Winter 1914-15 Immersion Event (10-12 January 2025)



As the armies settle in for what will become the war on the Western Front, the Argonne Forest becomes a hive of activity. This wooded area of eastern France which will later be a household name in the United States, is taken over by soldiers of the 32e Corps d'Armée on 8 January 1915. Their line is a series of defended redoubts and outposts, with little connection between companies or even regiments. Constant work is needed to improve the line, while these veterans of the Marne and Flanders go about maintaining their kit, incorporating new recruits, and adapting to their new reality.

Join us as we recreate the life of the Poilu in the Winter of 1914-15 on the scale of a single infantry platoon. This event will give us the opportunity to do all of those things we say we'd love to do, but don't have time for at the big GWA events. This event will have a heavy emphasis on learning moments for you to apply whenever you see yourself in a Poilu's sabots, an evenly paced schedule, and a balanced program that allows for social downtime.


Event Information:

  • Date: Friday 10 to Sunday 12 January 2025
  • Location: GWA site, Newville, PA
  • Cost: TBD (includes event fee and meal plan)
  • Impression: Winter of 1914-15, centered on January 1915
  • Theme: Non-combat rear-line living history


  • Registration
  • French Impression Guidelines – Winter 1914-1915
  • Winter of 14-15 Impression Inspiration/Ideas
  • Event Program
  • Schedule



    French Impression Guidelines – Winter 1914-1915 (CLICK HERE)

    The Winter of 1914-15 marks a unique juncture in the course of the war where the culture and mindset of the previous era crashes headlong into the brutal new reality of trench warfare in the 20th century. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the uniforms, equipment and arms of the French infantryman. The turbulent period lasting from the Autumn of 1914 to the Spring of 1915 stands out as one of great flux, resulting in a discordant mix of old and new, ephemeral and quasi-permanent, improvisational and regulation issue.

    Those veterans of the fierce fighting of the Frontiers, the Marne, and Flanders who remained in the ranks were still largely dressed in the kit of 1914, with madder red kepis (with blue covers), dark indigo blue greatcoats, and madder red trousers (theoretically hidden by blue canvas overalls). Replacements -- made up of new recruits from the Class of '14, reservists, and vets recuperated from previous injuries and sickness -- on the other hand arrived at the front dressed in greatcoats and kepis made with the new light-blue uniform cloth. With the serious shortfalls in materials from cloth to artillery shells, French authorities raced to acquire cloth and clothing anywhere it could be found -- from existing stocks in military deports to private companies and industries, civilian workshops to fire departments. Large quantities of wool cloth (universally referred to as "English cloth") in various shades of blue were imported in from other countries and made into French uniforms.

    Whenever possible, the best uniforms and equipment were prioritized to the combat units (line infantry, chasseur battalions, etc.), while a hodgepodge, diverse assortment, often of poor quality, were shuffled off to the reservist regiments, rear echelon formations, and especially the territorials. In the same squad, one could find men dressed in mélange of old and new, and ersatz and regulation gear. Ammo pouches, belts and suspension straps dating from the late 19th century, some made entirely of canvas instead of leather. Greatcoats of variable patterns, makes, colors, and buttons was the norm. Corduroy trousers or culottes were not uncommon.

    As the first winter of the war arrived, the French army found itself wholly unprepared to equip its men properly for the cold, wet, muddy conditions of the front. All French soldiers alike relied on a their own resourcefulness to get by as best they could, aided greatly by civilian aid organizations. Those lucky enough to be issued a sheepskin jerkin instantly achieved a Stone Age appearance. Knitted woolen were worn by most poilus. Military blankets and civilian quilts (sent from home or pulled from the ruins of abandoned homes were draped over shoulders and heads to form capes and hoods. Caked in mud, they looked more like vagabonds, bandits and homeless people than soldiers.


    Winter of 14-15 Impression Inspiration/Ideas

    Below is a selection of inspirations for those wishing to individualize their own appearance for the event.

  • Couvertures (Blankets): poilus often wore their issued blankets continually, draped over their shoulders, sometimes encompassing their head (over the kepi) to form a hood. Civilian blankets and quilts of myriad colors and patterns were also used.
  • Tricots (Knitted woolens): sent from home or as a donation from civilian aid organizations, the poilus took full advantage of caps, passes-montagne (balaclavas), scarves, face masks, mittens, belly warmers, thigh and arm warmers. Unique to the winter of 14-15, some poilus wore knit caps over their kepis, while others wore tighter fitting versions under their kepis. Passe-montagnes were likewise worn under kepis. Alternatively, scarves were frequently wrapped around the same.
  • Peaux de Mouton (Sheepskin jerkins): typically formed from two skins sewn together at the hindquarters with a head hole added in the center, white, black, and brown fleeced and long-haired varieties were utilized for the early versions. Uniquely to the winter of 14-15, they were often worn with the fleece side out, likely before it was soon realized that the mud and rain made this manner wholly impractical. Note that the jerkins were not an individual issue item, a case that held true for the duration of the war. These were turned back into quartermaster in spring time.
  • Mouchoirs (Handkerchiefs): both military issued handkerchiefs and private purchase (or handmade) ones were an essential items carried by probably all poilus. They served any number of purposes from bodily hygiene, napkins, towels, carriers for personal effects, rifle breech protectors, etc. Unique to the winter of 14-15, they were used as protection from the cold as well. Handkerchiefs were wrapped around the head, either under or over the kepi, and tied off in a knot above the forehead.
  • Poils du visage (Facial hair): its common knowledge that the nickname for French soldiers in the war was poilu, which literally means "hairy" (but is perhaps more accurately translated in this context as "grizzled"). Naturally, the moniker came about easily as French army hygiene standards in wartime were far more lax than those of the other major belligerents. By and large, most pioupious (the more common sobriquet for the French soldiers before the Autumn of 1914) sported only a mustache, or a moustache with goatee. Both handlebars and pencil mustaches (especially amongst the young) were most common, as beards were prohibited in the ranks (officers being excepted). These standards began to wane beginning in the Autumn under the strain and hardships and deprivations of life at the front. Unique to the winter of 14-15, many poilus grew beards, some of proudly prodigious length that were more akin to the fashions of the 19th century. The Winter Immersion event affords the rare opportunity of doing the same!
  • Other exigencies: first-hand accounts speak to the desperate measures resorted to by poilus in their struggle to keep warm and dry. Straw and newspaper was stuffed by some into the trouser legs as insultation against the cold. Civilian purchased oilskins and rubberized canvas ground cloths and capes were worn. Improvised jerkins of rabbit fur and goats were made. One account speaks of a man who cut out a section of linoleum flooring from the kitchen of a destroyed home to wear on his back as rain protection. These are just some ideas of many sourced from written accounts and photographs.


    Event Program (Tentative)

  • Instructional and participatory demos:
  • “Looking the Part”: How to wear your gear correctly – dressing from underwear up.
  • “The Burdens to be Borne”: How to pack the knapsack (inside and out).
          > The above demos will follow one after the other. Field cleaning Lebel rifle
  • Drill exercises:
  • Section/escouade formations & deployments (column into en tirailleurs, maneuver & attack formations).
  • Bayonet scrimmage. (Tentative)
  • Light foot-and-arms drill.
  • Firings (by salvo, by number of rounds, at target/distance, etc.). (Tentative)
  • Recitation/discussion of first-hand accounts:
  • Recitation & discussion of French army strategy, tactics and operations of Winter 1914-15.
  • Recitation & discussion a selection letters & diary entries to contextualize the events/experiences of Winter 1914-15.
          > These will follow each other.
  • Tailoring workshop:
  • Sewing demonstration: basic stitchwork for mending & doing repairs to clothing by hand, adding pockets to jacket/greatcoat liners, etc.
          > Intended for those not wishing to participate in wearing the kit / packing the knapsack.
  • Period games: Manille.
  • Soldier Slang: Discussing common French terms and phrases to use at events.
  • Trench work: digging and reinforcing advanced post in ravine.


    Schedule

    TBD

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