EXTRACT from the Report of the 1st Field Company of Pioneer Battalion
No. 12 on the reconnaissance in force of August 21st, 1914, carried
out with the 2nd Battalion, Rifle (Fusilier) Regiment No. 108.
As soon as the first houses in Dinant were reached, the street-lighting
was destroyed; the columns marched closely along by the two rows of
houses and arrived as far as the first cross-street. Here the head of
the infantry column suddenly received from the corner house on the
right a very violent fire, which was immediately returned. Instantly
there was firing from all the houses. A violent street-fight then
ensued. The pioneers forced the fastened doors open with hatchets and
axes, threw hand-grenades into the lower rooms, and set others on fire
with the torches which had been in the meantime ignited.
Lieutenant Brink turned into the first side-street on the left. This,
however, had been obstructed by trip-wires; from the houses came
firing, and stones were thrown.
All at once the company was fired at from the rear, and was obliged to
return to the corner of the street. Non-commissioned Officer Grosse,
who had been struck by several stones and lay unconscious by the
trip-wires, was also brought back.
The 1st Company had fifteen slightly wounded and one severely wounded.