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Post by oskar2ndchev on Feb 23, 2011 12:15:45 GMT -8
Occassionally I've had people ask me about doing a French Foreing Legion impression (no I'm not changing).  So, is it just a matter of changing insignia and having a French uniform only in an olive drab color? Or is there more to it? Patrick, could you chime in on this one? NOTE: This is primarily for educational purposes. If someone is interested in doing this impression, the usual rules on new unit formation apply. |
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1886lebel
GWHS 
151?me R?giment d'Infanterie de Ligne
Posts: 732
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Post by 1886lebel on Feb 23, 2011 15:32:02 GMT -8
If you are going to be doing Légion étrangère, called the Régiment de Marche de la Légion étrangère (RMLE) from 11 of November 1915, to the end of the war, from the 1917 to 1918 period you will use the same basic equipments as the Metropolitan French infantry Line Units but your uniform and helmet will be in French Brown Khaki called moutarde (mustard).
The collar insignia soutaches ( 2 braid lines) were green with either a green number 1 or 2 depending on which RMLE regiment you are portraying. The stripe on your pants will be yellow (jonquille).
The RMLE at this time period (1917-1918) used the following rifle, the Fusil de Infanterie Modèle 1907-1915.
Patrick
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Post by knirirr on Jan 10, 2013 3:10:15 GMT -8
... your uniform and helmet will be in French Brown Khaki called moutarde (mustard). The collar insignia soutaches ( 2 braid lines) were green with either a green number 1 or 2 depending on which RMLE regiment you are portraying. I found some mention of the fact that they were issued khaki uniforms from Jan. 1916, starting with greatcoats and other clothing items soon after, but there was a bit of a delay getting khaki paint for the helmets. So, until at least June they were still wearing the blue ones, apparently. There's an illustration here (link to a PDF scan) showing this appearance. It is suggested also that after the regiments de marche of the 1e and 2e RE were merged to form the RMLE that they standardised on "1" as the unit collar number, with some examples of "2" hanging around amongst veterans of that unit. I'm not sure why, though, for the patch design changed in 1916 and 1917 and I would have thought that the army would have handed out "1" to everyone at those points, if it was considered official. I'd be very interested in finding the appropriate khaki uniform specifically for representing the RMLE around early-mid 1916 (I'm in the UK, BTW), so if anyone has any suggestions as to good vendors then please do let me know. |
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1886lebel
GWHS
151?me R?giment d'Infanterie de Ligne
Posts: 732
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Post by 1886lebel on Jan 10, 2013 8:26:28 GMT -8
The first piece of uniform made in moutarde was the greatcoat which came out in 1915, followed by the pants, and leg wraps either very late 1915 and early 1916.
Helmets were painted in moutarde in 1916 around early spring or late spring so the HB was worn up till then.
As to the collar patches ... there was still two official regiments the 1st and 2nd which merged into a whole organization called the RMLE but still wore distinque numbers on them.
I at this time do not know who is making a excellent copy of the uniform items, I will have to ask my contacts who are doing this and get back with you.
Patrick
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Post by knirirr on Jan 11, 2013 1:05:49 GMT -8
As to the collar patches ... there was still two official regiments the 1st and 2nd which merged into a whole organization called the RMLE but still wore distinque numbers on them. May I ask for your reference for this, please? I'd like to compare with mine, for I only have one which actually describes the collar number situation (an Osprey); the Livre d'Or, Gazette des Uniformes (HS No. 6, IIRC) and Martin Windrow's book mention only the unit structure, not which collar numbers were worn or why. I at this time do not know who is making a excellent copy of the uniform items, I will have to ask my contacts who are doing this and get back with you. Thanks, that would be greatly appreciated. Of course, I could get a khaki greatcoat from the same source as my 1914 one but I was hoping to find what I seek elsewhere if at all possible. I was thinking of getting a Poiret model in horizon blue for 1915 but I had no luck there either, and have since decided that a 1916 impression might be more useful for displays, particularly at this event. |
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1886lebel
GWHS
151?me R?giment d'Infanterie de Ligne
Posts: 732
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Post by 1886lebel on Jan 11, 2013 8:14:33 GMT -8
I remember reading somewhere on a French forum that those in the RMLE who served in France wore the number 1 and those in Salonika wore a number 2 ... I will have to search for that post/article ... will take me a bit to find it though, it was buried in a bunch of stuff I was researching for on something. You can get with www.horizonbluewool.com/ and get on the list to have a HB Poiret overcoat made ... it may take a few months to get it made right now as they are backloged with orders to have stuff made. Patrick |
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Post by knirirr on Jan 11, 2013 12:11:37 GMT -8
I remember reading somewhere on a French forum that those in the RMLE who served in France wore the number 1 and those in Salonika wore a number 2 ... I will have to search for that post/article ... will take me a bit to find it though, it was buried in a bunch of stuff I was researching for on something. Thanks - that would be great if you can find it. If not, the at least Salonika gives me something for which to search. You can get with www.horizonbluewool.com/ and get on the list to have a HB Poiret overcoat made ... it may take a few months to get it made right now as they are backloged with orders to have stuff made. Ah, perhaps the backlog is why my previous attempt failed. I might try again next year, but I fancy going for 1916 now if I can somehow manage it. |
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