French Volunteers Train with British Uniforms and Bren Guns in North Africa (Issued February 1943)
Agencia EFE
Madrid, Spain
This photograph, issued in February 1943 (BRITISH OFFICIAL PHOTO NO. BNA 539), depicts French volunteers training with machine guns in North Africa. The volunteers, who flocked to the colors with the objective of defeating Germany, are shown practicing firing from a prone position on a range, with an Army Sergeant observing. They are clothed in British uniforms, but maintain the distinctive French casque and forage cap, wearing a red and blue flash for England on the cap and the colors of France on their tunic sleeves. The background features a stone tower or fortress, indicating a military installation setting. The image serves as a visual record of the training and preparation of these French soldiers during World War II.
- Title: French Volunteers Train with British Uniforms and Bren Guns in North Africa (Issued February 1943)
- Transcript:26.10.1. BRITISH OFFICIAL PHOTO NO. BNA 539 (WA) WAR OFFICE PHOTO - CROWN COPYRIGHT RESERVED. (PICTURE ISSUED FEB 1943) FRENCH VOLUNTEERS TRAIN IN NORTH AFRICA. IN NORTH AFRICA VAST NUMBERS OF FRENCHMEN ARE FLOOKING TO THE COLOURS. MANY OF THEM FOUGHT IN FRAME; SOME HAVE BEEN PRISONERS OF WAR, ALL HAVE AS THEIR ONE OBJECTIVE THE TOTAL DEFEAT OF GERMANY. THEY ARE O LOT HED IN BRITISH UNIFORMS, RETAINING AS THEIR DISTINCTIVE MARK THE FRENCH CASQUE AND FORAGE CAP. ON THE CAP THEY WEAR A RED AND BLUE FLASH FOR ENGLAND AND ON THEIR TUNIC SLEEVES THE COLOURS OF FRAME PHOO SHOWS: FRENA HEGEDITS FIRING BR GUHS PADA RANGE. AN ARMY SERGEANT IS INT ROSE WINGO DEMPRENSA INTERNACIONAL BA 359 ORANJES Y FOTOGRAHAS DE ACTUALIDAD C,14. ORIGINAL DE ARCHIVO Cliché n./11-3/283 CIFRA GRAFICA MADRID T-26.10.1Hide TranscriptShow Transcript
- More info: Link to the front face of the photograph
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