Original French WWI Infantry 2nd Lieutenant Officer’s Tunic with War Service Chevrons and Croix de Guerre - Field Grade Wool

Original Item. Only One Available. This heavy wool uniform tunic is in lovely, field used condition with three war service chevrons to the left shoulder, 2nd Lieutenant bars on the cuffs, and a Croix de Guerre with bronze star on the left breast. The buttons still retain much of their original finish and all appear to be present, but one of the buttons on the front is held on by a pin, as the stitching is torn. The tunic appears as “rough” but you have to keep in mind that the French, as well as the rest of the world, had fought a long and brutish war in their backyards. Resupplies were cut off, ambushes and attacks were always present and they were unable to acquire new items so the soldiers would have to repair and reuse what they already had, and this is a great example of that.

The tunic is made with field grade wool, and appears much more like an enlisted tunic, but toward the end of the war materials became scarcer, so this example makes complete sense.

The interior shows a stamped name in several different places, TRAONOUEZ, a good research project for someone with the means! The Croix de Guerre is a 1916-dated example, and shows heavy staining to the ribbon.

A great French officer’s tunic, ready for display.

Approximate Measurements:-
Collar to shoulder: 10"
Shoulder to sleeve: 25”
Shoulder to shoulder: 15"
Chest width: 17”
Waist: 18"
Hip: 22"
Front length: 33"