Hi Folks
Finally getting round to painting my Belgian army pack and have only really seen the detail on one of the infantry poses (which I'm assuming comes from the B1 pack) now that I have primed them.
The figure seems to have a uniform of very British style with a short coat and peaked cap and puttees - it is the pose without a bayonet.
I can't find any Belgian troops at the start of the war in any uniform resembling this. Is it intended for later (possibly the winter of 1914 when I know some were issued British kit) or is it a type of Belgian that I haven't yet come across ?
Help needed please as I need to know whether to order replacements if they are no good for Aug/Sept 1914.
Tony of Tiny Tin Troops
The old Belgian uniform of greatcoat and shako was soon replaced by a uniform in spired by the Belgian engineers. The cap is dark blue, the jacket is very dark blue and the trousers can be a variety nof colours: burgundy corduroy, blue-grey etc. Puttees if worn were dark blue. The Osprey MAA on the Belgian army illustrates this uniform.
Quote from: Leman on 13 February 2015, 07:08:15 PM
The old Belgian uniform of greatcoat and shako was soon replaced by a uniform in spired by the Belgian engineers. The cap is dark blue, the jacket is very dark blue and the trousers can be a variety nof colours: burgundy corduroy, blue-grey etc. Puttees if worn were dark blue. The Osprey MAA on the Belgian army illustrates this uniform.
Any idea at what dates this began to appear ?
I have the Osprey MAA and I can't find any illustration of British-like kit other than the officer on plate E3 - dated 1916.
At the moment I'm only looking for uniforms appropriate for Aug & Sept 1914, Oct at the latest.
Thanks
Tony
It began as early as late August 1914.
Quote from: Leman on 13 February 2015, 07:23:19 PM
It began as early as late August 1914.
Do you have any sources that have pictures of this uniform ? Are there any images on the Internet of examples or descriptions of which units wore them and when/where ?
I've done a fair few searches so far and found nothing of this nature so could use a bit of help finding a suitable source.
Tony
(http://i1101.photobucket.com/albums/g440/dourpuritan/IMG_1416_zpsl7k1qxz6.jpg)
(http://i1101.photobucket.com/albums/g440/dourpuritan/IMG_1415_zpsuiys1lbr.jpg)
Thanks for those - the bottom one at least shows that the tunic was shorter than on the figure and that the cap on the figure is wrong too, it should be a kepi with a peak. The cap in the top image is nearer to the figures but still not the same.
I'll possibly do them as a reserve Bn or two and get some of the marching figures for the earlier months.
I'm surprised how little mention there seems to be of the 'alternative' uniforms, all references point to general adoption of the 'Yser' uniform being in 1915 but I can't find anything specific as to who (which units) wore it actually at the Yser battles.
Seems to be the way things are for reliable data on Belgian forces for WW1.
Hi Tony,
Like me, you seem to have a passion for historical accuracy. In my own searches for obscure information on 19th century wars I have found the staff of various continental museums unvaryingly helpful. All the ones I have dealt with speak and write excellent English, and are usually delighted to find someone interested in their own area of expertise. Belgium has an absolutely first class Army Museum in Brussels, with superb WW1 collections. It also has a website, in English (don't you just love the Internet!?) at kim-mar.be which has e mail contact details. I am sure that if you dropped an e mail to them expressing your interest in the uniforms the Belgian Army actually fought in at the beginning of WW1, they would be likely to help as far as they were able. Worth a try?
Mollinary
My Belgian infantry tend to be French style coat with shako, feldmutze or chasseur hat. Irregular have an interesting range of 10mm Belgians in the first uniform. The Kallistra WWI Belgians are in the Yser uniform. Slightly bigger figures than Pendraken.
Quote from: Leman on 14 February 2015, 02:28:32 PM
My Belgian infantry tend to be French style coat with shako, feldmutze or chasseur hat. Irregular have an interesting range of 10mm Belgians in the first uniform. The Kallistra WWI Belgians are in the Yser uniform. Slightly bigger figures than Pendraken.
I have painted some of the Kallistra for a customer and they were too large to mix with Pendraken or Irregular.
I have a few of the Irregular figures and they are quite good, just rather expensive and, apart from the dog drawn MG, not that dissimilar to Pendraken's offerings.
Are your Belgians 10mm ? If so do you do head swaps to get those combinations ? I've tried that and never found it easy to do.
Thanks for the help and ideas.
Looks like we are fairly close - Formby & Ormskirk
Tony
I have been using 1866 Austrians for 1914 Belgians. Very nice figures and uniform is about right.
My Belgians are 6mm Irregular and Baccus, The line in shako can be Irregular Sardinians or Baccus 1866 Austrians firing, Irregular make the Chasseur infantry and cavalry come from all over the place, but the new Baccus french cavalry are ideal for Belgian Chasseurs; likewise the German uhlans for Belgian lancers. Irregular make the guides and dog pulled machine guns. Here are the start of my Belgian infantry using Sardinians. I thought a slight file to the head would make good guards in feldmutze.
(http://i1101.photobucket.com/albums/g440/dourpuritan/WWI%20in%206mm/IMG_1339_zps03634363.jpg)