Infantryman with the 11th Regiment of Line Infantry, Belgian army, 1916-1918

This Belgian soldier’s uniform is to be dated between 1916 and 1918. It was the result of a radical change: the khaki cloth and the helmet were then used for all troops, whereas particular headgear or specific colours previously distinguished them.

In the winter of 1914 invaded Belgium turned to France to buy or obtain some of its supplies. The canteen and M2B gas mask, used from 1916 to the end of the First World War, were entirely French in design. The Adrian helmet, named after its French inventor, was painted mustard brown, the colour of the Belgian army, and embellished with a lion’s face that replaced the French insignia. The cartridge belt was of Argentinian inspiration or origin. The rifle remained a Mauser 1889 model throughout the war. The 2.5-litre M. 1896 aluminium cooking pot resembled its German counterpart.

The uniform buttons were starting from 1915 systematically stamped with the lion rather than with the regimental numbers (photo left).