27e Bataillon Alpin de Chasseurs a Pied

About us:

The 27e Battailon de Chausseurs Alpins is a reenactment unit of Alpine light infantry of the French Army in the PNW Great War. We are an alternate impression of the 114e régiment d'infanterie, a heavy line infantry unit. We were organized for special mountain reenactment events. It is our mission to conquer mountains in style.

The Historical 27e Bataillon Alpin de Chasseurs a Pied

Organized:

The 27e was organized on 30 January 1871

Conflicts

1871-1872, 1879 Algerian campaigns

1881-1887 Tunisian campaign

First World War

Rhineland Occupation

1919-1921 High Silesian campaign

Active service to the modern day (details ommited).

Decorations

Croix de guerre 1914-1918 with six palms

Service in the First World War

The 27e Battailon de Chasseurs saw continuous service during the First World War and in the situation that followed. The unit remains active in the French Army to this day.

Tour of duty

Mobilization:

At mobilization on 2 August 1914 the 27e Battailon consisted of 29 officers, 1,674 men in 6 companies assigned to the 29th Infantry Division within the 15th Army Corps of the 2nd Armee.

1914

Lorraine:

Battle of Morhange

19-20 August Dieuze, Land, Bidestroff, Gelucourt

22 August Lunéville

23 August Saint-Mard

Battle of the hold of Charmes

24-26 August Einvaux, Lamath, Xermamennil

Battle of Lorraine

27-30 August Bareth's Wood

2-5 September Le Bois de Saint-Mansuy, Rehainviller

8-11 September forest of Vitrimont (La Faisanderie Bridge, mill of the wood of Saint-Anne, La Guinguette, Adomenil-Chateau)

20-30 September forest of Parroy, Vaucourr, Croismare, Marainviller, Thiébaumenil, Fort de Manoviller, Laneuveville-aux-Bois, Emberménil

4 October-11 November placed in reserve of the 64th Infantry Division of the 31st Army Corps of the 1st Army.

Belgium

First Battle of Ypres

13 November (reserve for Gen F. Foch, placed under 9th Army Corps)

14 November made availible to 7th Cavalry Division

14-18 November Langemarck

19 November placed under 32nd Army Corps

21 November-7 December Boezinge

Artoise

7 December placed in reserve of VIII Army

15 December transferred to 33rd Army Corps, X Army under P. Petain

First Battle of Artois

27-29 December Carency

1915

Massif des Vosges/Haut-Rhin

3 January transferred to 1st brigade de chasseurs a pied, 66e Division Infantry

Battle of Hartmannswillerkopf

20 January-5 May Hartmannswillerkopf

26 May transferred to group of battalions chasseurs a pied, 66e Infantry Division

27 May-21 June Sondernach, Metzeral

29 June returned to 1st brigade chaseurs a pied

14 July seconded to the reserve of 47th Division Infantry

22-31 July Reichackerkopf

Battle of the Linge

1-21 August the Lingekopf the Schratzmaennele

9 September returned to 6e brigade chasseurs a pied

9 September-10 November Sondernach (Bois de Maettle, village), Matzeral (village, les bois de l'Anlass-Wasen)

Battle of Hartmannswellerkopf

28 November-5 December Hartmannswillerkopf

21-31 December Wattwiller

1916

Massif des Vosges/Haut-Rhin

1-27 January Hitzemstein, Hartmannswillerkopf

7-13 March Hilsenfirst

21 March-16 April Hartmannswillerkopf

6 May-23 July the Sudel (the Dig, the Kohlschlag, Breittal)

Somme

Battle of the Somme

4-11 September Cleary (Hopital farm, Observatory ridge, Bois des Marrieres)

12-13 September Bouchavesnes (villiage, farm, abby wood)

5-7 November Bouchavesnes (Bois de Saint-Pierre-Vaast)

Vosges

18 November 6e brigade is disbanded, battalion confined to Plainfaing until integrated with the new 7e groupe de chasseurs in Corcieux

Massif des Vosges/Haut-Rhin

27 December-13 January 1917 collet du Linge

1917

Aisne

Battle of the Chemin des Dames (Second Battle of the Aisne, Nivelle Offensive)

16-22 April Pontavert/Craonne (Bois de Beaumarais, Butte aux Pins, Lutzow Trench)

4-14 June Craonne (le plateau de Californie)

26 July-20 August (Royere Farm, Gagousse Trench, the thorn of Chevrigny Vailly, Aizy Farm, Ostel

23-25 October Pargny-Filain, Chavignon (Fort de la Malmaison)

Massif des Vosages/Haut-Rhin

The Hartmannswillerkopf

12 December-2 January 1918 Soultz

1918

Massif des Vosges/Haut-Rhin

The Hatmannswillerkopf

20 February-12 March Uffholtz

16 March-22 April Soultz

Somme

The German Spring Offensive

4-22 May Rouvrel, Castel (Bois de Sénécat)

12-22 July Castel (Bois du Gros Beech), Morisel (Bois des Brouettes)

23 July Morisel (Bois du Billot)

Corsica

16 August the steamer le Balkan is torpedoed off Calvi by UB-48 with a loss of 400 killed, including 4 members of the 27e en permissions.

Aisne

Battle of Vauxaillon (part of the Hundred Days Offensive)

29 August-18 September

Crecy-au-Mont

Leuilly-sous-Coucy

Bagneux

Juvigny

Vauxaillon

Battle of the Serre (I re Armee)

17-19 October Seboncourt, Andigny wood, petit-Verly, farm wood of Tupigny, Hannapes, Venerolles

Second Battle of the Sambre

4 November Oisy, Canal de le Sambre

Source: "Historique du 27e Bataillon Alpin De Chasseurs a Pied, Pendant La Guerre 1914-1918"

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