Pantalon rouge

During the early years of the 18th century red breeches were worn by 23 of the dragoon regiments of France's royal army,[1] but after 1757 a yellowish shade of brown was substituted.

[4] On the eve of mobilisation for World War I (August 1914) red trousers or breeches formed a conspicuous part of the uniforms worn by all branches and corps except the Chasseurs a' pied, Artillery, Engineers, Colonial troops and certain North African native regiments.

[6] With changes in battlefield technology and tactics comparable European armies had switched from colourful uniforms to more drab versions in the period leading up to the First World War.

However, these major powers, and many smaller armies, largely retained their historic brightly coloured uniforms for ceremonial, parade, and off-duty "walking out" dress until the outbreak of war in 1914.

[11] The infantryman's uniform, including the pantalon rouge, was especially visible in the yellow-cropped fields that were fought over in August and September 1914, contributing to the high French casualty rate.

[5] The Armée d’Afrique initially adopted uniforms made from khaki cloth manufactured in Britain, but later changed to a lighter brown colour with a yellowish tinge known as "mustard" (moutarde).

[14] During World War I red trousers never completely vanished from depots plus lines of communication units and training establishments,[15] although this reflected shortages of the new horizon-blue garments rather than nolstalgia.

From 1928[16] the colourful pre-war uniforms were reintroduced for those regiments of the French Army of Africa (Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco) that were primarily dependent on voluntary enlistment.

Limited to parade and off duty wear, this recruitment measure meant that red trousers were worn again until 1939 by officers and re-enlisted personnel of the tirailleurs, zouaves and chasseurs d'Afrique.

[18][19] World War II marked the final termination of the pantalons rouge, with the notable exception of Saint Cyr; plus a limited number of military bands and small detachments from units that had historically worn this iconic garment in various forms between 1829 and 1914.