Battle of El-Moungar
Encyclopedia
The Battle of El-Moungar was a battle fought, during the South-Oranese Campaign, between a contingent of the French Army of Africa
, especially the French Foreign Legion
, and Morrocan Tribesmen.
(Algeria
). Under the command of General Lyautey
, the French army
's mission was to protect these areas newly occupied in the west of Algeria, near the poorly defined Moroccan boundaries.
This loose boundary, between French Algeria
and the Sultanate of Morocco, promotes incursions and attacks perpetrated by Moroccan tribesmen.
On 17 August 1903, the first battle of the South-Oranese campaign had place in Taghit
, where French Foreign legionnaires were assailed by a contingent of more than 1,000 well-equipped Berbers. For 3 days, the legionnaires repelled repeated attacks of an enemy more than 10 times higher in number, and inflicted huge losses to the attackers, forcing them finally to a hasty retreat.
s and 2 Mokhaznis
, escorting a supply convoy, were ambushed, on September 2, by 3,000 Moroccans marauders, at 9:30 am.
The first shots wounded or killed half of the detachment. Most NCOs and both officers (Vauchez and Selchauhansen) were killed in the first stage of the fight. At 10:30 am, sergent-fourrier
Tisserand, who commands the survivors sent two cavalrymen to Taghit, for reinforcements. They immediately hit the road.
About forty survivors, commanded by Tisserand, gathered on a nearby hill and under a scorching sun, without water on hot sand, kept head to the enemy for more than eight hours. Near the end of the battle, Tisserand, wounded, gave command to Corporal
Detz, the highest ranked man still able. Only at 5 pm they were released by Captain de Sulbielle, who rushed from Taghit with his Spahis. At the sight of the approaching French cavalry, Moroccans retreated by small groups.
and sergent-fourrier Tisserand was made lieutenant
.
Army of Africa (France)
The Army of Africa was an unofficial but commonly used term for those portions of the French Army recruited from or normally stationed in French North Africa from 1830 until the end of the Algerian War in 1962.-Composition:...
, especially the French Foreign Legion
French Foreign Legion
The French Foreign Legion is a unique military service wing of the French Army established in 1831. The foreign legion was exclusively created for foreign nationals willing to serve in the French Armed Forces...
, and Morrocan Tribesmen.
Background
In the early twentieth century, France faced numerous incidents, attacks and looting by uncontrolled armed groups, in the newly controlled areas in the south of OranOran
Oran is a major city on the northwestern Mediterranean coast of Algeria, and the second largest city of the country.It is the capital of the Oran Province . The city has a population of 759,645 , while the metropolitan area has a population of approximately 1,500,000, making it the second largest...
(Algeria
Algeria
Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
). Under the command of General Lyautey
Hubert Lyautey
Louis Hubert Gonzalve Lyautey was a French Army general, the first Resident-General in Morocco from 1912 to 1925 and from 1921 Marshal of France.-Early life:...
, the French army
French Army
The French Army, officially the Armée de Terre , is the land-based and largest component of the French Armed Forces.As of 2010, the army employs 123,100 regulars, 18,350 part-time reservists and 7,700 Legionnaires. All soldiers are professionals, following the suspension of conscription, voted in...
's mission was to protect these areas newly occupied in the west of Algeria, near the poorly defined Moroccan boundaries.
This loose boundary, between French Algeria
French Algeria
French Algeria lasted from 1830 to 1962, under a variety of governmental systems. From 1848 until independence, the whole Mediterranean region of Algeria was administered as an integral part of France, much like Corsica and Réunion are to this day. The vast arid interior of Algeria, like the rest...
and the Sultanate of Morocco, promotes incursions and attacks perpetrated by Moroccan tribesmen.
On 17 August 1903, the first battle of the South-Oranese campaign had place in Taghit
Taghit
Taghit is a town in western Algeria....
, where French Foreign legionnaires were assailed by a contingent of more than 1,000 well-equipped Berbers. For 3 days, the legionnaires repelled repeated attacks of an enemy more than 10 times higher in number, and inflicted huge losses to the attackers, forcing them finally to a hasty retreat.
The Battle
Few months after the Battle of Taghit, 148 legionnaires of the 22nd mounted company, from the 2e REI, commanded by Captain Vauchez and Lieutenant Selchauhansen, 20 SpahiSpahi
Spahis were light cavalry regiments of the French army recruited primarily from the indigenous populations of Algeria, Tunisia and Morocco. The modern French Army retains one regiment of Spahis as an armoured unit, with personnel now recruited in mainland France...
s and 2 Mokhaznis
Auxiliary Forces
The Moroccan Auxiliary Forces is a paramilitary force which supplements the military, gendarmery and police when needed....
, escorting a supply convoy, were ambushed, on September 2, by 3,000 Moroccans marauders, at 9:30 am.
The first shots wounded or killed half of the detachment. Most NCOs and both officers (Vauchez and Selchauhansen) were killed in the first stage of the fight. At 10:30 am, sergent-fourrier
Quartermaster Sergeant
Quartermaster Sergeant is a class of rank or appointment in some armed forces, especially those of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth.-Ireland:Quartermaster Sergeant appointments in the Irish Defence Forces include:...
Tisserand, who commands the survivors sent two cavalrymen to Taghit, for reinforcements. They immediately hit the road.
About forty survivors, commanded by Tisserand, gathered on a nearby hill and under a scorching sun, without water on hot sand, kept head to the enemy for more than eight hours. Near the end of the battle, Tisserand, wounded, gave command to Corporal
Corporal
Corporal is a rank in use in some form by most militaries and by some police forces or other uniformed organizations. It is usually equivalent to NATO Rank Code OR-4....
Detz, the highest ranked man still able. Only at 5 pm they were released by Captain de Sulbielle, who rushed from Taghit with his Spahis. At the sight of the approaching French cavalry, Moroccans retreated by small groups.
Aftermath
A presidential decree granted to all survivors of the battle, the Colonial MedalColonial Medal
The Colonial Medal was a French decoration created by the "loi de finances" of 26 July 1893 to reward "military services in the colonies, resulting from participation in military operations, in a colony or a protectorate"...
and sergent-fourrier Tisserand was made lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
.