This is a picture of a World War 1 Soldier from France. He is wearing the familiar Kepi Hat that some French Soldiers wore. If you look closely at the picture you will notice that this man is wearing the croix de guerre medal for distinguished service. The cord on his shoulder is the Fourragére an award given to fighting units.
The French fourragére may be awarded by the French government if a unit was cited twice in the dispatches. Award of the fourragére is not automatic and requires a specific decree of the French government. The fourragére is the same colours as the ribbon for the Croix de Guerre. If a unit is cited four times, the fourragére colours are changed to that of the French Medaille Militaire instead of the Croix de Guerre.
I am obliged to the 64 Baker St website for this information quoted above.
You can find information about World War 1 French uniforms in this article.
The croix de guerre was awarded in both France and Belgium. This is a French soldier I believe since there is a stamp from a Paris photographer on the back. Marked on the back is “a picture of father (papa)” in French.
We will remember them – all fallen soldiers and veterans of all generations from every country.
UPDATE
In Flanders Fields Poem
By Lt Colonel John McCrae (Canadian)
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place: and in the sky
The larks still bravely singing fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the dead: Short days ago,
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved: and now we lie
In Flanders fields!
Take up our quarrel with the foe
To you, from failing hands, we throw
The torch: be yours to hold it high
If ye break faith with us who die,
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields
