5th Dragoon Regiment (France)

5th Dragoon Regiment
5th Dragoon Regiment
5e Régiment de Dragons
	5th Dragoon Regiment insignia
Active	1656–1814; 1815–1940; 1940–2003; 2015-Present
Country	Kingdom of France(1656–1792); First French Empire (1792–1815); Bourbon Restoration (1815-1848); France (1848-1940, 1945-2003, 2015-Present); Vichy France (1940-1942)
Branch	French Army
Type	Dragoon regiment
Role	Cavalry
Motto(s)	Victoria pinget; He becomes more beautiful with victory
Engagements	La Fronde; War of Devolution; Flanders Campaign Battle of Senef (1674); Battle of Cassel; ; War of the League of Augsburg Siege of Namur; Battle of Steenkerque; Battle of Neerwinden; ; War of the Spanish Succession Siege of Spire; Battle of Ramillies; Battle of Lorch; Battle of Malplaquet; ; War of the Austrian Succession Battle of Rocoux; Battle of Lauffeld; ; Seven Years' War Battle of Hastenbeck; ; French Revolutionary Wars Battle of Valmy (1792); Battle of Neerwinden (1793); Battle of Wattignies; ; War of the First Coalition Army of the Ardennes; Army of the North; Army of Sambre-et-Meuse; ; Italian campaigns of the French Revolutionary Wars Battle of Mondovì; Battle of Castiglione; Battle of Bassano; Battle of Cremona; Battle of Marengo; ; Napoleonic Wars Battle of Wertingen; Battle of Austerlitz; Battle of Nasielsk; Battle of Eylau; Battle of Friedland; ; Peninsular War Battle of Almonacid; Battle of Ocaña (1809); Battle of Vitoria; ; War of the Sixth Coalition Battle of Craonne; Battle of La Fère-Champenoise; ; Hundred Days Battle of Ligny; Battle of Waterloo; ; Expedition to Spain (1823); Belgian Revolution; Franco-Prussian War Battle of Spicheren; Battle of Borny-Colombey; Battle of Rezonville; Battle of Gravelotte; Battle of Noiseville; ; World War I First Battle of the Marne; First Battle of Arras; Second Battle of Picardy (1918); Battle of Lens; Battle of Riez-Bailleul; First Battle of Ypres; Champagne offensive; Vosges Offensive (1918); Second Battle of the Marne (1918); ; World War II Battle of Ligny; Battle of Waterloo; Battle of Meuse (1940); Resistance in Bourgogne (1944); ;
Decorations	Arcole 1796; Austerlitz 1805; Eylau 1807; L'Ourcq 1914; Vosges 1915; La Marne 1918; La Meuse 1940; Résistance Bourgogne 1944

The 5th Dragoon Regiment (5^e Régiment de Dragons or 5^e RD) is a cavalry unit of the

Ancien Régime

in 1656 and reactivated in 2015. This regiment has a double heritage.

History

1656–59:
La Fronde
1667–68: Spanish War of Devolution
Flanders Campaign: Senef 1674, Battle of Cassel (1677)
War of the League of Augsburg: Siege of Namur, Steenkerque 1692, Neerwinden 1693
War of the Spanish Succession: Spire 1703, Ramillies 1706, Lorch 1707, Malplaquet 1709
War of the Austrian Succession: Rocoux 1746, Lauffeld 1747
Seven Years' War: Hastenbeck 1757
French Army of the North:
Wattignies 1793
Ardennes and Sambre-et-Meuse Armies
1794–95
Army of Italy: Mondovì, Castiglione, Bassano 1796, Cremona 1799, Marengo 1800

As part of Napoleon's Grande Armée it fought at Wertingen, Austerlitz in 1805, Nasielsk in 1806, Eylau, and the Battle of Friedland in 1807.

Spain:
Ocana 1809, Battle of Vitoria

Battle of La Fère-Champenoise

1814

In 1815, during the Waterloo campaign of the Hundred Days, the regiment was at the Battle of Ligny and the Battle of Waterloo.

Spain 1823
Belgium 1831
Colombey
1870.

World War I

On July 31, 1914, the regiment was assigned to the

Senlis

. Following these successes, the regiment received the honour of adding "L'Ourcq 1914" on its banner.

In the "

Somme at Péronne, fighting in the First Battle of Arras, Picardy, in Lens on October 4, an attack by foot in Riez-Bailleul where it pushed the enemy back several kilometres. On November 11, it arrived near Ypres

, where it dug in the trenches.

In February 1915, the regiment embarked for

Champagne, then in March for the Vosges, where it has the honour of inscribing "Vosges 1915" on its banner. In May, the 5th Dragoon is in Amiens, in June in Artois

where it goes back to serving in the trenches.

1916: The regiment still serves in the trenches, in groups of 200 men. Colonel Massiat replace Colonel Dauve at the commandment of the regiment.

1917: On March 19, the 5th Dragoon reaches Noyon, where it is employed in discovery missions in the surroundings of Chauny-Tergnier and then, by foot, goes back in the trenches in the Coucy sector. On August 15, Lieutenant-Colonel Bucant succeeds to Colonel Massiat.

1918: Until the end of May, the regiment remains inactive, stationed for rest. On March 18, a new change in the corps commandment brings Lieutement-Colonel Letexerant at the head of the 5th Dragoon.

On May 28, the regiment brings itself towards Meaux, after a long horse march. The 5th Dragoon sets foot in Mareuil and occupies Montigny. On June 2, it attacks the enemy by foot in Marizy and Passy-en-Valois. This surprise attack, without artillery preparation, stops the progression of German troops. In July, in Villesaint, the Germans, who had taken over Dermans and Château-Tierry and has crossed the Marne are driven back, after several counter-attacks, by-foot members of the 5th Dragoon. On July 17, the regiment participates in the recapture of Œuilly and to the enemy's rejection on the Marne. The Second Battle of the Marne is won and the banner now bears the name of that victory: "La Marne 1918". The Germans are retreating and the 5th Dragoon is informed of the victory a few kilometres before Nancy on November 11, 1918.

The 5th Dragoon Regiment participated in the final offensive, entering the Palatinate on December 6 and was stationed in Pirmasens from December to January 1919, then in Landau in February, then Nierstein Oppenhiem on the Rhine in July 1919. In September, the regiment settles in Worms, then Düsseldorf. It was not until 1925 that the 5th Dragoon returned to France, first in Auxonne and then in Gray, where it was disbanded on October 28, 1928.

In November 1929 the regimental banner was entrusted to the 5^e Battaillon de dragons portés, a unit that had just been created, on March 9, 1929, replacing the 6^e groupe de Chasseurs Cyclistes.^[1]

World War II

In 1939 the 5^e bataillon de dragons portés was transformed into the "5th Dragoon Regiment". As part of the

Bohain. While moving, they were intercepted by German tanks. After this last combat with no ammunition left, they remaining elements were taken prisoner. The survivors and the regimental batch withdraw in la Souterraine, where the regiment is disbanded. The banner was taken from the Germans and hidden in the castle of Meyrieu

, where it remained until the Libération. Following the model of the armistice army, the regiment was reformed in Mâcon in August 1940. On November 8, 1942, following the Anglo-American invasion of French North Africa, the regiment was sent to Toulon to participate in coastal defence, which lasted 10 days. Under Case Anton, the Germans occupied Vichy France and the regiment was disarmed at Macon on September 27.

The Resistance

Most of the demobilized dragoons fought on in clandestinity. Many of them, arrested by the

Col de Larche. On Easter Monday of 1945 in Chambéry, General de Gaulle gave the regiment its banner back. The 5th Dragoon was reformed with two squadrons of Hotchkiss tanks and two reconnaissance squadrons on Bren Carriers

.

Austria

1945: Early September, the regiment leaves
Tyrol on November 10. The squadrons settle in Lemoos, Ehrwald, Muhl, the headquarters and the EHR in Reutte
.

From French North Africa to today

1955: After five years of living in Austria, the 5th Dragoons goes back to France and settles in Périgueux where it is transformed into a medium Sherman tank regiment. On February 1, the regiment is transformed into an Instruction Center for the Armored Arm and Cavalry branch for units engaged in French North Africa. It is disbanded in 1964. On September 5, 1955, an infantry-type battalion is created with officers of the 5th Dragoons. This unit, assembled at the Ruchart Camp, takes the name of "Dragoon Battalion 2/342". It lands in Casablanca on October 10 and is stationed east of Rabat.
1956: In January, the 2/342 moves to Touissit, south of Oujda to ensure the protection of the Algeria-Morocco border between Oujda and Figuig. On March 1, it becomes the 21st Dragoon Regiment.
1964–1978: On June 1, 1964, the 7th Chasseur Regiment of Africa in Friedrichshafen takes the name of 5th Dragoon Regiment. It is equipped with AMX-13 and AMX SS-11 tanks. In 1968, it is garrisoned in Tübingen until it is disbanded on August 31, 1978.
1978–2003: On September 1, 1978, the 5th Dragoon Regiment is reborn in Valdahon as an AMX-30B combat tank regiment, replacing the disbanded 30th Dragoons.
In 1991, it is part of the 7th Regional Military Division and comprises an ECS, 3 tanks squadrons with AMX 17, an instruction squadron and the lighting squadron of the armored division.
In 1992, it receives more AMX-30B and gets another tank squadron.

In July 1994, the land army reorganization put the regiment into the 27th Mountain Infantry Division. It became the armored regiment of the division with its headquarters in Grenoble.

The 5th Dragoon Regiment remains operational until the end. Its squadrons are engaged in UN peace missions in Lebanon and Bosnia as well as in missions overseas, including Guadeloupe.

Structure

Combat Squadrons
- Escadron de reconnaissance et d'intervention - Armored recon squadron
- 1er Escadron blindé - 1st Armored squadron
- 2e Escadron blindé - 2nd Armored squadron
- 3e Escadron blindé - 3rd Armored squadron
- 1ère Compagnie d'infanterie - 1st Support infantry company
- 2e Compagnie d'infanterie - 2nd Support infantry company
Support Squadrons
- Escadron de commandement et de logistique - Command and logistics squadron
- Compagnie d'appui mixte (génie et artillerie) - Mixed engineer and artillery company
- Escadron d'intervention de réserve - Reserve squadron

Filiation

Double heritage:

1656: Foreign Dragoons of the King (Dragons étrangers du Roi)
1668: Colonel-General Regiment (Régiment Colonel-Général), formed by the duplication of the Foreign Dragoons of the King
1791: 5th Dragoon Regiment
1814: Dragoon Regiment of the Dauphin (n°3)
1815: 5th Dragoon Regiment
1816: Dragoon Regiment of the Hérault (n°5)
1825: 5th Dragoon Regiment
1928: Disbanded
1929: Recreated following the traditions of the 6th group of cyclist chasseurs (6e groupe de chasseurs cyclistes (6th DC) and of the 5th dragoons under the name of 5th carrier dragoons battalion
1939: 5th Dragoon Regiment
1942: Disbanded
1944: 5th Dragoon Regiment
1946: Disbanded
1948: 5th Dragoon Regiment
1951: Disbanded
1953: 5th Dragoon Regiment
1964: Disbanded and immediately recreated with elements from the 7th Chasseurs Regiment of Africa (7^e Régiment de chasseurs d'Afrique (7^e RCA )
2003: Disbanded on June 30, 2003.

Garrisons

1871–1873: Camp de Graves, Abbeville, Amiens
1873–1885: Saint Omer
1885–1914: Compiègne
1919–1925: Worms puis Düsseldorf
1925–1928: Auxonne puis Gray
1948–1951: Schwaz et Hall (Austria)
1953–1964: Périgueux
1964–1968: Friedrichshafen
1968–1978: Tübingen
1978–2003: Le Valdahon

Corps chiefs

Colonel Generals (from 1668)

1668:
Antoine Nompar de Caumont, Duke of Lauzun
1669: Nicolas d'Argouges, Marquis of Rannes
1678:
Louis François, duc de Boufflers
1692:
René de Froulay de Tessé
1703:
Antoine V de Gramont
, Duke of Guiche
1704: François de Franquetot de Coigny
1734: Jean-Antoine-François de Franquetot, Count of Coigny
1748: François de Franquetot, Duke of Coigny (for the second time, in replacement of his brother, killed in a duel)
1754: Marie-Charles-Louis d'Albert de Luynes, Duke of Chevreuse
1771: François-Henri de Franquetot de Coigny, Duke of Coigny
1783: Louis-Joseph-Charles-Amable d'Albert,
Duke of Luynes

Mestres de camp, commandants and colonels

1671: Gabriel de Cassagnet, Marquis of Tilladet
1681: Balthazar Phelypeaux, Count of Saint Florentin
1692: N. de Saint Mars
1694: N. Moret de Bournonville
1702: Charles Legendre de Berville
1719: N. de Préval
1727: Jean Toussaint de La Pierre, Marquis of Frémeur
1744: Gédéon Marie Léopold, Marquis of Goyon
1748: Charles Marie Léopold, Count of Dunois
1758: Marie Jean Louis Riquet, Chevalier of Caraman
1769: Louis-Joseph-Charles-Amable d'Albert, Duke of Luynes
1771: Jean-Philippe de Franquetot, Chevalier of Coigny
1780: Jean Jacob, Baron of Coëhorn
1784: Antoine Louis de La Vieuville, Marquis of Wignacourt
1786: Hugues Hyacinthe-Timoléon, Duke of Cossé
1788: Pierre Charles, Count of Seuil
1791: Joachim Charton
1792: Auguste Marie Henri Picot de Dampierre
1792: Marc Antoine de Beaumont
1793: Pierre Joseph Le Clerc, dit Verdet
1796: Édouard Jean Baptiste Milhaud
1800: Louis Bonaparte
1803: Ythier Sylvain Privé
1804: Jacques Nicolas, Baron Lacour
1808: Louis Ernest Joseph, Count of Sparre
1812: Jean-Baptiste Louis Morin
1815: Jean-Baptiste Antoine Canavas de Saint-Amand
1815: Borie de Vintimille
1816: de Calvières
1818: de Hanache
1830: de Lafitte
1833: Koenig
1843: de Solliers

Corps chiefs

1900: Villiers
1903: Granier de Cassagnac
1906: Gallet
1907: Boudenat
1910: de Lallemand du Marais
1914: Dauve
1916: Maissiat
1917: Bucant
1918: Letixerant
1920: Morgon
1921: Herbillon
1923: Villemont
1925: Wallace
1929: de Causans
1934: de Saint-Laumer
1938: Drand de Villers
1940: Chavannes de Dalmassy
1940: Brousset
1940: Watteau
1944: de La Ferté Senectère
1945: de Legue de Keplean
1946: de Coulanges
1948: d'Origny
1951: Dewatre
1952: Brute de Remur
1954: Jouslin de Noray
1957: Lavigne
1959: de Chasteignier
1961: Ceroni
1964: Duplay
1966: Gilliot
1968: Martin
1970: Ract-Madoux
1972: de la Follye de Joux
1974: Pichot
1975: Chaix
1977: Morin
1978: Allard
1979: Charpy
1981: Toujouse
1983: d'Hérouville
1985: Millier
1987: Ledeuil
1989: Saulais
1991: Boyer
1993: Leduc
1995: de Quatrebarbes
1997: de La Bretoigne
1999–2001: Colonel MARTIAL
2001–2003: Colonel ESPARBES

Banner

It bears, sewed in golden letters in its layers, the following inscriptions:^[2]

Valmy 1792
Wattignies 1793
Arcole 1796
Austerlitz 1805
Eylau 1807
L'Ourcq 1914
Vosges 1915 (traditions of the 6th groupe de chasseurs cyclistes)
La Marne 1918
La Meuse 1940
Bourgogne Resistance 1944

Decorations

Its tie is decorated:

With the Croix de Guerre 1914–1918, with 3 palms and 2 silver stars (distinctions of the 6 chasseurs cyclistes).
With the Croix de Guerre 1939–1945, with 1 palm.
Fourragère, with the colours of the Croix de Guerre ribbon, 1914–1918.

Badges

Heraldry

The first badge was designed in 1929 by Captain Lemaire. It represented an "azure star kept in a giant ivory number 5- the badge being entirely enamelled and unframed".

The last badge to be used was created in 1965. It features the model helmet from 1874, with which the Dragoons went to the front in 1914. The mane was exaggeratedly widened in order to accommodate the crowned monogram of king

Louis XIV, framing the number 5. The inscription on the edging reminds us that the regiment was created in 1668 to be attached to the responsibility of the Colonel General of the Dragoons

created the same year for the benefit of the famous Duke of Lauzun.

1929
1936
1945
1948
Liban
1965

References

Notes

^ (in French): Regimental march log Archived 2009-01-04 at the Wayback Machine
^ Decision n°12350/SGA/DPMA/SHD/DAT of September 14, 2007, relative to the inscription of battle names of the flags and banners of the land army troop corps, of the army health service and of the army fuel services, Bulletin officiel des armées, n°27, November 9, 2007

References

[1] (in French): Regimental march log Archived 2009-01-04 at the Wayback Machine

[2] Decision n°12350/SGA/DPMA/SHD/DAT of September 14, 2007, relative to the inscription of battle names of the flags and banners of the land army troop corps, of the army health service and of the army fuel services, Bulletin officiel des armées, n°27, November 9, 2007

[1]

[2]