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"Soldiers from Senegal ..." Topic


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GamesPoet Supporting Member of TMP25 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 Supporting Member of TMP25 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.

Personal logo Grelber Supporting Member of TMP25 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 Supporting Member of TMP26 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

picture

GamesPoet Supporting Member of TMP27 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 Supporting Member of TMP27 Mar 2018 6:37 a.m. PST

Sorry GamesPoes,

I thought you were referring to early war. Late war uniforms are covered here:

link

picture

picture

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 Supporting Member of TMP30 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.

monk2002uk31 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 Supporting Member of TMP31 Mar 2018 9:53 a.m. PST

Ah! Excellent catch, thank you!

marco56 Supporting Member of TMP05 Apr 2018 10:49 a.m. PST

link
Mark

GamesPoet Supporting Member of TMP07 Apr 2018 2:52 a.m. PST

Oooh! Interesting.

Morand08 May 2018 5:41 a.m. PST

Links:

link

link

Amicalement
Morand

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