" Red Kepi Ever Worn in Combat by 1914 French?" Topic

I'm painting a mass of beautiful Peter Pig French 1914 infantry with the dark blue "muff" completely covering the otherwise red kepis. I remember how splendid the red kepis looked on the 1870 French I painted several years ago and find myself longing to paint the WW I kepis red also. Is there any evidence that French infantry fought in 1914 without their blue muffs and with their their red kepis visible?

Near as I can tell from a quick check of my references the red kepis if worn in combat at all didn't last too long, as by October 1914 wearing the blue cap cover was compulsory in the French Army.

I may be wrong, but I think you could get away with red kepis if you're depicting troops during the very first battles of the war… or mix 'em up to represent the more conservative/cluelessly led units from the more sensibly led units…

Hope this helps!

Leland R. Erickson
Metal Express
metal-express.net

There is indirect evidence. Black and white photographs show variations in the 'colour' of the kepi or its cover. In some photographs it is clear that some men have kepis that match the garance 'colour' of the trousers (excluding those units that started the war with blue trousers, such as the colonial regiments). FWIIW I paint territorials with the red kepi.

Robert

St. Cyr graduates apparently went in to battle in August 1914 with white plumes on their kepis and wearing white gloves.I doubt very many returned from battle with those things intact. So I agree that if you are gaming the Frontiers then go for it, but they would be out of place after that.

Your toys, your money – you don't need anyone's permission/approval to do what you obviously want to do.

I've considered this question, also. Thru Google I found pics of red, dark blue, light blue, & blue-grey kepis all supposed to have been worn in 1914. I also found contemporary German photos of early war French POWs which had been "hand tinted" showing red kepis with red trousers.
I 2nd Paul B.

Go with a unit or two in the red kepi…seems rightly popular to give early war French troops a bit colour.
How long did the zouaves keep their style of uniform?

I have a few scattered around each unit. When reservists reported to their depot, every piece of gear may not have been fully stocked. Also, " "Sarge, my kepi cover got wet last night and I left it out to dry. This morning it was gone."

Pretty easy to justify, if you feel justification is necessary.