Stage 8 : The french soldier

The town of Albert is called the town of the three bell towers.
Can you see on your left the station bell tower ? 
Go closer and you will meet a "poilu".

Unlike the British who were known for their good hygiene, thefrench soldier soon had the reputation of being unshaved, beared and not very clean, hencehis nickname "poilu", which means "hairy".

At the beginning of the war, he wore a uniform that was unsuitable for trench warfare, he had a kepi on his head and, above all, madder-red trousers, visible from several kilometers away by the enemy !

Then, he will swap his kepi for the Adrian helmet, and his red and blue uniform for a much more discreet horizon blue uniform. 

His rifle, the Lebel, is equipped at the end with a bayonnet called "the Rosalie", a total lenght of around 1.85m which will give it the nickname of "fishing rod", much too long and ineffective in the narrow trenches for turning around. 

His "barda", his equipment weights about 35kg (77lbs), of course, he also has, to be able to hold on, his can full of "pinard", wine !