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Old Photographs, Recognition, Handwriting Deciphering => Free Photo Restoration & Date Old Photographs => Topic started by: johnlauper on Sunday 23 September 07 14:55 BST (UK)

Title: Photo of Great Grandfather
Post by: johnlauper on Sunday 23 September 07 14:55 BST (UK)
This is a photo of my great grandfather, Albert Joseph Lallemant. It would be great if someone could  colour this photo for me. The medals he is wearing are the Croix de Guerre 1914-1918, the French Colonial Medal (with Maroc bar) and a Fourragere 1914-1918.

The colours of these medals can be found at:-

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:Photo_Croix_de_guerre_recto.jpg

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Fourrag%C3%A8re_CG.png

http://www.northeastmedals.co.uk/frenchwar/pics/fra65.htm

Unfortunately I don't know what colour his uniform or hat would have been.

Many thanks

John
Title: Re: Photo of Great Grandfather
Post by: Woodentop50 on Sunday 23 September 07 16:49 BST (UK)
Hello John,

Here is a quick clean up , while you are waiting for your colouring to be done.


You do need to find out more colours though.


                                                                        Jim
Title: Re: Photo of Great Grandfather
Post by: ukpapasmurf on Sunday 23 September 07 16:59 BST (UK)
Hi John

Have added some colours that I think are close (many options available with a search)
Hope they are o.k

Smurf
Title: Re: Photo of Great Grandfather
Post by: johnlauper on Sunday 23 September 07 19:37 BST (UK)
Smurf> Thanks very much for that it looks great. If I can find out what colour his uniform/hat should be I'll let you know.

Kind regards

John
Title: Re: Photo of Great Grandfather
Post by: Woodentop50 on Tuesday 25 September 07 15:21 BST (UK)
Hello John,

Any luck in finding the colours yet ?

Maybe if you put the black and white pic on the military board , they might be able to help you , there are some very knowledgeable people on there.    :o


                                                                               Jim
Title: Re: Photo of Great Grandfather
Post by: saddles on Wednesday 26 September 07 06:30 BST (UK)
Hello...........Heres my colour interpretation I hope it suits your needs !


Carolyn  :)
Title: Re: Photo of Great Grandfather
Post by: Lones on Wednesday 26 September 07 09:43 BST (UK)
Hi   :)

I guess I'm a bit thick, I know the medals are French, but what army was he in, they did give medals to other forces too didn't they?  Is it the French army for sure.  He is begging for colour, but I want it to be right  ;)

Let me know please

Regards

"The thick one" aka Lones
Title: Re: Photo of Great Grandfather
Post by: ludovica on Wednesday 26 September 07 16:44 BST (UK)
Without specific reference to the gentleman pictured, French uniforms can be a bit of a minefield, the best advice is to get hold of a copy of Osprey's Men at Arms series "The French Army 1914-1918".

There were different colours for many different units and some of these colours changed more than once through the war. This table below gives an idea of the colours used in 1914 but as above later in the war Horizon Blue, Khaki and Mustard became more prevalent depending on the unit.

According to another reference (WW1 Infantry in Colour Photographs by Laurent Mirouze) the RICM (Regiment d'infantrie coloniale de Maroc) progressed to Horizon Blue in 1915 before being issued with mustard Khaki uniforms over the winter of 1915/16 along with other African units.



" Max Poilu"- Great War Forum
Title: Re: Photo of Great Grandfather
Post by: ludovica on Wednesday 26 September 07 20:48 BST (UK)
edit
Title: Re: Photo of Great Grandfather
Post by: ludovica on Wednesday 26 September 07 20:49 BST (UK)
From The Great War Forum by "Hoplophile"

Quote
There is no shame in being confused by the nomenclature of the various colonial and African contingents of the French Army.  Among many other paradoxes (such as the battalions of zouaves raised in Paris), there were two whole divisions with 'Moroccan' in their titles, as well as a famous 'Moroccan' regiment (the Régiment d'Infanterie Coloniale du Maroc) that didn't have a single subject of the Sultan of Morocco in their ranks.

That said, the man in question seems to be an officer of one of the two 'Moroccan' units that were, for the most part, composed of Moroccans, the
 composite regiments of Moroccan Rifles (régiments de marche de tirailleurs marocains).  Whether he belonged to the first (1ère RMTM) or second (2ème RMTM) regiment can be determined by the colours of the fourragère he wears.  If they are those of the Military Medal (médaille militaire), then he served with the 1st Regiment of Moroccan Rifles.  If they are those of the Cross of War (croix de guerre), he served with the 2nd Regiment of Moroccan Rifles.
Title: Re: Photo of Great Grandfather
Post by: johnlauper on Wednesday 26 September 07 23:20 BST (UK)
Thanks to everyone for their response to my enquiry and for going to such trouble to find out the right colours of the uniform.

I've got my great grandfather's French military record and I'm now beginning to wonder whether the picture is actually of him at all (although he did definitely take part in WW1) as there is no mention of him serving in Morocco and I think that the chap in the picture is of a higher rank than my great grandfather reached.

Out of interest here is another picture of the same chap in a slightly different uniform (from a cavalry unit?).

Thanks again

John
Title: Re: Photo of Great Grandfather
Post by: ludovica on Wednesday 26 September 07 23:21 BST (UK)
QUOTE(Hoplophile @ Sep 26 2007, 11:13 PM)
Where the application of colour to black and white pictures is concerned, I must confess that I am entirely bereft of the 'Ted Turner touch'.

That said, I would suspect that the coat would have been khaki, with the exact shade left to the discretion of the officer and his tailor. (The officers who served with the tirailleurs marocains tended to be somewhat inventive when it came to the details of their uniforms.)

The most famous of the French officers who served with the tirailleurs marocains during World War I was Alphonse Juin, who commanded Free French forces in Italy in World War II. Thus, biographies of Juin, as well as the French equivalent of the National Portrait Gallery, might be a good place to look.
Title: Re: Photo of Great Grandfather
Post by: Niksmum on Thursday 27 September 07 00:23 BST (UK)
I know you didn't ask for a clean up but I was bored so did one for you..hope you don't mind

Irene
Title: Re: Photo of Great Grandfather
Post by: Woodentop50 on Thursday 27 September 07 00:24 BST (UK)
Well done , to Ludovica and Hoplophile , for gleaning all the information , for the unknown warrior !


                                                                                                                                      Jim
Title: Re: Photo of Great Grandfather
Post by: mudge on Thursday 27 September 07 00:36 BST (UK)
Hi John
Here are 2 straightforward cleanups of the original iomage from me
Mudge
Title: Re: Photo of Great Grandfather
Post by: ukpapasmurf on Saturday 29 September 07 11:05 BST (UK)
Hi John

Considering I coloured the first, I thought I should do the second too  ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

Smurf