'Reconnaissance' from MartinN: Bavarian Uhlans

I was a little dumb struck as to what to paint for this themed round. There were no suitable vehicles in my stash, nor was I aware of any figures really fitting the theme. But when I came across a pack of German Uhlans from Great War Miniatures, buried deep down in my pile, also known as the Bermuda Triangle of lead, I knew what to do. I also discovered a personal link to the Bavarian Uhlans, but more on that later.

In World War 1 Bavaria fielded two regiments of Uhlans, light cavalry used for reconnaissance and to exploit any potential breakthroughs in the enemy lines. Still armed with saber and lance in addition to their carbines they were admittedly somewhat out of date for the kind of warfare prevalent in the Great War. But the Germans were not alone in this and light (as well as heavy) cavalry formations were fielded by all major combatants.

1st and 2nd Royal Bavarian Uhlans were first deployed on the western front but were transferred to the east in 1915 when it was clear that the stalemate in the west would not be broken any time soon.

There they formed part of the Bavarian Cavalry Division stationed at Kelmé. The Uhlans distinguished themselves during the capture of Salakas in Lithuania in September 1915.
Between the end of 1915 and February 1918 the Uhlans fought dismounted primarily on the Stokhid front. From February 1918 on both Regiments took part in the occupation of Ukraine and saw some fighting mostly against the Bolsheviks. In April captured Russian horses were used to make both units fully mounted again. In May the Uhlans took part in the capture of Rostov-on-Don with following police duties in the south of Kiev.

In October and November of that year they then were part of the occupational forces on the Krim, from where they started their long march home following the news of the outbreak of Revolution in Germany. On 8th January 1919, almost two months after the armistice, they fought their last encounter near Zaslaw in Poland against semi regular polish troops.

Now to my personal link to the Bavarian Uhlans. During a recent trip to Greece with my Dad he told me that my Great-Grandfather on his side of the family was part of either the 1st or 2nd Royal Bavarian Uhlan Regiment. If he was actually an Uhlan or part of the train of one of the regiments is unknown. But personally I think probably the latter as family history has it he went to war with his farm horse and also came back with it, of which feat he was immensely proud. Other than that little is known but my Dad gave to me, as part of a welcoming gift in our new house, the wooden army box of a Russian officer my ancestor had brought with him when he returned home.

I'm absolutely proud of that new addition to my collection and at the moment it's used to house parts of my lead stash.

Said box sitting in my temporary hobby room