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French Metropolitan Infantry Engineer in Assault Order – Winter circa 1917 – 18
This display presents the French “Poilu” as he appeared late in the war with his kit organized for the assault. These photographs, like the others in this series with the black backdrop, were originally taken for an article that appeared in GUNS Magazine. In this particular case, the article covered the Berthier rifles and carbines.
The basis of our “Poilu’s” uniform is the Mle 1915 greatcoat known to the French soldier as a “capote”, produced from heavy Horizon Blue wool. The long skirt of the greatcoat was designed to be buttoned back when in action to provide better freedom of movement without the coat restricting the soldier's legs. The greatcoat was the primary uniform worn in the field, without the tunic underneath, excepting in extremely cold weather. The tunic was generally reserved for the barracks or when off duty behind the lines. The Mle 1915 greatcoat saw a return to the double-breasted style of the earlier Mle 1877 greatcoat. The simplified Mle 1914/15 version had been single breasted in order to save material. The regimental insignia, in this case the 4th Regiment, is the late war style that was introduced in January of 1917. The collar of the tunic can be seen just above the fold down collar of the greatcoat.
Next we have the Mle 1914 semi-breeches, also in Horizon blue, which are cut like the jodhpur style riding trousers. The pant legs flair at the knee, but are laced tight at the calves underneath the Horizon Blue puttees. Beginning in April of 1915, yellow piping was added to the outside pant leg seems of the Infantry trousers, however many of the wartime produced trousers lacked the piping, as is the case with this pair.
The helmet is the Mle 1915 Adrian, with the flaming bomb of the Infantry mounted on the obverse of the crown in stamped sheet metal with the letters “RF” emblazoned on the bomb. The “RF” stands for “République Française”. The Mle 15 Adrian helmets were painted in a variety of different shades of Horizon Blue and later in the war, in Artillery gray. This particular example if painted with what is today referred to as “Dark Horizon Blue” by helmet collectors. The French Adrian was the first helmet issued in large numbers to an entire army during the war, however it was one of the least effective helmets at stopping shrapnel. The helmet was produced in four pieces, i.e. the crown, front and rear visors and the comb that reinforced the crown. The pieces were riveted together.
This display presents the French “Poilu” as he appeared late in the war with his kit organized for the assault. These photographs, like the others in this series with the black backdrop, were originally taken for an article that appeared in GUNS Magazine. In this particular case, the article covered the Berthier rifles and carbines.
The basis of our “Poilu’s” uniform is the Mle 1915 greatcoat known to the French soldier as a “capote”, produced from heavy Horizon Blue wool. The long skirt of the greatcoat was designed to be buttoned back when in action to provide better freedom of movement without the coat restricting the soldier's legs. The greatcoat was the primary uniform worn in the field, without the tunic underneath, excepting in extremely cold weather. The tunic was generally reserved for the barracks or when off duty behind the lines. The Mle 1915 greatcoat saw a return to the double-breasted style of the earlier Mle 1877 greatcoat. The simplified Mle 1914/15 version had been single breasted in order to save material. The regimental insignia, in this case the 4th Regiment, is the late war style that was introduced in January of 1917. The collar of the tunic can be seen just above the fold down collar of the greatcoat.
Next we have the Mle 1914 semi-breeches, also in Horizon blue, which are cut like the jodhpur style riding trousers. The pant legs flair at the knee, but are laced tight at the calves underneath the Horizon Blue puttees. Beginning in April of 1915, yellow piping was added to the outside pant leg seems of the Infantry trousers, however many of the wartime produced trousers lacked the piping, as is the case with this pair.
The helmet is the Mle 1915 Adrian, with the flaming bomb of the Infantry mounted on the obverse of the crown in stamped sheet metal with the letters “RF” emblazoned on the bomb. The “RF” stands for “République Française”. The Mle 15 Adrian helmets were painted in a variety of different shades of Horizon Blue and later in the war, in Artillery gray. This particular example if painted with what is today referred to as “Dark Horizon Blue” by helmet collectors. The French Adrian was the first helmet issued in large numbers to an entire army during the war, however it was one of the least effective helmets at stopping shrapnel. The helmet was produced in four pieces, i.e. the crown, front and rear visors and the comb that reinforced the crown. The pieces were riveted together.