A fully illustrated study of the colourful regiments raised for France's late 19th-century colonial wars in Africa and Vietnam.
France's colonial wars in sub-Saharan Africa and South-East Asia were very largely fought by an organization completely separate from both the home-defence Metropolitan Army and the Armée d'Afrique in Algeria. The Naval Troops (Troupes de la Marine) were volunteers, and earned a reputation for greater toughness and hardiness than the conscripted Metropolitan Army.
Spread throughout the French Empire, Naval Troops in this period were characterized by very large infantry and artillery regiments based in France, mixed race regiments (Régiments Mixtes), and entire native regiments raised in West Africa, Madagascar and Indochina. The latter, the so-called 'Tirailleurs were organized and led by officers and cadres from the Naval Troops, and wore very varied and colourful uniforms based on formalized versions of traditional local costumes.
French Naval & Colonial Troops 18721914 uses rich and detailed full colour plates as well as thorough analysis to detail the story of these tough colonial units which bore the brunt of French colonial campaigns in Africa and Vietnam.
Papildus informācija
A fully illustrated study of the colourful regiments raised for France's late 19th-century colonial wars in Africa and Vietnam.
Introduction organization of French forces for overseas service
Chronology
Campaigns: Indochina, from 1883 West Africa, from 1886 Dahomey, from 1890
Madagascar, from 1885 China, 1900
Locally raised units: Tirailleurs & Spahis Sénégalais Tirailleurs Haoussas
Tirailleurs & Spahis Soudanais Tirailleurs Sakalaves & Malgaches
Tirailleurs Annamites, Tonkinois & Cambodgiens
Minor island garrisons
Plate Commentaries
René Chartrand was born in Montreal and educated in Canada, the United States and the Bahamas. A senior curator with Canada's National Historic Sites for nearly three decades, he is now a freelance writer and historical consultant. He has written numerous articles and books, including over 50 Osprey titles. He lives in Gatineau, Quebec, with his wife.
Mark Stacey was born in Manchester, UK, in 1964 and has been a freelance illustrator since 1987. He has a lifelong interest in all periods of history, particularly military history, and has specialized in this area throughout his career. He now lives and works in Cornwall
