Uniform, Equipment, and Arms

The Belgian soldier took to the field in 1914 wearing a uniform and equipment that resembled those of the early and middle decades of the nineteenth century. The illustrations of James Thiriar, viewable here, demonstrate to some degree the similarities in the Belgian uniforms and equipment from the 1830s through to the outbreak of the First World War. These images also show how the Army that left the Yser River in 1918 looked quite different from the force that had arrived there a few years earlier.

The war brought about major changes to the way the Belgians clothed and equipped their soldiers. This section looks to document the appearance of a typical Belgian soldier - or Jas, as they became known during the war – through the three major phases mentioned in the introduction.

Use the tabs to the left to navigate the different phases in the evolution of the Belgian uniform and equipment throughout the war. Click the website title at the top of the toolbar to return to this page.