Sergeant Regulars Laureate of San Fernando Caballero. (* 1893 +1919)
This young Murcia, a native of El Palmar reached the most precious award English military in time of war, finding the death in combat of Beni-Salach, April 5 1919, the Cross of the Royal and Military Order of San Fernando. It was Sgt Infantry, stationed in the Indian Regular Forces Group Tetuan # 1. 
A life devoted to the military
D. Carlos Sáez Zarra, was born in the town of El Palmar Murcia, an October 30, 1893. At age 20, he entered the military voluntarily, leaving the studies and entered the Battalion Cazadores de Llerena n º 11, a May 13, 1913, making the training period and then remained stationed in Madrid. On June 9 of that year, up to Ceuta, from July 15 with his battalion to Tetouan, Campaign which will provide service and protection of convoys. His service in combat, will be linked to names like Laucién, Lomas de Arapiles, Izarduy and Barranco de Laure.
In February 1914, Cape Infantry reached by choice, continuing services and mind, until September 30 this year, taking part in the occupation of Izarduy and 8 December, differs markedly Hozman Beni fighting on whose combat performance and merit will be awarded two Military Crosses for Merit distinctive red.
His spirit and patriotism led him to seek new destinations and increased risk and danger the April 30, 1915, left the Battalion Cazadores de Llerena, high Indigenous Regular forces Melilla, where in August 1915, obtained the use of Infantry Sergeant seniority August 1, 1915.
Having completed the volunteer time, he applied for reinstatement to allow him to continue working life in the field, and continued during the years 1917 and 1918. He died in front of their own, in the Beni comabates Salach, 5 April 1919, being rewarded for the merits made and the observed behavior with the Cross of the Royal and Military Order of San Fernando in 1923.
Memories of a rope out of that A Regular Group recalled back in 1969, how his sergeant, a young man almost 26 years, fell in battle. This man, D. Medina Sánchez Policarpo, recounted with tears in their eyes, the way his superior died to protect the withdrawal of the force: "... received three wounds, the first on hand when I had two hours in the operation, the average time the hand, another shot in the face.
With injury again and continued to fight and cheering, until about twenty minutes later when he was killed.
agreed not to withdraw when he was wounded until not complete the operation. The shot that killed him got when he ordered the withdrawal ... "
Combat
The facts, as was reflected in the collection booklets entitled" Spain in its Heroes, "edited by Ornigraf in Madrid in 1969, seems to be developed as follows: The task with the strength that comprised the Task Force Regular Indigenous Tetuan 1, comprising a front line about 2 km away, extension too large for the number of guns with which had the Regular Tabor.
The 3rd Company of this, was far from the rest of the force, which is why the order was given to the Company of Captain Stewart, entering at once on fire, to support the withdrawal of the 3 rd Company Tabor third, and the situation it was complicated at times. In the third Company of the Third Tabor, the control panel, was at that time as follows: Captain, Mr. Cisneros, died. Lieutenant, Mr. Pérez Rodríguez, dead. Lieutenant, Mr. Brondis, wounded. Warrant Officer, Mr. Vazquez, who commanded the 3 rd Section, dead. The troops, which already had no control and with 15 kills, a situation to which and to ask the same unsustainable replieque was ordered.
To provide this protection, Captain D. Juan Soto, marched south to enter the line of fire and to support the withdrawal of the third company of the Third Tabor. Captain Soto, distributed to its power, assigning missions to each of its sections.
In this way, Lieutenant D. Estanislao de Cubas, marched in the vanguard to position and allow the deployment of the company that would occupy the sites identified by the Captain Mr. Soto.
The stated objective Sergeant D. Carlos Sáez by Lt. Zarraluqui Cubas, was occupying a allowed to fire position favorable to allow the deployment of the rest of the section. The lieutenant, warned Zarraluqui Sergeant (verbatim): "... Be careful Zarra, I think if you can get there with your squad you will have earned the game the enemy. Is a height that dominates them completely ... "" ... not worry sir, we'll ... "
Sergeant D. Carlos Zarra, leading his platoon began the march. His lieutenant, D. Estanislao de Cubas, was not wrong, since this position was so dominant that, allowed to carry out a very effective, both for the deployed force and the one that retreated it was the latter, the third company of the Third Regular Tabor. It seems difficult to execute the retreat as they had been doing very broken terrain by fire Rif and conditions outnumbered by English troops, which was quickly warned by Sergeant Zarra and endowed with its vital mission importance given the danger to his comrades in the retreat.
The enemy realized that a single platoon, could jeopardize the pressure exerted by fire on retreating troops, why concentrate fire on the position they had occupied with his men Sergeant D. Carlos Zarra. Even so, low intensity fire, which received the force of Regulars, Zarra and his men, not intimidate or slowed the momentum of this young natural Sergeant El Palmar, which ran for the position, encouraging and again his own, from rock to rock, for better shooting position, showing everyone that it was possible to move through a field shot by the enemy and taking advantage of all terrain features.
On passing through the position of Zarra, the soldiers of the Third Company of the Third Tabor, made gestures to those brave enough to protect their withdrawal already difficult and already had several casualties but even so, did not diminish the impetus, courage and bravery with which both the Sergeant Zarraluqui like yours, protect the lives of some at the expense of their own.
The sergeant, received during the development of its first combat wound. A bullet had reached his hand. None of the fighters said nothing, but before the shot, the sergeant, did not the slightest sign of pain, yet seeing all, as blood gushed from the wound, until after completion of the operation of protection, Cape D . Medina Sánchez Policarpo, told his superior that retreated after they were safe (sic): "... My sergeant; this is already done. The third party are safe. Go to the aid station, I replegaré the bunch ... "Zarra, he replied:" ... This is not a scratch on the hand, nothing ... "
The attackers, with the failure to strike a blow the retreating force, thereupon turned their fire on the position of Zarra. Her attitude, her voice, her encouragement, to those who were there, not declined, achieving the desired positive effect and can thus maintain the position and protect those who retreated.
At the time, went up to that position the last few steps to withdraw, which loudly, thanked the sergeant and his men, the preservation of life. Following completion of the mission, it was the turn of withdrawal Sergeant D. Carlos Zarra and his strength, having to evacuate the wounded alive and not wanting to leave anyone behind who might fall into Moorish hands, why the sergeant, turning to Polycarp, the Cape, he said (verbatim): "... Polycarp!. With your squad, go away. I will be subject to these !...". Cape Town, made a sign to his own and start the withdrawal.
The next out there, and was Saharaqui which was ordered by the sergeant, carried Ascaris. The withdrawal of the force advocate, he continued, so the enemy being closer to the position, using very little time to reach the position until now defended by the English that had just left. Now, these lists have changed and the load is battered by the Rif.
Sergeant, to avoid that may impede the withdrawal, ordered to reoccupy the position and charge against the Moors, "... To them, we must drive them out of there !..."," ... Come on .. . 'and placing him in front of the retreating force, the attack started again, walking him in the head, when he is hurt again, this time with a bullet in the mouth. New wound that does not affect the mood of that brave murciano continuous progress to vacate that position until recently occupied by the English to protect the retreat of their comrades.
there were evicted from the enemy but as rough shower, a third wound, this mortal and had caused the death of Sergeant Zarra. A bullet had pierced his chest. The platoon had lost four men. His body was in the enemy camp and could not recover, still on the land we fought so bravely.
Cross of the Royal and Military Order of San Fernando
For the sake made and the behavior observed during that battle of April 5, 1919, Sergeant Infantry Forces Group Regular Indigenous Tetuan # 1, was initiated on Record adversarial for the purpose of granting the Cross of the Royal and Military Order of San Fernando, the resolution of which reads as follows (verbatim): "... On April 5, 1919, Sgt Forces Group Regular Indigenous Tetuan 1, Don Carlos Zarraluqui Saez took part in sustained combat near the town of Beni Salach (Beni-Hozman), and despite having been wounded twice and not heal his wounds, continued fighting in front of their forces to encourage them by example, without consenting to retire from his post, although it was authorized to Lieutenant of the section, died from a gunshot wound he received in the chest after attacking the position occupied. The King has seen fit to give the Sergeant Don Carlos Sáez Zarraluqui Cross of the Royal and Military Order of San Fernando. Madrid, April 2, 1923. Alcalá Zamora. (OJ No. 72.) ... "
i Hungerbühler Nicholas Hans, April 4, 2011
Sources:
In preparing this collection the sergeant of Infantry and Laureate of San Fernando Caballero D. Zarra Carlos Sáez, have been consulted, the issue of the series "Spain in its Heroes," entitled "Regular González Tablas, Ornigraf editorial, Madrid, 1969. "Minerva", a weekly magazine of the General Basic NCO Academy, No. 74, on Thursday 6 May 2010, Talarn (Lleida). "The Globe", No 16123, p. 3, Madrid, April 4, 1923.
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