In Winter, this was changed to a papakha, a fleeced-cap which had flaps that could cover the ears and neck. Most soldiers wore a peaked cap with a visor made of khaki-coloured wool, linen or cotton (a furazhka). However, helmets remained in short supply for Russian troops, with mostly officers receiving helmets by 1916. These boots were of good quality (until later shortages) and German soldiers were known to replace their own boots with these when the opportunity arose. Image Credit: Unknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commonsīelts were worn over the brownish-green khaki jackets, with trousers loose around the hips yet tight at the knees and tucked into black leather boots, sapogi. Image credit: Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons Standing: Vasily Boldyrev, Ilia Odishelidze, V. Sitting (right to left): Yuri Danilov, Alexander Litvinov, Nikolai Ruzsky, Radko Dimitriev and Abram Dragomirov. Most Russian soldiers typically wore a brownish khaki uniform, though it could vary depending on where the soldiers were from, where they were serving, rank or even on the materials or fabric dyes that were available. Cossacks in particular continued their tradition of having a uniform distinct from the majority of the Russian army, wearing traditional Astrakhan hats and long coats. In general, Russia had well over 1,000 variations of uniform, and that was just in the army. Image Credit: Paul Castelnau, Ministère de la Culture, Wikimedia CommonsĪfter disastrous losses at the Battle of the Frontiers, a significant factor being the high visibility of French uniforms and the propensity for those visible uniforms to attract heavy artillery fire, the decision was made to replace the conspicuous uniforms.Ī uniform in a drab blue known as horizon blue had already been approved in June 1914, but was only issued in 1915.įrance was, however, the first nation to introduce helmets and French soldiers were issued with the Adrian helmet from 1915. In warmer climates, soldiers wore similar uniforms though in a lighter colour and made from thinner fabric with few pockets.Ī group of French infantrymen are seen in front of the entrance to a shelter in a front line trench. Variations on the standard uniform were issued depending on the nationality and role of the soldier. Rank was indicated by badges on the upper arm. The tunic had large breast pockets as well as two side pockets for storage. The change to khaki was in response to new technologies such as aerial reconnaissance and guns that didn’t smoke as much, which made soldiers’ visibility a problem on the battlefield. Judging from the character of this formative shot, the fact that it was taken during wartime just before the unit was deployed to the Western Front, the fact that it was taken at a British Army training base, and the fact that its informal sponsor, the Marquess of Winchester, is present in the centre of the photograph, I consider it likely that the picture was taken in an official capacity., Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons This image also appears in Rhodesia and the War, 1914–1917: A Comprehensive Illustrated Record of Rhodesia's Part in the Great War, published by Art Printing Works in Salisbury in 1918, again without record of its photographer. A formative shot of men of the original Rhodesian Platoon of the King’s Royal Rifle Corps, 1914.
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