FRENCH INFANTRY LATE WAR WWI

[@laurentdevaux5617]

Splendid, congratulations ! Your French soldier nearly could be put in a museum, it's not far from being perfect ! Why only "not far" ? Well, only small things indeed. I won't say anything about the boots, as finding genuine WW1 boots is more than difficult (but since your soldier is very representative from late 1917 and 1918, you could use model 1917 boots, easier to find but still expensive). If you allow me, I'm going to tell you what would make your soldier perfect, if we don't speak about boots : first, the way you wrap puttees is wrong, the French army isn't the British army or other WW1 army... we had a very special way to wrap them, which gave the puttees a "herringbone" or reversed "V" shape in front of the leg. Check period photos, and you'll see what I mean... though I'm pretty sure you'll find some pics with the way of wrapping you chose, but indeed, the "V" shape was really typical, as the veterans immediately taught the newcomers how to wrap puttees well. It was a kind of veterance sign, but it also had a practical reason, as wrapped in this way, puttees shaped much better the leg, making them more protective and hermetic to dust, small stones and earth (and that's why French army adopted a new curved model in 1919, which fitted perfectly the leg without needing to use the old way). Second, the model 1915 greatcoat shouldn't have brass buttons (by the way, the single breasted model, now excessively rare and commanding sky-rocketting price when you can find one, as it was used until destroyed or worn out, was introduced late 1914 and used throughout 1916 at least), but white metal buttons and painted in what we call "artillery grey" (in fact the same color as the helmet), and at least one epaulette (I can't see any epaulette strap and button, quite strange. Check if the hip pockets have buttons or not, if they have no buttons, your greatcoat is a model 1920, very similar), just like the 1914 soldier you showed before. The collar patches are the old model of 1915, a new, triangular model was introduced at the beginning of 1917, but both were used, sometimes in a same unit, until the end of the war, so your choice is perfectly right. The leather equipment (the brown color was introduced as soon as late 1914, though the old black equipment was also used until destroyed or worn out, so until late 1916 it wasn't rare to see a soldier using a mix of black and brown equipments) is perfect, I have nothing to say about it, you'll just have to choose between the entrenching tool or the straight sickle (a beautiful one) as only one tool was carried, when carried, as the entrenching tool wasn't given to all soldiers, there was only a fixed number by platoon. Last, a small precision : the yellow stripe on the breeches isn't for the army, but for the infantry (and for chasseurs à pied too, but their breeches were dark blue), and there were other colors, like black for engineers or dark green for train wagon troops. And though this stripe was regulatory, many breeches were made without, as well as reinforced knees (which I can't see on your breeches). Anyway, once again, congratulations, and hope it wil help !

[@militarymad2840]

Thanks again for the comments I didn’t know about the puttee’s that’s very interesting the Japanese in WW2 had a special way of wrapping them as well as for the epaulette I have not been able to find any original ones over here but maybe one one day thanks again I will be doing a 1940 French uniform in a couple of weeks time

[@laurentdevaux5617]

@@militarymad2840 You're welcome ! In fact, even in France, a lot of collectors don't know this very special way of wrapping puttees, though it is very characteristic. About the epaulettes, to be frank, find original ones is very hard. I also have a complete uniform of august 1914, of 1918 like yours (even the shoes are from WW1) and of 1940, this one even comprising a new from stock uniform and some parts coming from my two grandfathers who fought this war. But none of the epaulettes I have are original... they are made with authentic uniform wool dating from these years, they are even sewn with thread also dating from WW1 and WW2, but they are not genuine (but, as such, they would surely fool many collectors !)... so don't hesitate to use reproductions if you find good ones made with authentic period wool. I'll be delighted to see your French 1940 uniform, waiting for it !

[@user-aero68]

Finally, a KZbin channel that actually presents the correct reasons for the iconic French horizon blue uniforms of WW1. 👍

[@militarymad2840]

It was a unique colour I think it looks pretty cool

[@user-aero68]

@rymad2840 I like it too. The French also tested grey-blue in 1902, beige-blue in 1906 and resada green in 1911. Politics-aside (French socialists in parliament insisted on the red trousers associated with the republic), those colours were dropped as being too close to those used by other countries. I guess the intended uniform with the red fibres (to satisfy the politicians...) would have been a slightly purplish blue instead of the horizon blue they ended up with.

[@laurentdevaux5617]

@@user-aero68 You're right, it was slightly purplish blue. Adopted in july 1914, very few uniform were made in this new cloth because of the beginning of the war, and also for a very simple reason : all the red dye used by the French army before the war was bought in... Germany, at BASF. So, when the war erupted, the French factory used all the dye they had, and when they didn't have anymore, and also because the dark blue dye stocks weren't enough, it was decided to use less. That's how the Horizon blue was born... it wasn't a deliberate choice, it was only imposed by a material situation

[@VendettaVX18]

Great video, very informative.

[@militarymad2840]

Thanks I always try and keep the videos short but with bits of interesting information

[@morgangallowglass8668]

Another brilliant collection beautifully displayed and well described. Thank you!

[@militarymad2840]

Thanks it’s nice to let other people see my collection it spends most of its time packed away in storage 😊

[@morgangallowglass8668]

Again, thank you for sharing! @@militarymad2840

[@peterlinz2733]

Intressantes Video.Danke

[@militarymad2840]

Thank you I try and make the videos short but with lots information in

[@TheCatBilbo]

Although the blue seems too visible, it wouldn't take long for it to turn to a grubby, grey-blue. In any case, getting rid of the blue & scarlet uniform was the biggest issue - the French suffered horrendous casualties as it was; I can't imagine how many more would've died wearing the previous uniform!

[@militarymad2840]

Thanks for the comment totally agree

[@ramonvazquez1045]

Thank you

[@militarymad2840]

Thanks for watching glad you enjoyed it

[@MisakiMusashi]

Do you think you could do japan in WW1? I would love to see people talking about their uniforms during that period since they seem to get forgotten about a lot in that period.

[@militarymad2840]

Afraid I don’t have anything from WW1 but I will be doing some videos in the future of Japanese infantry and Japanese pilot from WW2 should be in a couple of weeks

[@michaelmcguffin4342]

How many sets of holes are on the leather belt you have for this display? Normally there is 11 I think but I have seen ones with less. I'm trying to locate a set of 1914 and 1916 leather french equipment but the ww2 leather equipment is quite similar.

[@militarymad2840]

To be honest not sure

[@militarymad2840]

I would think that WW1 belts would have brass fittings and later ones steel

[@michaelmcguffin4342]

@@militarymad2840 ok thanks!

[@michaelmcguffin4342]

@@militarymad2840 i guess my question was how many sets of holes on the belt are there? The holes that adjust the size

[@thetommies1323]

what color was the buttons i see in this video they are a brass but i also see them painted blue on some paces so what would have been brass or blue or a mix of the 2?

[@militarymad2840]

I have been informed lately by a French collector they would normally be painted blue my coat had no buttons on when I got it I found these and put them on so I could be wrong thanks for your comment

[@steelhelmetstan7305]

Very good video as always....is the lebel rifle obsolete calibre or deactivated?...I've only got the later helmet...m26, but I found it interesting watching the kit set up😊😊😊😊

[@militarymad2840]

The rifle is deactivated but one of the old ones so most of the bits still work

[@laurentdevaux5617]

@@militarymad2840 I forgot to ask you : can you have a non deactivated Lebel in the UK ? In France, we can, but for many years it was still considered as a dangerous weapon...

[@michaelmcguffin4342]

Was the belt, y strap, and ammo pouches hard to find? Would they wear both black and brown pouches or all just one color? I know there were various types even ones made with rivets.

[@militarymad2840]

The leather equipment is hard to find in this country I bought these from the French eBay a few years ago before brexit so they are more expensive now with duty and VAT on the price not sure about the mix and match but in most Wars there is a shortage of equipment so you can see all sorts of mixes

[@michaelmcguffin4342]

@@militarymad2840 Thanks for the reply, I very much appreciate the help. Great job on the content and keep up the good work!

[@michaelmcguffin4342]

Hi again, does your leather belt, y straps, or ammo pouches have Rivets? Were the rivets used during the war or after?

[@militarymad2840]

Mine are all stitched but I think rivets were started to be used by the end of the War to speed up production

[@michaelmcguffin4342]

@@militarymad2840 okay thank you! I've read different things, so the rivets started appearing toward the end of the war? Have you seen some belts with 1 belt loop? Or did they all have 2 belt loops? I greatly appreciate your information! Mike

[@Briselance]

01:33 Wait a minute... you mean to tell us that by 1916, some French soldiers would still wear the garance-red trousers???

[@militarymad2840]

If a slip of the tongue when I said most instead of all is the only fault you can find in the video I will take that as a compliment 👍😊

[@jasonyama333]

What was standard combat load of rounds for the lebel?

[@militarymad2840]

From what I can gather the rounds came loose 8 in a packet with 4 packs in each front pouch and 3 in the rear pouch so 88 rounds but they would also carry some in their great coat or back pack making 120 all together

[@BARAXOLKA_69]

фляга где?

[@militarymad2840]

Think it must be what we call a canteen it’s mentioned on the back down on the right hand side

[@ajvandelay8318]

Where is the white flag of surrender?

[@davidpryle3935]

1.4 million French soldiers killed in WW1. Your comment is a disgrace.