French Viven-Bessiere rifle grenade system in use during WW1

French Viven-Bessiere rifle grenade system in use during WW1

BravoZulu said:

French Viven-Bessiere rifle grenade system in use during WW1

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Must have been early in the war, those trenches look very rudimentary.

Adrian helmets being worn, so at least 1915

Also, looking at the trooper holding the "tromblon VB", as was called by the ratings, I can see he's wearing cavalry boots, not the usual "bandes molletières" (hard to translate in English, "shin bands" literally, but there may be another name). I think the unit, consequently, is not regular infantry, but rather cavalry. So, the picture may not be dated prior to 1915, when French cavalry was often, but not always, dismounted to serve in the trenches. This may be later, as in quieter sectors of the front line, defensive works could be of a lighter nature. Vivien Bessiere grenade rifles started to be used from 1914 onward.