On the north side of the road.

Monument

A tapering pillar with a rounded edge on the top. The monument is inscribed with a commemoration message and a list of names that is written in French below the engraved insignia of the 102^nd Cavalry Group. On the base of the monument, another inscription can be seen.

Liberation of Montrevel

The Squadron consists of three Reconnaissance Troops (A, B & C), an Assault Gun Troop (E), a Support

Troop (Company F), a Medical Detachment and a Headquarters, Headquarters and Service Troop. On September 3, 1944, Troop "A" was ordered to follow Troop "B" in close support to establish roadblocks on the main highway leading northeast out of Montrevel. At 0700 hours Troop "B" after overcoming small arms and machine gun fire, occupied the town. Troop "B" set up local security and Part of Troop "A", which had followed "B" into the town, provided security for the bridge leading east out of Montrevel. The Troops engaged in separate fighting against Mark VI tanks and enemy infantry. By 1000 hours the situation had become so grave that the Commanding Officer of Troop "B", Captain Wood, informed the Squadron Commander that he would have to abandon the town if reinforcements did not arrive. Captain Wood was told that reinforcements would be forthcoming. Meanwhile, dismounted patrols were detailed to find an escape route northeast of town.

At that point, General Carlton of the VIth Corps, when asked for assistance for a counter-attack, told Col. Hodge to get it from the 45th Div. which gave him a Battalion of Infantry and returned C Troop for that attack which was set for 1600 hours. By 1300 hours the gravity of the situation had intensified to such an extent that the Troops were prepared to withdraw upon a moment's notice from the Commanding Officer. At 1430 hours, they found themselves cut off by enemy infantry, AT guns, self-propelled guns, and a great number of Mark VI tanks. When news of this was radioed to the Squadron Commander, Company "F" Tanks were committed to the battle. The forces within the town also launched an attack to coincide with the tank commitment; but both attacks were futile, although the forces fought with extreme aggressiveness and determination.

Throughout the day the forces within the town were defenders in name only. Again and again, the troops launched attacks against the greatly superior armor and numerical superiority of the enemy as they awaited the promised assistance. These forays kept the enemy off balance and in the dark as to the strength of the defenders. Unfortunately, their promised assistance never came. At 1555 hours, General Carlton, VIth Corps Chief of Staff, ordered the counter-attack canceled.

At 1630 hours, Captain Wood called the Squadron Commander by radio and told him that it would be impossible to withdraw under any circumstances because of the great number of wounded personnel. This was the last message from Montrevel.

The aggressive tactics and personal bravery of the Troops within the town were of such a high degree that the enemy commander expressed considerable amazement that the force, which had opposed him, was so small numerically and so lacking in armor. The losses, though a great deal smaller than the enemy's, were very great. The losses in men and materiel were: All "B" Troop personnel less five men, who were either MIA, LWA, SWA plus three KIA. Those KIA included Sgt Barsby, Cpl L. Stewart, and Tec5 Renzi all of the "B" Troop and S/Sgt Lawson of Company F. Troop "A" lost 2 Officers and 10 enlisted men. 20 Quarter ton 4x4s, 15 Armored cars, and 2 light tanks were lost. What was left of A and B Troops were reorganized into a Provisional A Troop, and the Squadron assembled in the area west of Marboz for the night.

A volunteer patrol was formed to enter the enemy-held town of Montrevel to ascertain the results of the battle. The patrol left the Squadron CP at dusk and entered the town by midnight.

Source of information: usgovcloudapi.net

Source of photos: www.memorialgenweb.org

COMMEMORATION

DU CINQUANTENAIRE

DE LA LIBERATION

DE MONTREVEL

LE 03-09-1994

ERIGE

A LA MEMOIRE

DES VAILLANTS

OFFICIERS ET HOMMES

DU 117 ESCADRON, DE

RECONNAISSANCE

DE CAVALRIE

QUI LIBERA

MONTREVEL MALAFRETAZ

LE 3 SEPTEMBRE

1944

MORTS AU COMBAT

S/SGT BENNET LAWSON

SGT LAWRENCE BARSBY

CPL LOUIS STEWART

T4 LEOPOLD RENZI

English translation:

COMMEMORATION

THE FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY

OF THE LIBERATION

OF MONTREVEL

03-09-1994

ERECTED

IN MEMORY

OF THE VALLIANT

OFFICERS AND MEN

OF THE 117TH CAVALRY

RECONNAISSANCE

SQUADRON

WHO LIBERATED

MONTREVEL MALAFRETAZ

ON SEPTEMBER 3

1944

KILLED IN ACTION

S/SGT BENNET LAWSON

SGT LAWRENCE BARSBY

CPL LOUIS STEWART

T4 LEOPOLD RENZI