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**JS1** · 06-24-2012, 11:51 AM

French WW1 Infantry Grenade Thrower soldier

Mannequin #1: French WW1 Infantry Grenade Thrower soldier

This enlisted man of the 55th Infantry Regiment is situated around the spring of 1918. The overcoat has been removed and he is just wearing bis Blue Horizon tunic. He is armed with a Lebel rifle fitted with a grenade launcher. The leather pouch for this launcher can be seen at the right side of his belt. Note the presence of two gas make cans. One for the A.R.S gas mask in a cylindrical can and a reserve M2 gas mask in a blue horizon painted rectangular can. He also wears a 2 liters water bottle (bidon) with an cup (quart). Initially, a 1 litres bottles was carried, which proved inadequate. it was only in 1916 that the 2 litres bottles was issued to the troops. Before that, the men sometimes wore two bottles or added civilian type water bottles. Finally, pour soldier is also equipped with an Adrian infantry helmet and a bread bag (musette).

__________________________________________________ ____________
Auferstanden aus Ruinen
Und der Zukunft zugewandt,
Lass uns dir zum Guten dienen,
...................
http://www.germanuniformsandequipment.co.nr

**JS1** · 06-24-2012, 11:58 AM

French WW1 58mm trench mortar supply

Mannequin #2: French WW1 58mm trench mortar supply

This man from the 55th infantry regiment is equipped with a transport system for the "crapouillots 58" (58mm trench mortar), and bring supplies to the front line troops. A dangerous task to perform. The transport system is (unfortunately) a reconstruction (thanks to my father). The drawing which served as a base for the design came from a period trench artillery manual. The side cap is a commercial model with the trench mortar insignia.

Note: the two period photos can be seen on the French WW1 forum: http://lagrandeguerre.cultureforum.net/

Mannequin #3: French WW1 58mm trench mortar supply

The next soldier - yours truly - wears a blue horizon overcoat with an original French gas mask hood.

__________________________________________________ ____________
Auferstanden aus Ruinen
Und der Zukunft zugewandt,
Lass uns dir zum Guten dienen,
...................
http://www.germanuniformsandequipment.co.nr

**JS1** · 06-24-2012, 12:03 PM

French WW1 Commander of the AS 500

Mannequin #4: French WW1 Commander of the AS 500

In 1916, the "l'artillerie d'assaut" (AS) was created which formed the base for the future "régiment d’artillerie d'assaut" units. On april 16, 1917, 132 Schneider tanks attacked Berry-au-Bac, the first tank attack in military history. Out of this first group of armored tanks, the tank regiments (Régiment d'Artillerie Assaut or R.A.S.) were composed between May and December 1918. They usually had one 'medium tank group' and three 'light tank battalions', the latter called called BCL (Bataillons de chars légers). The regiments were numbered 500 to 509. For example, the 1st battalion of the 501st regiment consisted of the 301, 302 and 303 A.S (Artillerie Spéciale), the 2nd battalion out of the 304, 305 and 306 A.S., the 3rd battalion out of the 307, 308 and 309 A.S. Sometimes, a 'heavy tank group' was attached to a tank regiment.

This tunic belongs to a commander of the AS 500, the depot regiment. This officer is probably an instructor and his tunic feature the machine gunners insignia model 1908 (crossed canons). The six chevrons - for 3 1/2 years - denote his presence at the front, so the man joined the War probably in August 1914.

The man wears a standard issue artillery Adrian helmet, an officers belt with cross strap, a trench knife and a metal map case, finished in Blue Horizon blue paint.

This exact tunic was published in the French Mil Magazine 276.

__________________________________________________ ____________
Auferstanden aus Ruinen
Und der Zukunft zugewandt,
Lass uns dir zum Guten dienen,
...................
http://www.germanuniformsandequipment.co.nr

**JS1** · 06-24-2012, 12:09 PM

Mannequin #5 : French 501st RCC (Régiment de chars de combat) in 1926

After the War (WW1), the RAS regiments were renamed in May, 1920 into the Régiment de chars de combat (RCC). This leather tunic of the 501st RCC is dated 1923, although it still follows the pattern seen in WW1. The regulation of the 1920 for example described the use of sleeve adjustment straps. The use of the accolade above the double row of buttons does not conform to post-WW1 régulations either. This jacket - which came directly from the family of the owner - belonged to C.Marié of the AS 304 who went with his regiment to Upper Silésie between October 1920 and July 1922. The jacket features three decoration (ruban). The "croix de guerre" can be seen in the middle at to the right is a colonial distinction. C. Marié was a captain in the 501 RCC in the middle of the 1930'ties. The "fourragère" at his left shoulder is in the colors of the "croix de guerre" and was won by the 2nd BCL (to which the AS 304 belonged to). The cord is decorated with the "classement de mécanicien pilote modèle 1923" and a small tank, insignia of the AS.

The mannequin is completed with a rare tank helmet Model 1926. This exact jacket is published in the French Mil Magazine 276.

more later

__________________________________________________ ______________
Auferstanden aus Ruinen
Und der Zukunft zugewandt,
Lass uns dir zum Guten dienen,
...................
http://www.germanuniformsandequipment.co.nr

**berkenkruis** · 06-24-2012, 03:39 PM

very special collection, really nice

**hayleyp** · 06-24-2012, 05:18 PM

wow

i like your collection ,well done

**Lou58** · 06-24-2012, 06:04 PM

JS1 outstanding collection and well displayed

JS1 was one of them you dress up

Lou

**Mark Broughton** · 06-24-2012, 06:58 PM

Unique collection and well done.
Mark

**Adler 1** · 06-25-2012, 06:43 AM

Very beautiful!

Adler 1

**JS1** · 06-25-2012, 09:26 AM

Hi All

many thanks for your feedback. I now added a new page on my website to store the mannequin info using PDF files

Hope to do a new photo shoot soon

JS1

__________________________________________________ ______________
Auferstanden aus Ruinen
Und der Zukunft zugewandt,
Lass uns dir zum Guten dienen,
...................
http://www.germanuniformsandequipment.co.nr

**JS1** · 06-27-2012, 07:12 AM

Hi,

before leaving the French sector, and going to the Eastern Front in 1914-1917, I like to show two more French WW1 photos.

French WW1 Pilot Helmet:

The French airman (pilotes aéronautiques ) primarily used the Roold helmet. A brown high construction leather helmet which was manufactured in Paris. As from 1917, also simplified models appeared (casque ROOLD simplifié) in large quantities. The helmet is photographed with an inevitable attribute, the pilot’s goggles.

French WW1 gas protection:

A small display of typical French gas masks used in WW1.

The 1916 M2 gas mask with its tissue bag (right);

A metal rectangular M2 gas mask can (upper left, painted in blue Blue Horizon;

A ‘modern’ 1917 ARS gas mask with a removable filter (left);

Meyrowitz Rubber Gas goggles (Lunette Meyrowitz) which were used in combination with the 1915 TN (Tambuté nouveau modèle) conical shaped bandage (middle). The TN gasmask and its anti-gas goggles were carried in a metal painted grey-blue flattened oval section canister.

Finally an early white gas mask hood French can be seen, the “cagoules à l'hyposulfite”.

The M2 gas mask :

The ARS gas mask:

JS1

__________________________________________________ ______________
Auferstanden aus Ruinen
Und der Zukunft zugewandt,
Lass uns dir zum Guten dienen,
...................
http://www.germanuniformsandequipment.co.nr

**Adam S.** · 06-27-2012, 09:06 AM

Missed this thread until now - fantastic! I saw quite a nice selection of WWI French militaria while visiting Paris in April. And yours would fit right in!

**Spanish Freiwillige** · 06-27-2012, 09:36 AM

very nice WWI french items and beautifully displayed.....

**JS1** · 06-28-2012, 09:14 AM

Thanks Adam and Spanische Freiwillige !

I would like to continue with some Imperial Russian impressions from the Eastern Front during WW1. Of course, the Russians also fought to a limited extend in France, so the uniforms and equipment could be seen at the Western Front as well.

Unfortunatly, because this stuff is so rare and difficult to find, I only have one Model 1912 overcoat. However, I do have some nice selection of equipment, which will allow to 'create' several mannequins.

Mannequin #6 : Russian WW1 Infantry Soldier, end 1916

After the Russian-Japanese war of 1905, and the defeat of the Russian army, a major reorganization took place based on the lessons learned during the war up to 1910. These modernizations and the mobilization of reservist which followed, enabled Russia to put over 3.1 million men in battle in August 1914. Before the mobilization, the peace–time army counted 1.4 million soldiers. Up to 1917, more than 14 million men would serve in the army.

This enlisted men wears the Model 1912 overcoat. which was approved on January 19th 1912 for infantry and guard units, but excluding artillery and horse cavalry. The grey coat was single breasted and had 5 metal buttons down the front for decoration only (they were eliminated afterwards as seen on this example). To close the overcoat, the right panel of the overcoat has four metal hooks and the left side four corresponding rings.

The soldier is equipped with one ammunition pouch, and a gas mask, named Zelinsky-Kummant. Nikolay Dmitrievich Zelinsky (1861-1953) (Николай Дмитриевич Зелинский) – considered a politically unreliable scientist - was involved in research projects at the central chemical laboratory in Petersburg and was a lecturer at Polytechnic institute. Zelinsky was already experienced in the process of purifying Russian vodka using "activated charcoal". Charcoal was carefully prepared and burned to create activated charcoal, which has millions of tiny pores between the carbon atoms. Activated charcoal is good in binding itself with other carbon-based impurities ("organic" chemicals), while other chemicals are not attracted to carbon at all so they pass right through. This means that an activated charcoal in a filter will remove certain impurities while ignoring others until it has bonded completely and eventually will stop working. Preparing the charcoal and filtering Vodka was a complex technology at the time. Zelinsky believed that active charcoal could also be used in absorbing large quantity of chemical poison gasses and based on his previous experiences he started to experiment with charcoal and different methods to activate it, so it would be most efficient in binding with battlefield gasses. Several successful tests were carried out, and it became clear in November 1915 that active charcoal (made of pure birch coal) offered the best protection and designs of gas masks using this were in progress. Zelinsky got acquainted with engineer M.I. Kummant (Куммант) in June 1915, who made a design for a gas mask. The design was based on a filter containing activated coal (the Zelinsky part) attached to a rubber head mask (the Kummant element of the mask), hence its name Zelinsky-Kummant Gas mask (Зелинский- Куммант). Successful and comparative tests were held in Minsk in 1916.

The following photo was posted on this forum by UNO :

Also of interest is his large knife. The Bebout was a long curved knife used by artillery (as from 1909 except for horse and mountain artillery), police (as from 1907), MG (as from 1908) and horse forward scouts (as from 1910). During the war, EM from MG units also received a Bebout with a straight blade. The knife had the same dimensions as the curved knife, i.e. an overall length of 23.6" (60 cm). The blade (клинка) measured 17.2" (44 cm) in length with a width of 1.3" (3.3cm).

The next Russian soldier will be a medic.

JS1

__________________________________________________ ______________
Auferstanden aus Ruinen
Und der Zukunft zugewandt,
Lass uns dir zum Guten dienen,
...................
http://www.germanuniformsandequipment.co.nr

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