Original French Pre – WWI Algerian Tirailleurs Zouave Style Uniform Top With Vest – Regiment Marked Original Items

Original Item: Only One Set Available. This is a fantastic example of the Algerian Tirailleurs Zouave Style jacket with vest. A tirailleur, in the Napoleonic era, was a type of light infantry trained to skirmish ahead of the main columns. Later, the term “tirailleur” was used by the French Army as a designation for indigenous infantry recruited in the French colonial territories during the 19th and 20th centuries, or for metropolitan units serving in a light infantry role.

Until 1914 the Algerian and Tunisian tirailleurs wore zouave style uniforms of light blue with yellow braiding, just like this example here. White turbans (for parade), red fezzes and sashes were worn with this “tenue orientale”. A white field dress of similar loose cut was worn for North African campaigning and in France during the early months of World War I. They adopted a more practical khaki uniform from 1915 onwards, in common with the other units of the (North African) 19th Military District.

This uniform is in wonderful condition and even retains original regiment markings, though we are unfamiliar with this style of marking. It appears to be for the 9th Regiment of Algerian Tirailleurs, but we could be wrong making this a wonderful research opportunity. The uniform does have the expected moth nips present, but very little visible amounts are present. This is honestly one of the best uniforms of this type we have encountered here!

A great, rather obscure uniform ready for further research and display!

Approx. Measurements
Tunic:
Collar to shoulder: 8.5″
Shoulder to sleeve: 23”
Shoulder to shoulder: 15”
Chest width: 17.5”
Waist width: 17″
Hip width: 17”
Front length: 20″

Vest:
Collar to shoulder: 6.5″
Shoulder to shoulder: 12.5”
Chest width: 18”
Waist width: 18″
Hip width: 18”
Front length: 20.5″