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The Great War (1914-1918) Forum

Remembered Today:

The French Army Thread


Tomb1302

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1 hour ago, robins2 said:

they look like a battle hardened group, the individual holding the shell looks like he is wearing wood shoes??clogs??

@robins2

 

I'm very happy you brought that up, as, it was what stood out to me the most. I love the faces and the mud caking their boots.

Edited by Tomb1302
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An interesting image I found of some French soldiers. Can anyone date it for me? In terms of the evolution of uniforms, when would this have been?

 

 

Screen Shot 2019-09-22 at 2.26.55 PM.png

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Great photo. Looks like a group of men in good spirits and good health.

 

23 on collar presumably meens 23rd Infantry Regt.  I see they have a citation:

Citation : "Régiment d'un moral très haut, a constamment fait preuve, au cours de la campagne, d'une belle ardeur offensive et d'une grande habileté manœuvrière."

There is a unit history here

 

I don't know what the little symbol indicates below the '23' on the collar ?

 

Adrian helmet means late 1915 onwards. The horizon blue uniform and puttees were introduced earlier.

 

What about the rifles ? Presumably that is the Lebel, which could be in use throughout the war.

 

What is the cap worn by the soldier second from  right ?

 

The arrow above the man fourth from right- is there a name on the back of the photo ?

 

Charlie

 

 

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9 minutes ago, charlie962 said:

What is the cap worn by the soldier second from  right ?

French version of the garrison cap, I think. Less pronounced edges than normal.

French.jpg

Edited by Jools mckenna
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What is striking to me at least is the age difference in the two groups, the first group look middle aged and the second youthful. Very evocative images, the second one reminds me of a photo of my grandfather's comrades just before they left for France in 1917. Thanks for posting them.

 

Pete.

 

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10 minutes ago, Fattyowls said:

What is striking to me at least is the age difference in the two groups, the first group look middle aged and the second youthful. Very evocative images, the second one reminds me of a photo of my grandfather's comrades just before they left for France in 1917. Thanks for posting them.

 

Pete.

Pete, one of the most powerful ways to experience the war is to collect these images, and, that's what I seek to do.

 

I do agree, it struck me immediately. Clean shaven boys in the second image, but, hardened soldiers in the first.

 

Great remark.

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  • 2 weeks later...

Just a friendly 'bump' to revive this thread a little.

 

Thanks all.

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Just discovering this thread… interesting conversation going on here … mind if I just jump in???

@Tomb: Lived in Strasbourg for 3 years, which triggered my interest for the French part also a bit… Still more often delved into the British side, but I am known to sometimes go over the language border and see what the French army has to offer, historically speaking…

 

M.

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1 hour ago, Marilyne said:

Just discovering this thread… interesting conversation going on here … mind if I just jump in???

@Tomb: Lived in Strasbourg for 3 years, which triggered my interest for the French part also a bit… Still more often delved into the British side, but I am known to sometimes go over the language border and see what the French army has to offer, historically speaking…

 

M.

 

Welcome aboard Major. @Tomb1302 I've been trying to find a quote to start a discussion of the impact and scope of the 1917 mutinies. It appears in anglocentric accounts in varying degrees of inaccuracy as far as I can see and I'd be interested to see what the forum's take was. I'll be back as they say in the movies.......:thumbsup:

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8 hours ago, Marilyne said:

Just discovering this thread… interesting conversation going on here … mind if I just jump in???

@Tomb: Lived in Strasbourg for 3 years, which triggered my interest for the French part also a bit… Still more often delved into the British side, but I am known to sometimes go over the language border and see what the French army has to offer, historically speaking…

 

M.

@Marilyne, feel free to share whatever you'd like about the French army, that's why I have this thread up!

 

7 hours ago, Fattyowls said:

Welcome aboard Major. @Tomb1302 I've been trying to find a quote to start a discussion of the impact and scope of the 1917 mutinies. It appears in anglocentric accounts in varying degrees of inaccuracy as far as I can see and I'd be interested to see what the forum's take was. I'll be back as they say in the movies.......

Fantastic @Fattyowls, thank you. I do believe you talked about having information of the French involvement in Champagne (in relation to one of my postcards), but never shared.

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Just to have at least an active contribution...

a cold and windy November day at Neuville-St Vaast

 

Vive la France!

D94A0212.JPG.fbed6b4042e609c93d79042425c2080b.JPG

 

M.

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3 hours ago, Marilyne said:

Just to have at least an active contribution...

a cold and windy November day at Neuville-St Vaast

 

Vive la France!

D94A0212.JPG.fbed6b4042e609c93d79042425c2080b.JPG

 

M.

Chilling. I was fortunate enough to see firsthand the Ossuary of Douaumont  at Verdun and it was a life-changing experience.

 

Thanks for sharing @Marilyne

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On 22/09/2019 at 23:11, Jools mckenna said:

 

French version of the garrison cap, I think. Less pronounced edges than normal.

French.jpg

 

good morning,

 

in this picture, they're horsemen.
according to the color of the jacket we are in the presence of hussars.
blue jacket
red pants
clovers on the shoulder legs.
the port of the cap is worn in barracks and bivouac.
Hussars wear a schako as a hairstyle in combat.
the uniform will change with the evolution of the war.

 

regards

 

miche

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On 22/09/2019 at 21:52, Tomb1302 said:

An interesting image I found of some French soldiers. Can anyone date it for me? In terms of the evolution of uniforms, when would this have been?

 

 

Screen Shot 2019-09-22 at 2.26.55 PM.png

good morning,

 

this photo is from the 1920s.
The uniform is always horizon blue.
The only difference comes from the buttons.
button stamped with a grenade in flames for the First World War.
smooth bulging button post 1920 (as in this photo).

540846350_ScreenShot2019-09-22at2_26_55PM.png.be00aad32a5e0f1d53fc68743bad03c0.png.c70f75bdc6c4f4e043722cd1bd7ed962.png

 

regards

 

michel

Edited by battle of loos
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5 minutes ago, battle of loos said:

The only difference comes from the buttons

clever stuff !

On 22/09/2019 at 23:02, charlie962 said:

I don't know what the little symbol indicates below the '23' on the collar ?

Michel, do you know what this means ?

 

Charlie

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on the other hand, the corporal has a home iD plate on his right wrist (typical of the 20s/30s & post 1945):

 

imgp3910.jpg.73243d76483814725f4dd7fc8a1759c2.jpg

 

since 1918 :

1584433470_s-l1600(1).jpg.8449a2942d347fc72d8e44ea4b8f94c7.jpg

 

since 1881 :

 

2103832494_GRIMAUDAlexandre-1901-LeBlanc-2314-90meRI(1)-Copie.jpg.5e52043a4b21538aa6cf8167e6e080b0.jpg

 

regards

 

michel

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1 hour ago, battle of loos said:

 

good morning,

 

in this picture, they're horsemen.
according to the color of the jacket we are in the presence of hussars.
blue jacket
red pants
clovers on the shoulder legs.
the port of the cap is worn in barracks and bivouac.
Hussars wear a schako as a hairstyle in combat.
the uniform will change with the evolution of the war.

 

regards

 

miche

They are labeled chasseurs on the back(period writing in french), so I doubt they are hussars.

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I had forgotten that the "Chasseur à Cheval" had the same uniform except that they wore the helmet (identical to that of the Garde Républicaine).

 

michel

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21 hours ago, Tomb1302 said:

I do believe you talked about having information of the French involvement in Champagne (in relation to one of my postcards), but never shared.

 

T, Can you remind me what that was? I looked back over my recent posts and wasn't sure.

 

Pete.

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13 hours ago, battle of loos said:

good morning,

 

this photo is from the 1920s.
The uniform is always horizon blue.
The only difference comes from the buttons.
button stamped with a grenade in flames for the First World War.
smooth bulging button post 1920 (as in this photo).

540846350_ScreenShot2019-09-22at2_26_55PM.png.be00aad32a5e0f1d53fc68743bad03c0.png.c70f75bdc6c4f4e043722cd1bd7ed962.png

 

regards

 

michel

@battle of loos, as always, your uniform contributions are fantastic.

 

I'm mildly disappointed to have missed out on the 14 - 18 period with this postcard, but, it remains a fantastic photograph nonetheless.

 

I'm amazed by how keen your observation was, and will definitely be more attentive.

 

The clear 3 part-mold helmet means this photo was definitely taken between 1920 and 1926, right?

 

4 hours ago, Fattyowls said:

T, Can you remind me what that was? I looked back over my recent posts and wasn't sure.

@Fattyowls I looked over and seemed to have been mistaken, my apologies!

Edited by Tomb1302
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5 hours ago, Tomb1302 said:

I looked over and seemed to have been mistaken, my apologies!

 

Absolutely no problem mon ami. I like Champagne (the region not the beverage) but my knowledge is limited. That's what this thread can help with.......:thumbsup:

 

Pete.

 

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good morning,

 

you can see in the pictures of the  from May/June 40 of the French soldiers equipped with the helmet "Adrian mle 15".

 

7 hours ago, Tomb1302 said:

The clear 3 part-mold helmet means this photo was definitely taken between 1920 and 1926, right?

that's what it's all about.

 

regards

 

michel

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good morning,

 

here is the French model I had made (I had to part with regret).
Fight of Loos on 09 but 1915.

 

1666365167_77meRI001.JPG.fbca468520cd9dd5b4680d1791007264.JPG1289056985_77meRI002.JPG.2e0a4e0ce4a62a74aafef9694785578a.JPG1332675002_77meRI003.JPG.166f1781fd5e42072cc53438e200f7bf.JPG1800924331_77meRI004.JPG.0410bfed3a7aea28aa38d444a29846b5.JPG1485416158_77meRI005.JPG.b740611525fdc6eda01047229021e701.JPG577876160_asdecarreau001.JPG.ea5b9058c52237b7c0b6dcb22f89fb0b.JPG

 

regards

 

michel

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10 minutes ago, battle of loos said:

good morning,

 

here is the French model I had made (I had to part with regret).
Fight of Loos on 09 but 1915.

 

1666365167_77meRI001.JPG.fbca468520cd9dd5b4680d1791007264.JPG1289056985_77meRI002.JPG.2e0a4e0ce4a62a74aafef9694785578a.JPG1332675002_77meRI003.JPG.166f1781fd5e42072cc53438e200f7bf.JPG1800924331_77meRI004.JPG.0410bfed3a7aea28aa38d444a29846b5.JPG1485416158_77meRI005.JPG.b740611525fdc6eda01047229021e701.JPG577876160_asdecarreau001.JPG.ea5b9058c52237b7c0b6dcb22f89fb0b.JPG

 

regards

 

michel

Michel,

 

You own the components of the entire model?!

 

Where and how long did it take you to do this?

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complete to the underpants and the shirt - the small personal belongings.
I was missing that greatcoat
it took me about 20 years (several poses in the collection for professional reasons).
I had only bought objects dated before 1915 and so marked in relation to regiments having come to fight at Loos.

 

michel

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