Thomas Wictor
French Flamethrower Sappers
Photo of the earliest French flamethrower sappers, likely dating from the summer of 1915. The handwritten note reads "1st Engineers (ex-firefighting sappers) Company 22/6, 2nd Section."
All former firefighters of the Paris Firefighting Sapper Regiment, they wear leather jackets, dark-blue trousers, and headgear called the chéchia, adopted by zouaves and colonial troops. It is not clear why flamethrower sappers would pose in this cap.
The placard reads "The wild boars of the Argonne. 2nd Section, Company 22-6. Petroleum burners." (Les sangliers de l'Argonne. 2éme section, Cie 22-6. Pétroleurs.)
French Flamethrower Sappers
Photo of the earliest French flamethrower sappers, likely dating from the summer of 1915. The handwritten note reads "1st Engineers (ex-firefighting sappers) Company 22/6, 2nd Section."
All former firefighters of the Paris Firefighting Sapper Regiment, they wear leather jackets, dark-blue trousers, and headgear called the chéchia, adopted by zouaves and colonial troops. It is not clear why flamethrower sappers would pose in this cap.
The placard reads "The wild boars of the Argonne. 2nd Section, Company 22-6. Petroleum burners." (Les sangliers de l'Argonne. 2éme section, Cie 22-6. Pétroleurs.)