Help needed - Belgian uniforms WW1

[former user]

I have also stumbled over this uniform, that runs under carabiniers too (cyclists)  for which I don't have the slightest explanation nor source


brigade models makes a handful of miniatures for them (sans biciclettes), which I found awful to paint

[fastolfrus]

Weren't the Funckens Belgian?

If so, I would have hoped that their sources should be reasonable....(although from memory some of their other stuff is a bit hit and miss)

[Johan]

Colours should be much darker. These are the Carabiniers-wielrijders (carabineer-cyclists)
The guy with the dogs is wearing an overcoat.

[Sir_Theo]

Those photographs are fantastic! The prevalence of dogs in them gives me some modelling ideas too. After a recent trip to Belgium I was toying with the idea of picking up some Belgian troops to compliment my 1914 BEF, now I must get some, and some four legged friends to accompany them!

[Flemish mercenary]

Hope this can help:

http://www.abl1914.be/uniform/uniform1914.htm

[fred]

Thanks, that link is helpful - I assume it is in Flemish?
Google translate only knows dutch, which works fairly well. But can you help with a couple of words
Bies (along the top)
Genie (one of the troop types)
Jachthoorn (in the badges column)

[David]

Looking at the list
Bies? piping?
Blauwgrijs? Blue/gray ?   


The color combination used by the Belgian Army, 1914
 
Unit   .............Headgear......Tunic.......Bies..........Pants........Seam......Bies...............Badge
                            
General   ......Kepi.............Dark.......Crimson.....Dark......................Dark   
General Staff...Kepi   Green   Crimson   Green   Crimson       
Infantry   ......Shako   ..........Dark.......Red..........Blauwgrijs...Black......   Black   .......Regiment Number
Grenadiers   Bears Hat   Dark   Red   Dark   Red   Red   Flaming grenade
Hunters Foot   Shako   Green   Yellow   Blauwgrijs   Green       Regiment Number
Carabineers   Hat   Green   Yellow   Blauwgrijs   Yellow   Green   Jachthoorn
Carabineers Cyclists   Kepi   Green   Yellow   Blauwgrijs   Yellow       
Guides (1st & 2nd)Kolback   Green Crimson Crimson Green Yellow Regiment Number
1é Lansiers   Czapka   Dark   Crimson   Blauwgrijs   Crimson   White   Regiment Number
2é Lansiers   Czapka   Dark   Crimson   Blauwgrijs   Crimson   White   Regiment Number
3é Lansiers   Czapka   Dark   White   Blauwgrijs   White   Yellow   Regiment Number
4é Lansiers   Czapka   Dark   Blue   Blauwgrijs   Blue   Yellow   Regiment Number
5É Lansiers   Czapka   Dark   White   Blauwgrijs   White   Yellow   Regiment Number
1é Hunters to Horse   Shako   Dark   Yellow   Blauwgrijs   Yellow   White   
2é Hunters to Horse   Shako   Dark   Red   Blauwgrijs   Red   White   
4é Hunters to Horse   Shako   Dark   Red   Blauwgrijs   Red   White   Regiment Number
Field Artillery   Talpack   Dark   Red   Blauwgrijs       Red   Crossed guns
Mounted Artillery   Talpack   Dark   Red   Blauwgrijs       Red   Crossed guns
Garrison Artillery   Shako   Dark   Red   Blauwgrijs       Red   Letter A (ntwerp), N (amur), L (Iege)
Genie   Shako   Dark   Red   Blauwgrijs       Red   Helmet, or number 1-5 for special troops will
Train   Shako   Dark   Light   Blauwgrijs   Light       
Administration   Kepi   Dark   Light   Blauwgrijs   Light       
Gendarmerie   Bears Hat   Dark   Red   Blauwgrijs           Flaming grenade
Medical Service   Kepi   Dark   Crimson   Black       Crimson   Esculaap
 
In 1863, the minutes did with tassel cap was introduced in the cavalry and artillery. The colored version remained in service until 1914 Next color combinations were used:
Note: This schedule is applicable only to the headgear of the soldiers, sergeants and petty officers. For musicians, trumpeters and officers a different style was used.
 
Unit       band   piping   brush
1é Hunters to Horse   Dark   White   Yellow   White
2é Hunters to Horse   Dark   White   Red   White
1é Lansiers   Dark   White   Crimson   White
2é Lansiers   Dark   White   Yellow   White
3é Lansiers   Dark   Yellow   White   Yellow
4é Lansiers   Dark   Yellow   Light   Yellow
Regiment Guides   Green   Yellow   Crimson   Yellow
Artillery   Dark   Red   Red   Red

[fraserk]

Thanks so much!

Have I missed something thought? Hat colours?

In photos they look lighter blue/grey

[David]

It depends if it is covered with waterproof covering(Black)
or same colour as jacket for Infantry with piping Red

[Flemish mercenary]

EVOLUTION OF UNIFORM 1914-18

http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?398692-WW1-RESEARCH-THREAD

[fraserk]

great link - thanks!

[WillieB]

Making it a bit more complicated again.

Infantry and grenadiers had dark blueish grey trousers with red piping up to 1911. Afterwards they changed to dark blue piping but... the uniforms were only replaced when worn out.
Some regiments ordered the red piping removed, other still carried it and some already had the new, blue one.

Same for the Chasseurs.
Up to 1911 dark yellow piping, afterwards medium green. Same chaos as for the infantry although most had green by late 1914.

The so called Yser cap introduced in late 1914 was actually based on the Genie- (Engineers) kepi and proved extremely popular.