Annexe n° 420, pp. 700–701
  26. ^ WarDiary58RIC, image 63, 65, 66 of 119.
  27. ^ 'On the 1st January the French Colonial brigade was relieved on the right of the line by units of the Royal Naval Division. In the course of the next two nights the last of the French troops, other than the batteries to remain to the end, were embarked by the French fleet.' Aspinall-Oglander (1932), p.470
  28. ^ AFGG 8,1,1 1924, p. 714.
  29. ^ 'It was decided to retain and finally destroy one British 6-inch gun and six old heavy French guns which it would be impossible to withdraw on the last night. (General Brulard himself suggested the destruction of these old and nearly worthless guns.)' Aspinall-Oglander (1932), p.469
  30. ^ Aspinall-Oglander 1932, p. 465.
  31. ^ Hart 2020, pp. 205–206.
  32. ^ WarDiary34Brigade-1916, image 99 of 107.
  33. ^ Memorandum from French Minister of War to General Joseph Joffre dated 18 January 1916. In AFGG 8,1,3 Annexes (1927) Annexe n° 1126, p. 352
  34. ^ Historique du 56e RIC 1920, p. 11.
  35. ^ Historique du 1er RIC 1920, p. 15.
  36. ^ Historique du 3e RIC 1920, pp. 25–26.
  37. ^ WarDiary34Brigade-1916, images 98 to 100 of 107.
  38. ^ WarDiary58RIC, image 69 and 70 of 119.
  39. ^ Lepetit, Tournyol du Clos & Rinieri 1923, p. 425.
  40. ^ Lepetit, Tournyol du Clos & Rinieri 1923, p. 507.
  41. ^ a b c d e Pompé 1924, p. 995.
  42. ^ a b c d Pompé 1924, p. 996.
  43. ^ Crochet, E. (1928). "Une bataille de rupture en montagne. La bataille du Dobropolié en Macédoine (15 septembre 1918)". Revue de Géographie Alpine. 16 (2): 377–455. doi:10.3406/rga.1928.4455. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
  44. ^ a b Aspinall-Oglander 1932, pp. 494–5.
  45. ^ Haythornthwaite 2004, p. 25.
  46. ^ a b "Corps expéditionnaire d'Orient (C.E.O.): J.M.O. 22 février-5 mai 1915: 26 N 75/10 – Pièces justicatives 3 avril-16 septembre 1915" (JPG). Mémoire des hommes: Journaux des Unites (1914–1918) (in French). Ministere De la Defense. images 132 to 136 of 213. Retrieved 10 July 2020. Ordre de bataille 1 juin 1915 K34
  47. ^ Pompé 1924, pp. 991–4.
  48. ^ a b c d e f g Lepetit, Tournyol du Clos & Rinieri 1923, p. 539-542.
  49. ^ "Zouaves et Dardanelles". Forum pages14-18 (in French). 12 August 2014. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
  50. ^ "Greek infantry at Gallipoli". Great War Forum. 10 December 2015. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
  51. ^ a b WarDiary58RIC, image 28 of 119.
  52. ^ WarDiary34Brigade-1916, image 92 of 107.
  53. ^ a b WarDiary34Brigade-1916, image 105 of 107.
  54. ^ a b c d Pompé 1924, p. 992-993.
  55. ^ Pompé 1924, p. 860.
  56. ^ WarDiary34Brigade-1916, image 100 of 107.
  57. ^ Memorandum from General Joseph Joffre to French Minister of War dated 22 January 1916. In AFGG 8,1,3 Annexes (1927) Annexe n° 1139, pp. 366–367
  58. ^ WarDiary13RACo-3e, image 18 of 76.
  59. ^ Pompé 1924, pp. 992–993.
  60. ^ "17e division d'infanterie coloniale: J.M.O. 16 octobre 1917-2 septembre 1919 – 26 N 478/3" (JPG). Mémoire des hommes: Journaux des Unites (1914–1918) (in French). Ministere De la Defense. images 4 to 97 of 97. Retrieved 8 September 2022.
  61. ^ 'On 21 November, the 81st, 93rd, 95th and 96th battalions constitute the Groupement des Bataillons Sénégalais de la 17e Division d'Infanterie Coloniale. The Commanding Officer of the 96th Battalion took overall command.' Via WarDiary81BTS, image 26 of 39
  62. ^ WarDiary96BTS, image 13 of 26.
  63. ^ AFGG 8,2 1933, p. 548.
  64. ^ "Infanterie Coloniale - Promotions - Au grade de Colonel" (JPG). Journal officiel de la République française (in French). Prime Minister of France. 50 (100): 3464. 21 April 1918. Retrieved 10 September 2022.
  65. ^ WarDiaryTrenchMortarBattery, image 17 of 23.
  66. ^ WarDiary13RACo-3e, image 61 of 76.

References

War Diaries

Categories