The French at Gallipoli 1915
Today on the centenary of the landings at Gallipoli much focus will be on the Australian and New Zealand troops who landed there in April 1915. One of the forgotten combatants of the campaign French soldiers who served alongside their British and Commonwealth comrades.
Some 80,000 French soldiers fought at Gallipoli as part of the Corps expéditionnaire d’Orient with almost 27,000 casualties. Many of the French troops were from Colonial units drawn from the far corners of the French Empire. This image comes from a French source and depicts a French Zouave in the trenches at Gallipoli in 1915 from the 17e division d’infanterie coloniale who took part in the fighting at Krithia.
Great War Photos 
Reblogged this on First Night History and commented:
Have I overdone it with the Gallipoli posts yet?! It’s very difficult not to as there are so many interesting posts out there today.
25/04/2015 at 15:19
It’s not a Zouave! Zouave uniforms consisted of a dark blue bolero and sedria (west) with red braiding and red or white sarouel (pants) depending on season.
It’s a tirailleur from one of AFN:s indegenous regiments who vore a uniform of zouave cut but light blue with yellow braidings and white sarouel.
Unfortunately the painting is a hoax, by 1915 both zouaves and tirailleurs had been issued less visible khaki uniforms. But as a postcard from the “war to end alla wars” it’s really nice.
17/09/2015 at 13:20
Thanks for that additional information, much appreciated.
20/09/2015 at 12:23
Thnx for the reply!
The Zouaves is something of particular interest for me! I’m married to a French woman who’s maternal great grandfather fell at Verdun as a caporal-chef of the 2:nd Zouaves!
The only memorabilia that still exists is his red chechia (properly stamped) and a photo, unfortunately incredible badly retouched.
21/09/2015 at 08:00
I can’t understand why the French story , is not told .
Around 80.000 French colonial troops took part in the battle of Gallopoli .
They suffered around 27,000 casualities .
There story Has to be told .
Historians should be ashamed of themselves .
01/05/2017 at 18:10
Its is a disgrace from all historians , that the French contribution has never been reallg told .
Around 80,000 French forces ( from their colonies , suffering about 27,000 casualties .
History is a disgrace , by not telling their stories . Historians should be ashamed of themselves . Eventhough Gallipolli ,was perhaps, one of the biggest military blunders of all time .
Not Churchill’s finest hour .!!
01/05/2017 at 18:18