1st class horseman, Regiment of Guides, Belgian army, 1900-1914

The Guides, elite cavalrymen, used the dark green uniform and the colback as distinguishing features. Even in its simplified version the Polish-influenced headgear was reminiscent of the one worn by the mounted Chasseurs during Napoleon’s French Empire.

The look had been updated both in 1892 and 1911, but nevertheless proved a little old-fashioned at the start of the First World War. The trousers of this “Lasalle” uniform were still an old 1878 model, which however displayed an anachronistic amaranth colour (see photo left).

The weapon, a lightweight 1889 Mauser carbine, is mounted on a strap allowing the weapon to be fired (either from the shoulder or from the hip) without having to detach it. This carrying system is typically Belgian.