The First World War began solemnly, in almost all the capitals of the wars. Paris was no exception as there was hope of recovering Alsace and Lorraine from Germany. But soon for the men who faced the reality of war the celebrations came to an abrupt end. "What my colleagues knew of war came from patriotic literature," wrote Corporal Jean Galtier-Bossier of the 31st Infantry Regiment (SP).
On August 24, 1914, the regiment was on the front lines. The morning sun lit up the bayonets of the blue-shirted and crimson-trousered French infantry. “Ahead of us was a completely empty hillside. No trees, no obstacles... The bullets whizzed by, the cannonballs burst, the heavy shells lifted columns of earth into the air... Deaf from the explosions we could not hear the orders... I walked as if hypnotized, without hearing, through the dust and noise. Only one slogan dominated... Forward - forward.
“We were now moving ahead in groups following an officer… We were moving straight ahead, our knapsack weighing us down… Water tank, the whole load getting in the way. And then we hit the ground. Men were stumbling, others were hit on the head as they went to get up.
“The bullets were like a storm, hitting low. The machine guns have crossed us, the man next to me shouted before he dropped dead... The enemy machine guns that are hitting us are not yet visible. So far we haven't fired a single shot. There are only a dozen of us now...
“I curled up behind two pieces of ground. I hear the noise of machine guns. Bullets whistle madly. Every bullet I hear I think this is mine. How long have we been here? Why is no one giving orders? What is our artillery doing?
"Suddenly someone shouts! Retreat... Bullets are raking all around. We are 20 m from the road along which there is a line of trees. The ditch on the side of the road provides safety but to get there you have to cross a densely populated area. Difficult time.
“A man stands up, takes a few steps and then collapses face down on the ground. Another also runs but halfway through he folds over holding his stomach and screaming in pain… A third man tries. Suddenly he stops and turns around with his face full of blood. He collapses calling out to his mother.
"I'm last. I run as fast as I can and dive to the bottom of the ditch to safety... Our losses are very heavy. The lieutenant colonel commander and 3/4 of the officers are out of action. Everyone looks overwhelmed and speaks in low voices. The regiment mourns", said the French corporal in his narrative.
The losses suffered by the French army in the first phase of operations were appalling. Of the men who fought in 1914, 25% were lost. The 71st SP, for example, by November 1914 had lost over 35% of its strength. The 12th SP had lost over 50%.
