GamesPoet  | 25 Mar 2018 11:30 a.m. PST |
Wondering if soldiers from Senegal fighting under the French during WW1 had commanders from Senegal up to a certain rank, and then at some rank they were being led by French commanders at what point? Also, any good sources, besides Osprey, for information on uniforms worn by the soldiers from Senegal? |
| T Corret | 25 Mar 2018 12:45 p.m. PST |
My grandfather served beside Senegalese troops. I suspect usual French gear, with the helmet painted a tan color. He said they went over the top with rifles slung on their backs and their 18" bayonets in their hands. They had to bring back German right ears to their officers to prove their valour. The Germans both feared and hated them. |
 Grelber | 25 Mar 2018 9:46 p.m. PST |
The officers were mostly French. Looking through my notes, I found this:
The Tirailleurs had a few black lieutenants and two black captains prior to 1914. These were usually the sons of African rulers or notables defeated by the French.
This was from:
Echenberg, Myron. Colonial Conscripts: The Tirailleurs Senegalais in French West Africa, 1857-1960. Heinemann Educational Books, Inc., Portsmouth, NH. 1991. If you can find a copy of the long out of print Funcken books on WWI, they have a nice picture of Senegalais in both blue and khaki uniforms. Al from Askari Miniatures has collected information and pictures on French colonial and posted them in painting guides on the Askari website, Here: link I believe you have to go through his ordering system to get these painting guides, though they are free. Last time I looked, the Funcken picture was included. Grelber
(Who needs to place another order with Askari this year) |
| Big Red | 26 Mar 2018 5:53 a.m. PST |
This volume has excellent color illustrations of Senegalese uniforms as well as that of the rest of the French Army in 1914: link
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| GamesPoet | 27 Mar 2018 4:11 a.m. PST |
Thank you gentlemen. I've seen some pictures of them wearing hats and helmets. The hats seem to have been either red or brown and the helmets blue of tan. Getting ready to paint some of Forgotten Glorious' figures for the French in WW1, including using some of the their heads with the hats for some soldiers from Senegal. It seem like those figures are wearing the French army coats that were blue, and wondering if I can get away with painting the pants as being the tan color or not? |
| Big Red | 27 Mar 2018 6:37 a.m. PST |
Sorry GamesPoes, I thought you were referring to early war. Late war uniforms are covered here: link
The back cover shows, lower right, shows the 1917 uniform with light khaki pants and blue helmet. A 1918 illustration shows an all khaki uniform and khaki helmet. |
| GamesPoet | 30 Mar 2018 7:16 a.m. PST |
Thanks for the additional info! I'm leaning towards using the lighter colors for the clothing that can be seen on the Forgotten Glorious figures being worn under the long over coats. And then having the long over coats painted in the French blue. I haven't found reference to the long coats being in other colors, and it seems some of the soldiers from Senegal were issued the longer coats. |
| monk2002uk | 31 Mar 2018 2:34 a.m. PST |
The long overcoats were available in the khaki colour. There is an example bottom right of Jouineau's cover illustration above. Robert |
| GamesPoet | 31 Mar 2018 9:53 a.m. PST |
Ah! Excellent catch, thank you! |
| marco56 | 05 Apr 2018 10:49 a.m. PST |
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| GamesPoet | 07 Apr 2018 2:52 a.m. PST |
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| Morand | 08 May 2018 5:41 a.m. PST |
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is back from Council of Five Nations.
