10th Cavalry Division (France)
# 10th Cavalry Division (France)

The 10th Cavalry Division was a French army unit that fought in World War I in 1914 and was disbanded, after a period of inaction, in 1916.

## History

### 1914

* Mobilized in the 12th, 17th, and 18th regions [fr].
* 3 – 5 August: transported by railroad (V.F. or voie ferrée) to the Rosières-aux-Salines region.
* 5 – 17 August: deployed along the Sânon River [fr].
* 17 – 20 August: reconnaissance toward Sarrebourg. On 20 August, engaged in the Battle of Sarrebourg.
* 20 – 26 August: fallback to Rozelieures, with combat on 24 and 25 August.
* 26 August – 3 September: withdrawal toward Nancy and regroup; from 1 September, transported by railroad to the area of Condé-en-Brie.
* 3 – 6 September: fallback on Provins.
* 6 – 14 September: engaged in the First Battle of the Marne, at the Battle of the Two Morins [fr] capturing Château-Thierry, and then pursuing the enemy, past Fismes and Pontavert, to the area around Sissonne.
* 14 – 17 September: withdrawal to the south of Aisne then advance toward Reims.
* 17 September – 22 October: advance toward Montdidier, fighting around Bapaume in the First Battle of Picardy, then in the Battle of Arras (fighting near Achiet-le-Grand on 28 September, Saint-Léger on 30 September, Pont-à-Vendin on 8 October, and Vermelles on 10 October), and then in the First Battle of Ypres (fighting near Merville on 15 October, Fleurbaix on 16 October, Radinghem on 18 and 21 October).
* 22 October – 1 November: retreated and regrouped in the Merville region, near Lillers.
* 1–11 November: fighting in Belgium, in the Battle of Messines.
* 11 November – 11 December: withdrawal after being relieved by the British army; from 15 November, transported east by railroad to the Charmes area for rest.
* 11 December 1914 – 5 January 1915: transported by railroad to the Rougemont-le-Château area with elements being employed near d'Aspach-le-Bas.

### 1915–1916

* 5 January – 20 August: with elements of the territorial army in sector between Leimbach and Burnhaupt-le-Haut.
* 20 August – 7 October: withdrawn and rested near Montreux-Vieux.
* 7 – 12 October: again with the territorial army between Leimbach and Burnhaupt-le-Haut.
* 12 October 1915 – 1 June 1916: again withdrawn and rested near Montreux-Vieux; elements employed in watching the Swiss border.
* 1 June 1916: disbanded.

### Attachments

* Mobilisation: detached
* August 1914: Conneau Cavalry Corps
* August 1914: detached
* September 1914: Conneau Cavalry Corps
* September 1914: 1st Cavalry Corp [fr]
* November 1914: detached
* June 1916: disbanded

## Commanders

* General Conneau, 1 September 1913 – 15 August 1914
* General Grellet (interim), 15 August – 13 September 1914
* General de Contades-Gizeux, 13 September 1914

## Composition

### Composition at formation

* 10th Brigade of Dragoons:
   * 15th Regiment of Dragoons [fr]
   * 20th Regiment of Dragoons [fr]
* 15th Brigade of Dragoons:
   * 10th Regiment of Dragoons [fr]
   * 19th Regiment of Dragoons [fr]
* Attached elements:
   * Infantry: 10th Cyclist Group of the First Battalion of Light Infantry [fr]
   * Artillery: 1 battery of 75mm guns, 14th Field Artillery Regiment

### Composition in January 1915

* 10th Brigade of Dragoons:
   * 15th Regiment of Dragoons
   * 20th Regiment of Dragoons
* 15th Brigade of Dragoons:
   * 10th Regiment of Dragoons
   * 19th Regiment of Dragoons
* Matuzinsky Brigade:
   * Marching (provisional) regiment of light cavalry
   * Marching (provisional) regiment of the 12th Regiment of Hussars [fr]
* Attached elements:
   * Infantry: 10th Cyclist Group of the 1st Battalion of Light Infantry
   * Artillery: 1 battery of 75s, 14th Field Artillery Regiment

### Composition in July 1915

* 10th Brigade of Dragoons:
   * 15th Regiment of Dragoons
   * 20th Regiment of Dragoons
* 15th Brigade of Dragoons:
   * 10th Regiment of Dragoons
   * 19th Regiment of Dragoons
* 23rd Light Brigade:
   * 22nd Regiment of Light Cavalry
   * 16th Regiment of Hussars
* Attached elements:
   * Infantry: 10th Cyclist Group of the 1st Battalion of Light Infantry
   * Artillery: 1 battery of 75s, 14th Field Artillery Regiment

### Composition in May 1916

* 10th Brigade of Dragoons:
   * 15th Regiment of Dragoons
   * 20th Regiment of Dragoons
* 15th Brigade of Dragoons:
   * 10th Regiment of Dragoons
   * 19th Regiment of Dragoons
* 1st Marching (Provisional) Brigade of African Light Cavalry:
   * 2nd Regiment of African Light Cavalry
   * 5th Regiment of African Light Cavalry
* Attached elements:
   * Infantry: 10th Cyclist Group of the 1st Battalion of Light Infantry
   * Artillery: 1 battery of 75s, 14th Field Artillery Regiment
