Period model figures - French Army

No model scene is complete without the human figure.

The driver of this Baldwin Gas Mechanical adds much to the sylvan scene. A fine16mm model was made from a Wrightscale  kit by Jeremy Ledger. The period represented is post 1918, on a rural branchline which has bought war-surplus locomotives. Courtesy Jeremy Ledger

 The figurines can be as life-like as possible or sharp caricatures, or something in between, depending on what sort of artist you are; make no mistake, this is an artistic process.

Inspection failed! Another style of figure stands beside an unpainted Wrightscale  Baldwin Gas Mechanical 'kit-bashed' to represent the well-loved Moelwyn. The period is post 1918. Copyright MD Wright

What you will need is imagination - some ideas about what your figures are doing, whether contemplating mechanical breakdown, escaping the eye of the sergeant major or having a rest.

Soldier circa 1814 Copyright MD Wright

We hope that these pictures, showing who wore what, and when, help.
The print above, taken from a water-colour by Raffet, shows a soldier (fantassin) of the Napoleonic period in active service uniform. (You should see the parade ground version!) His coat is blue with red wristbands, his trousers white. His hat is a black leather 'shako'. In certain ways, this is still the uniform of the 18th century when the soldier of the line wore a blue coat with red wristbands, tight white trousers and white leather gaiters, but the felt two-cornered hat has been replaced by the leather shako, and the trousers are longer and looser.

 

Infantryman of 1840. Print from late 19th century photo of model in the French Army Museum. Copyright MD Wright

This print shows a member of the infantry as seen in Algeria in the1840s. General Bugead, who was in command, realised that the uniform had to be modernised, especially the shako.. The locals found the foreigners almost comical - they called them 'chaps who went around with sheaves of corn on their heads' Shakoes were replaced by képis in blue fabric, with red band and a black leather visor. The massive straps crossed over the chest have been replaced by belt and shoulder straps. The blue coat remains, trimmed with red epaulettes. White trousers were impossible to wash so they have been replaced by red ones. The képi, blue great-coat and red trousers were adopted by the rest of the army.

Infantryman of the Line 1870, taken from a photograph in the French Army Museum. Copyrght MD Wright

This was the infantry uniform at the time of the Franco-Prussian War. The great-coat is blue with red collar and epaulettes, trousers red, inserted into white canvas gaiters. The képi, much reduced in height, is now red with a blue band. The Chassepot/gun, shown here with bayonette mounted, was the very latest in rifles. It had a range of 1.2 km and could fire 6-7 rounds per minute. The French were counting on the chassepot, as well as cran et élan (spirit and sheer guts), to win the 1870-1 war but fate decreed otherwise.

The period is early 1915 and this watercolour by Maurice Orange shows the French how they would like their soldiers to appear; supervising German prisoners of war. Copyright MD Wright

When they went into the First World War, French uniform had changed little since 1870. The képi was still red/blue and the blue great-coat and red trousers would have been recognisable. The French had learned one thing from the victorious Prussians; they issued the 'poilus' with boots.

The Germans felt about the Sénégalair tirailleurs (infantry) much what they felt about the the Scots - a hearty if not complimentary respect! This tirailleur has been wounded in action. Copyright MD Wright

The French could call upon colonial troops during the First World War. Photographs show them being welcomed by an enthusiastic 'metropolitan' population. In their honour, the children's breakfast food Banania was created, complete with caricature African on the box. This all seems politically incorrect in the 21st century, but the French (and the British) were learning just what powerful allies they had in the people of Africa. From sub-Saharan Africa came the tirailleurs, as shown above. Like the poilu he wears a blue great-coat, but blue trousers and blue puttees. He had his own design of hat.

Spahi Copyright MD Wright

The spahi - soldier from North Africa - has his own characteristic uniform and red fez. He is not wearing his great-coat because it would get in the way of his crutches - he sustained a leg wound in the War.

In the French trenches December 1915. Water colour F. Flameng. Copyright MD Wright

 By 1915, the French authorities had redesigned their uniform to fit with the sombre realities of war. In action, the képi was replaced by the helmet, and the trench-cape was adopted. The red trousers, a gift to enemy snipers, were replaced by blue-grey ones and the great-coat was no longer adorned with flashes of red. The blue in the uniform was replaced by the greyish French Horizon Blue. This watercolour by François Flameng shows a trench at Souchez in December 1915.
French horizon blue was also used for the livery of their Narrow gauge rolling stock.
For further ideas, take a look at mikesmarvellousmodels.blospot.co.uk 

Colonel Péchot and Australia

French military railways and Australia met at two crucial times.
From 1876, the Decauville Company became famous world-wide for the manufacture of cheap, reliable portable railways for agricultural and industrial use. Their early systems were 40 or 50cm gauge, sold to farming and industrial companies in France and some of Europe. A 50 cm gauge railway used by the public for the 1878 Universal Exhibition of Paris helped to put Decauville's name out to the wider French public. Then he became known in the English-speaking world.  On December 15th 1883, management and staff of the whole factory enjoyed a large sit-down celebratory dinner. The Boss's younger brother, Émile Decauville, had just come back from Australia where he had supervised the building of a 52km  network of 60cm railway for the Homebush plantation. near Mackay, Queensland.

This was significant for the company. Of the first twenty five locomotives the Company ever sold, five went to Australia. These were 6 tonne 0-4-0T manufactured by Couillet. 450 wagons were also purchased. A long association with Van de Welde, as agents in Australia, had begun. The locomotive preserved at Gembrook is very similar to these first Couillets.

 http://members.ozemail.com.au/~telica/Images/0197-Carbon_three_quarter_front_at_Gembroo_2006.jpg


The order to Australia came at a significant period for both Paul Decauville and Prosper Péchot, then a captain in the French Artillery. Péchot had seen potential in the Decauville system; if 60 cm portable track were improved, he reasoned, it could be rapidly laid and, using locomotives rather than horses, carry the sort of traffic required by a modern army. From 1880 onwards, he worked on a design. Decauville must have been impressed by 60cm and locomotive haulage because from 1880, he promoted it more and more. In late 1882, Péchot submitted his designs for a military system based on 60cm portable railways to the French Minister of Defence (in French, Ministry of War). In his covering letter, and in the Memorandum itself, he emphasised the practical trials performed at the Decauville works.

One of the drawings illustrating Péchot's 1882 memorandum to the Minister of Defence. This was revolutionary in a number of ways. A locomotive is seen on portable track, hauling itself up a gradient (cable at front). The train consists of  a substantial gun supported by no less than four six-wheeled bogies. The effect was to spread the load over twelve axles. Drawing courtesy of Raymond PECHOT

His superiors simply filed it and this could have been the end of the story, were it not for the determination of Prosper Péchot and Paul Decauville. With Decauville's support, practical and financial, Péchot fought to have his system adopted. If Decauville hadn't scored some successes with 60cm, he would have been in no position to do so. After a struggle, in 1888, the Péchot system was officially adopted by the Army and named 'artillerie 88'
In 1889, the Great Paris Exhibition - which took place under the newly-built Eiffel Tower - was served by another Decauville narrow gauge network. This was 60cm gauge, worked by locomotives. It truly wowed the public who bought 6.3 million train tickets. The majority of locomotives heading these trains were 0-2-0-0-2-0T Mallets. Each carried the name of some commercial success for Decauville. On 15th June 1889, Decauville No 74, 'Australia' was the fifth Mallet to join the engine shed.
As they went around the Exhibition, trains passed the largest and finest of the transporters designed for the Péchot system - a 48 tonne gun carried on a system of 16 bogies, parked under the Eiffel Tower. We hope that the two gentlemen enjoyed that time. Had they known it, these were almost the happiest times for both.
The years after marked more personal and professional disappointments for Péchot and near bankruptcy for Decauville. After he was 'constructively dismissed' there was some new interest from Australia but 2'6" and 3'6" were the preferred gauges for official ng railways. The name of Péchot was not widely known. This changed during the First World War.
Australia and New Zealand both raised armies to help the 'mother country'. These were originally destined for the Western Front but, as we know, they were diverted to the Gallipoli campaign where they acquitted themselves very well. These ANZACs were landed at a cove on the western side of the Gallipoli peninsula midway between Cape Helles and Suvla Bay. (Even in 1920, it was still known as Anzac cove.)
The plan was for the Allied troops to cross the peninsula, cutting off the Turkish troops at the southern end. 2'6" field railways were to be provided by the British to supply the advance. Things did not go according to the Allied plan. By May, they were trying to slog their way up the peninsula. Many ANZAC troops were moved south to the Helles area to act as strategic reserve for the second battle of Krithia 5th May 1915. Here they acquitted themselves well, inflicting heavy casualties. Here also they encountered 60 cm railways, possibly not for the first time.
The Allied forces had never moved far from their beach heads, and so the 2'6" stayed packed up and was later pressed into use to defend the area around the Suez Canal. (If Turkey was the 'sick man of Europe' he was proving to be less unhealthy than expected.) The Allies did, however, lay hands on 60cm gauge material. 
The British had systems at Suvla Bay and Cape Helles. Worked by horses, material could best be described as 'an assortment of wagons'. It is interesting that the fore-ruinners of the WD A-class ie simple wooden-bodied four-wheel wagons were recorded in use. The wheelbase of this A-class wagon was 3'; later versions also did duty as bogies for bogie wagons.

French troops at Seddul Bahr had two pet vultures. Behind them is Péchot track. Photo copyright M.D. Wright

Photos show light railways in use around the French sector eg Sedd-el-Bahr. We can be confident that ANZAC troops saw 60cm gauge in action before they even reached Europe.