Seeing old pictures wakes up the historian in me : who are these soldiers? Some research suggests they're French (I knew this) and that the picture is probably made in 1916 (or possibly later). The helmet they wear - the so-called 'casque Adrian' - was only introduced in the French Army in September 1915. Looking at the picture with a looking glass you can see the 'infantry' emblem (a grenade with flames) on the front. Good headwear was particularly important in a war that was fought semi-underground. (http://www.world-war-helmets.com/fiches/Casque-Adrian-Mle-15.php)
The uniforms they wear also date from 1915. They're 'feldgrau', while the uniforms of 1914 campaign were still napoleontic red (trousers!) and blue (jackets). Although it's not a luxury when you fight a trench war in the rainy and foggy North of France region, few of the soldiers wear boots. As of 1915, The Belgian army suffered from a chronic shortage of boots at the Yser front. Maybe in France they had the same problem. I don't know. From the number on the collar of their overcoats, you can tell they're from the 154th Line Infantry Regiment. In 1916 this regiment was fighting in Verdun, one of the bloodiest battles of the Great War (163.000 death in the French Army alone). There's a group of 23 men on the pictures. This suggests it's a half-section. In 1915 a half-section counted 25 men; in 1916 a half section was reduced to a number between 15 and 25 men. So this again situates the picture in 1915 or early 1916. Two of the soldiers are wearing a black ribbons around their arm. Is this a sign of mourning and remembrance?
The postcard was sent to me from Charleville Mézières in the North of France. There's nothing written on the back.
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