A reply to Mark Hannam's article on SCW cavalry

In 'The SCW, An American Perspective,' I mentioned the anecdotal account carried in Wyden's 'The Passionate War' where a squadron of foragers preceding a cavalry division is advancing in column of brigade lines, 2 charging , 1 in reserve. In all 3,000 charging sabres . Wyden's account is by a participant.

In 'La batalla De Teruel' by Archivo de Servicio Historico Militar Madrid (ashm M) the strength of the 1st cavalry division (Monastario) in the Alhambra campaignis given as 3 groups , 2 groups have 3 squadrons each the other group has 2 squadrons. There were also 2 sections of automatic weapons. The squadrons were from the Villarobledo, Calatrava, and Espana regiments (2nd, 3rd and 4th regiments - each regiment consisted of 4 sabre and 1 HMG squadrons).

Notionally the squadron was around 100 strong. Wyden says the foragers were drawn from the 2nd regiment , but gives the strength of the charging regiments as 500 each. Thus it appears the HMG squadrons were used in the charge. Also with 3000 men in the charge it appears there should be 30 squadrons in the battle - the ashmm states a total of 10 squadrons ? ASHMM also states that the division has two 75 mm batteries and 3 105mm batteries. Wyden says they had no artillery support only air support.

ASHMM also has the 5th Navarre infantry division in support, but gives no detail.

What are your sources for Moorish cavalry Tabors and action at Jarama? Bueno says a Tabor is the equivalent to a Spanish Squadron. The cavalry complement of the Army of Africa is usually given as 6 squadrons per district.

The account of the attack on the 5th regiment is fascinating. But another account by a surviving international in the Teruel region describes similar repeated attacks by cavalry as being unsuccessful.

Perhaps the moral of the story is that contemporary accounts, even those by eyewitnesses are open to question.

On the face of it , the 'aggrupacion' of squadrons seems to be the normal cavalry force in the SCW , and many more squadrons must have been dispersed among the numerous infantry divisions for reconnaissance than could be co ncentrated for divisional or brigade operations.

Mark Hannam Replies

My sources on the Moor cavalry are 'LOS REGULARES' J . Bueno and 'HISTORIA DE LAS FUERZAS ARMADAS VOL. IV'. The Jarama crossing by four Moor squadrons is mentioned in H.C. ARDOZO 'March of a Nation'. Several accounts of British Internationals being captured and shepherded by Moor cavalry are recounted in 'VOICES OF THE SCW'.

The account of the 5th Regiment being attacked by Moor cavalry is from R. Spender's memoirs 'THE WAR IN SPAIN'.

Related

Hannam's original Cavalry article