Help wanted- French uniforms

[Ironcladman]

 Can anyone please help me? I am trying to find some pictures of French line infantry uniforms from about 1880-1890, preferably not in their greatcoats, I am in need of details for the back of their jackets in particular.

 I need this info as we are looking to do the French as the next nation in our VSF range.

[Plynkes]

I'll have a look and see if I can find a pic. I might have some in my Eduard Detaille book, but they would be from the 1870s. Don't know if that would be any good to you.


The line infantry did tend to wear their greatcoats a lot, much more than the veste. So most of the pics seem to show them dressed that way. But I'll have a look.

[argsilverson]

I have also tried but in my library I could not find anything.
Osprey has 3-4 books on FPW 1870-1871

the only one book I could find about 1890's  is L & F Funcken's "arms and uniforms - 18th century to the present day". there is one full page of the french infantry at the end of 19th century plus one of cavalry.
the infantry there is with the greatcoat on. without it there is:
artillery, marines, turcos, zouaves and chasseurs alpin . By the way there is no drawing of any back except an engineer who has the greatcoat.

same situation also with their book on WW1. there is also a difference it has an alpin infantry with the greatcoat, too, which obviously is of a very later stage since it is of bleu horizont.

An idea: a small trip to Paris and you go to Musee d' Armee, maybe more info there.

 

[argsilverson]

Since I was not very helpful on the french uniforms, I take the liberty for a small suggestion:

Issue some women:
a.- in home service military uniforms and some special guns &
b.- nurses
c.- this nice lady in death hussars uniform!

see the relative thread here in LAF:
http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=7741.0

[Skrapwelder]

Very glad to hear that you are working on French.

I found a site with a large number of color pictures here:
http://www.worldwaronecolorphotos.com/assets/images/db_images/db_83-61.jpg
Here's one showing the backs of a bunch of soldiers.

Later than your interest but maybe of some help
Another site with no picture of the back but a description of an earlier Dark Blue tunic.
http://www.grantsmilitaria.com/militariaphotos/militaria_images.asp?key=57

[Ironcladman]

I am thinking of adding some women to the range as it grows, perhaps some in french maid uniforms 

[commissarmoody]

I saw some pics about 6-7 months ago in Viet-nam Journal, showing turn of the centrey and earl 20th French troops. I will see if I can find it.

[Bullshott]

Unfortunately when I last went to Paris the 1871-1945 section of Les Invalides was shut for renovation. I am in Paris again in early December and will take some uniform photos if I manage to get to Les Invalides (I can't promise anything as we have a very full schedule).

For tropical uniforms at the turn of the century look at sources for French trioops in the Boxer rebellion, Dahomey and Vietnam. There is a nice set of photos of light campaign kit (front and back) in the Osprey Boxer Rebellion book.

Fainlly, a note of caution - if you find pictures of the Foreign Legion be warned that mush of their uniforms and equipment were unique to this formation, so don't assume that the same kit is applicable to line infantry.

[Tommy20]

I think you'll find that they looked remarkably like this:


 
 

[Ironcladman]

A not very subtle hint, me thinks!

[Le matou rouge]

Difficult question you ask, Mr Ironclad.

From what I know and the few research I made on the period (1880-90) :

- you often seen the infantry man in his coat ("capote") because it is its fighting dress - as strange as it seems !

- for the every day life, they had a jacket ("vareuse") so short that it was called "ras-de-cul" (approx close to the ass   )  but it wasn't wear under the coat to fight !





- but it seems the infantry man had also another jacket, straight with 7 buttons, only used on parade and very rarely. (that's why the pics are so rare but you could see one here (scroll down until the third model) :

http://lagrandeguerre.cultureforum.net/coiffes-uniformes-equipements-individuels-et-collectifs-f33/l-uniforme-francais-pendant-la-premiere-guerre-t6182.htm


On the other hand, officers and specialized troops had full of anothers "vareuses" ...
 
I hope you keep up your french project - it's VSF after all 

meow,
Matt

 

[Ironcladman]

Great stuff lads, looks like it'll have to be coats after all.
Does anyone know what the back of the coat look like?
Sorry to be such a pain.
Thanks for your help and suggestions.

Vive la France!!

[Le matou rouge]

Does anyone know what the back of the coat look like?

Easier !







and...




meow,
Matt

[Ironcladman]

Great, thank you Matt.

[argsilverson]

Great stuff lads, looks like it'll have to be coats after all.
Does anyone know what the back of the coat look like?
Sorry to be such a pain.
Thanks for your help and suggestions.

Vive la France!!

be careful, all my references suggest that the greatcoat was worn always tucked in the back, like the WW1 or FPW uniforms!