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General => Armed Forces => World War One => Topic started by: snowball on Friday 28 September 18 11:54 BST (UK)

Title: Uniform mystery - French or otherwise?
Post by: snowball on Friday 28 September 18 11:54 BST (UK)

Hi, looking for some expertise on a couple of nice pictures a friend has provided of her grandfather in uniform. He is believed to be Togolese, with the women in one of the pictures are apparently in Breton dress. Interestingly, the gentleman's surname is believed to be Hughes.

Could anyone start by identifying the uniform and regiment?
Many thanks
Rob

Title: Re: Uniform mystery - French or otherwise?
Post by: Salty on Friday 28 September 18 12:39 BST (UK)

No Idea sorry, but it looks very Italian to me.

Title: Re: Uniform mystery - French or otherwise?
Post by: Creasegirl on Friday 28 September 18 12:59 BST (UK)

I just googled and it says that from 1884 togo was a german colony but from 1914 it went back to french.  Maybe the photos are from around 1914 if breton costumes.

Title: Re: Uniform mystery - French or otherwise?
Post by: Regorian on Friday 28 September 18 13:02 BST (UK)

British and French attacked German Togoland and captured it in 1914. Don't recognise the uniforms but French in style. Probably as worn in French Colony of Dahomey. Forage cap and unit patches on collars look French.

Title: Re: Uniform mystery - French or otherwise?
Post by: MaxD on Friday 28 September 18 13:34 BST (UK)

I agree with Regorian, French tropical uniform.  Some examples - Google "Togoland 1914"

MaxD

Title: Re: Uniform mystery - French or otherwise?
Post by: djm297 on Friday 28 September 18 15:35 BST (UK)

http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/254296-ae-f-trench-overseas-caps/page-2

This website has a cap just like the picture, which indicates that it was issued to French colonial troops 1917-1919.

The Breton costume appears to be from the Finisterre region, -headdresses varied from region to region, and almost from village to village:

In WW1 there was a military camp at Pontanezen , Brest-which was used mainly by American troops.

Hope this helps

djm297

Title: Re: Uniform mystery - French or otherwise?
Post by: Regorian on Saturday 29 September 18 08:08 BST (UK)

It does :). That 'style' of forage cap goes back to the French Revolutionary War (1793 to 1802 as far as Britain concerned). Evidently, Americans copied it. Lot of French influence in U.S. Army in 1920's and 1930's.   

Title: Re: Uniform mystery - French or otherwise?
Post by: snowball on Saturday 29 September 18 14:12 BST (UK)

Thanks for everyone's help and expertise. It has led me to some French records that I believe might relate to the brother of the soldier in the pictures (his widow presumed to be in picture 2). A Valentin Joseph Hughes, native of Dahomey, who was killed in the Marne in September 1915. He was a corporal in the French 5th Colonial Infantry Regiment 
Rob

Title: Re: Uniform mystery - French or otherwise?
Post by: Treetotal on Saturday 29 September 18 15:08 BST (UK)

I freshened the first one up a bit for you Rob to see it better. Hope you don't mind, but you don't have to have it.
Carol

Title: Re: Uniform mystery - French or otherwise?
Post by: snowball on Saturday 29 September 18 15:19 BST (UK)

Thank you Carol, that will please my friend!
Rob

Title: Re: Uniform mystery - French or otherwise?
Post by: Treetotal on Saturday 29 September 18 15:22 BST (UK)

You are welcome...I would save the original in acid free paper as it appears to be fading off the paper.
Carol