There remain a multitude of common misconceptions about the French military in the Great War. A large number of these surround French uniforms, weapons, and equipment, and how all of these items affected the fighting effectiveness of the French forces. By far the most common misunderstandings we encounter from the public (as well as from fellow reenactors) relate to the assumed visibility of the Horizon Blue uniforms and the rumored poor performance of French weapons such as the Mle 1886/93 Lebel Rifle and the Mle 15 Chauchat Light Machine Gun. No small part of our impression and our reenacting effort is dedicated to challenging these ideas and informing others about both the pros and cons of everything the common Poilu fired, used, and wore.
The 18e also strives to understand and portray the history and development of French uniforms, weapons and equipment throughout the Great War. While we do have members who strive to portray the common Poilu throughout the length of the war, our primary impression as a unit spans the final two years of the war. Stay tuned for more information and photographs of impressions that span the 1914-1916 period.
Below is the list of uniform items, equipment, and weaponry for our typical event at the GWA trenches in Newville, PA. Please click the links below for our impressions from other periods of the war.
Pioupiou, 1914 Poilu, 1915 Poilu, 1916
Poilu, 1917-1918
**Photos and additional descriptions coming soon!
Uniform
la Casque: 'Adrian' Helmet, M1915, in light or dark blue-grey, with matte finish and 'flaming bomb' infantry insignia
le Bonnet de Police : (off-duty headwear) M1891/15 cap (preferred) or M1918 cap (acceptable), to be made from Horizon Blue (HB) wool
la Capote : M. 1915 greatcoat, double breasted and made from HB wool (preferred) or the ‘Poiret’ Model 1914, Type IV in HB wool (acceptable)
la Vareuse : M. 1914/15 (type II) jacket in HB wool
la Pantalon-Culottes : M. 1915 breeches made from HB wool and featuring infantry lining and reinforced knees (preferred), or M. 1914 breeches in HB wool
les Bandes Molletières : M. 1910. leggings or 'puttees', made from HB wool (preferred) or light or dark blue wool (acceptable)
les Chaussures : M. 1916 boots (preferred) or Ms. 1912 or 1917 boots (acceptable)
la Chemise : plain white, red-striped, black-striped, or blue-striped flannel cotton shirt, with crew collar and closed by three buttons
le Caleçon : underdrawers, plain or pin-striped cotton
la Cravate : neck tie made of cotton, preferably marine blue
le Ceinture de Flanelle : waist wrap made of flannel cotton, either natural or grey in color
les Chausettes : boot socks typically made of white cotton but other colors were used
les Bretelles : cotton suspenders, usually in plain white or with red ticking
la Casque: 'Adrian' Helmet, M1915, in light or dark blue-grey, with matte finish and 'flaming bomb' infantry insignia
le Bonnet de Police : (off-duty headwear) M1891/15 cap (preferred) or M1918 cap (acceptable), to be made from Horizon Blue (HB) wool
la Capote : M. 1915 greatcoat, double breasted and made from HB wool (preferred) or the ‘Poiret’ Model 1914, Type IV in HB wool (acceptable)
la Vareuse : M. 1914/15 (type II) jacket in HB wool
la Pantalon-Culottes : M. 1915 breeches made from HB wool and featuring infantry lining and reinforced knees (preferred), or M. 1914 breeches in HB wool
les Bandes Molletières : M. 1910. leggings or 'puttees', made from HB wool (preferred) or light or dark blue wool (acceptable)
les Chaussures : M. 1916 boots (preferred) or Ms. 1912 or 1917 boots (acceptable)
la Chemise : plain white, red-striped, black-striped, or blue-striped flannel cotton shirt, with crew collar and closed by three buttons
le Caleçon : underdrawers, plain or pin-striped cotton
la Cravate : neck tie made of cotton, preferably marine blue
le Ceinture de Flanelle : waist wrap made of flannel cotton, either natural or grey in color
les Chausettes : boot socks typically made of white cotton but other colors were used
les Bretelles : cotton suspenders, usually in plain white or with red ticking
Equipment
le Ceinturon : M. 1903/14 leather waist belt, in natural color, with either double or single-prong buckle; buckle can be either brass or Japanned
les Cartouchières : M. 1905/16 (preferred) or M. 1905/14 cartridge pouches in natural color leather; 3 pouches were worn, 2 in front and 1 in rear
les Bretelles de Suspension : M. 1892/14 leather braces in natural color
le Porte (Épée) Baïonnette : M. 1886/14 bayonet frog
le Bidon : M. 1877 2-liter canteen with HB wool (preferred) or dark blue wool cover
la Musette : M. 1892 haversack or "bread bag", typically made from canvas in natural and cachou shades; usually two were carried
le Masque à Gaz : ARS-17 gas mask and/or M2 gas mask; it is preferred that each member carry both masks, but the M2 is the only required mask
la Toile de Tente : M. 1897 or M. 1897/14 shelter half/tent canvas; usually used as a makeshift poncho
la Demi-Couverture : wool blanket made in various shades of brown, it was only a half-blanket meant to cover the legs and feet not covered by the capote
l'Havresac : M. 1893/14 knapsack, made of unpainted canvas around a wooden frame
l'Outil Portatif : portable entrenching tool, including: shovel, pick, hatchet, billhook, wire-cutters, and others
le Ceinturon : M. 1903/14 leather waist belt, in natural color, with either double or single-prong buckle; buckle can be either brass or Japanned
les Cartouchières : M. 1905/16 (preferred) or M. 1905/14 cartridge pouches in natural color leather; 3 pouches were worn, 2 in front and 1 in rear
les Bretelles de Suspension : M. 1892/14 leather braces in natural color
le Porte (Épée) Baïonnette : M. 1886/14 bayonet frog
le Bidon : M. 1877 2-liter canteen with HB wool (preferred) or dark blue wool cover
la Musette : M. 1892 haversack or "bread bag", typically made from canvas in natural and cachou shades; usually two were carried
le Masque à Gaz : ARS-17 gas mask and/or M2 gas mask; it is preferred that each member carry both masks, but the M2 is the only required mask
la Toile de Tente : M. 1897 or M. 1897/14 shelter half/tent canvas; usually used as a makeshift poncho
la Demi-Couverture : wool blanket made in various shades of brown, it was only a half-blanket meant to cover the legs and feet not covered by the capote
l'Havresac : M. 1893/14 knapsack, made of unpainted canvas around a wooden frame
l'Outil Portatif : portable entrenching tool, including: shovel, pick, hatchet, billhook, wire-cutters, and others
Mess and Personal Items
la Gamelle : M. 1852 mess-kit made from tinned metal
la Cuillère et Forchette : spoon and fork, made from tin
le Quart - M. 1852 tin cup
la Peau de Mouton : sheepskin jerkin for use in cold weather
le Tricot : knitted garment (knitted garments can include vests and sweaters, caps, mittens and scarves)
la plaque d'identité : ID tags, one worn around the wrist and one around the neck
la Gamelle : M. 1852 mess-kit made from tinned metal
la Cuillère et Forchette : spoon and fork, made from tin
le Quart - M. 1852 tin cup
la Peau de Mouton : sheepskin jerkin for use in cold weather
le Tricot : knitted garment (knitted garments can include vests and sweaters, caps, mittens and scarves)
la plaque d'identité : ID tags, one worn around the wrist and one around the neck
Armaments
Rifles: Lebel M.1886/93 Rifle or Berthier Mle 1907/15 (preferred), or the Berthier M. 1916 (acceptable)
Bayonets: Épéé Model 1886/15 with or without quillon (or hook) and with brass or steel-plated hilt (preferred), or the Épéé Model 1886 with quillon and nickel-plated hilt
Rifles: Lebel M.1886/93 Rifle or Berthier Mle 1907/15 (preferred), or the Berthier M. 1916 (acceptable)
Bayonets: Épéé Model 1886/15 with or without quillon (or hook) and with brass or steel-plated hilt (preferred), or the Épéé Model 1886 with quillon and nickel-plated hilt
