This project called “reconstruction” started 2 years ago, involving reenactors of my region,
I started it as a documentary project, aiming to show the soldiers who fought in my area the north of France. The more I was shooting, the more I felt that the people in front of the camera were not only XXI th century humans wearing clothes of this period, each one of them had a story to tell, special reasons to reenact, this became particularly obvious when we had to write short captions . In fact many of them delivered me a first person story unveiling an unexpected facet of the project with a story behind each picture
I am a single infantry soldier (doughboy) of the 91st American division. My uniform is a 1910 model. my division participated in the offensive of st-mihiel in September 1918 which resulted in the expulsion of German troops from the French border to the other side of the Scheldt, 12 days before the end of the war.
I squeeze myself against a dressing trench that displays different patterns of emergency dressings.
Medicine worth it for the severity of injuries my role is usually to sort out those who will be cared for and who will die without any care.
Besides the comfort they could bring to the wounded and dying, they were very exposed, many of them were made prisoners when changing front, or killed by the smell of chemical gases exhaled by the wounded brought back from the front.
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- I am a corporal in the 7th Battalion Seaforth Highlanders. The soldier could have been Andrew Scott Greig, born in Edinburgh, who was killed June 6, 1918 at the age of 30 years at Thieusouck near Flêtre during a bombing with five of his comrades. They are all buried in the military cemetery of Caestre , northern France. He died two days before being discharged, he was a carpenter by trade … RIP it is here on duty the day before his death, for example, June 5, 1918 …
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- I’m a soldier of assault infantry (Stoss troup). The troup Stoss were soldiers professional attack, equipped for modern warfare. I belong to the 6th reserve infantry regiment (6RJR). This regiment fought of Flanders in Belgium and up the sum. I wear the uniform by the end of the war, my helmet bears the typical camouflage in the year 1918. My equipment is composed of a CAR98 rifle and its ammunition that I wear to the belt, got on the back my shovel that allows me to build the trench but also save the bullets during the melee during the assaults. I carry a bag of bread with two water bottles and on my shoulders I carry bags filled with grenades and my mask gas. I wear the cross of iron 2nd class. “in 1918 the soldier waited in the trench between the crashing of artillery shells and machine gun firing the soldier heard French. It is concerned and it reflects, that should it do? Must he go or should it fight? He hesitates, he held his weapon near him. When a shell falls right in front of him. He feels the heat of the explosion on his skin. Now he knows that the French are dead. It should no longer worry”
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- I am a single infantry soldier (doughboy) of the 91st American division. My uniform is a 1910 model. my division participated in the offensive of st-mihiel in September 1918 which resulted in the expulsion of German troops from the French border to the other side of the Scheldt, 12 days before the end of the war.
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- Trench warfare is a wear and boredom war. The assaults are rare and very deadly, the wait is very long, only interrupted by terrible bombings that deafen men and beasts. This war bombing killed the majority of the soldiers made many horribly mutilated wounded and destroyed thousands of homes and villages, some have never been rebuilt. The trench is a network of corridors muddy fortified with planks of wood and sandbags, the war of movement quickly became a war of positions or men struggle in the wet and mud against vermin and fear.
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- I’m a sniper of the French army in March 1917 as evidenced by the badge I wear on the left arm. A good soldier, I make sure the maintenance and operation of my rifle Lebel, heavy and unwieldy it can be equipped with the famous bayonet “Rosalie” very sharp metal blade for piercing the enemy in terrible body-to-body. I am part of the 43th Infantry based in the fortress of Lille in northern France regiment, the regiment distinguished itself in many battles throughout the war, particularly during Sapigneul gas attacks in October 1916. On my wrist I wear the chain of identity in case of misfortune will tell my relatives that I came under fire from the enemy.
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- I am a Bavarian Nurse with a small first-aid box. I squeeze myself against a dressing trench that displays different patterns of emergency dressings. Medicine worth it for the severity of injuries my role is usually to sort out those who will be cared for and who will die without any care. Besides the comfort they could bring to the wounded and dying, they were very exposed, many of them were made prisoners when changing front, or killed by the smell of chemical gases exhaled by the wounded brought back from the front.
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- I am a German soldier of the early period of the war, my uniform has the typical color of German uniforms of the period, sound and rational, as opposed to the French equipment in the colors of the nation but totally inadequate in terms camouflage on the battlefield. The German soldier is from the beginning of the war with boiled leather helmet with a recognizable metal edge of this early period of war. The function of the spike is not offensive but defensive, it is supposed to deflect the blow of enemy sword in combat melee. In 1916 it was replaced by a new helmet all metal and very protective.
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- I am a Stosstrupen (German assault troops) specifically a Strumgrenadier of Strumbataillon (grenadier assault) 6th RJR (6 res. Inf. Division) we are in 1917. I have on my arm badge grenadier, my flashlight to advance in attacks or night patrols, in addition to my defensive weapons (rifle, bayonet, grenade) I will never separate myself from my gas mask and my shovel that also serves me in close combat.
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- I am a private from the regiment of Seaforth Highlanders – End of 1915 – First gas preparation (Package) PH helmet (hood gas mask). Equipment: 1908 pattern Webbing mounted in battle order (used for combat). This picture could have been taken in the back because i am wearing the traditional Scottish cap the “Glengarry” too light on the front. He carries a rifle lee enfield mkIII SMLE.son Kilt has the tartan Mac kenzie. Jacket: British pattern “non-simplified”. Covers also called apron kilt kilt adopted in 1903 to protect the kilt.
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- I am a nurse as part of the SSBM (relief societies for wounded soldiers) for the period 1914-1915 when the offensive of the Western Front started. These nurses were present in auxiliary hospitals (temporary military hospitals) Beginning in August 1914 to half of 1915, while the care of the soldiers were done by volunteers from the Red Cross societies. These women and girls showed great courage during the conflict, bringing comfort and care to the wounded and dying, numbers of them were killed during the bombings, the étaples cemetery contains the grave of many of them.
Lenticular photography is used to bring a bit of the reality of those men and to offer viewers a unique visual experience that is missed on this 2D presentation.
