Portugese Army uniforms during the Great War
with contributions from James Fullerton, Gerald Moore, Robin Robinson & James H

 

Portugal declared her support for Great Britain (her "oldest ally") on the outbreak of war and authorised military involvement in November, but didn't participate, except in Angola and Mozambique in some skirmishes with German colonial forces. The Germans also encouraged uprisings in the Allies' African colonies throughout the War and Portuguese troops cooperated in suppressing them. This was all a bit naughty, since there were no official hostilities with the Central Powers. Then in February 1916 Britain encouraged Portugal to seize German ships in her harbours, which she did, 36 of them. Consequently it was Germany who declared war on Portugal, on March 16th. All German nationals (some of whom had been doing a bit of anti-Allies agitation) were expelled or interned.

 

The Portuguese Army steadily expanded from September 1914 for colonial operations, its size mushroomed after the country entered the War in March 1916, and it eventually came to employ about 183.000 men and 335 guns. A Portuguese Expeditionary Corps (CEP  = Corpo Expedicionário Português, mordantly rechristened "Carneiros de Exportação Portuguesa" - "Portuguese Exported Lambs for the Slaughter") was formed under General de Alorn in January 1917, and after further training in England, 40.000 Portuguese troops (two divisions) reached the western front by mid-1917, occupying part of the sector held by the BEF until spring 1918, when they were withdrawn after the defeat at the Lys. Almost 100.000 Portuguese eventually saw service in Flanders or colonial Mozambique, of whom 21.000 were listed as casualties, including over 7.000 dead.

 

 

John Keegan describes the Portuguese force in "The Battle of the Lys" (Purnell's History of the First World War, p.2696. "Portugal's involvement in the First World War was difficult to explain, not least to the soldiers of the two Portuguese divisions which had been in France since 1917. These illiterate and ill-cared for conscripts, besides being for the most part unused to the extreme winter climate of northern Europe, had no understanding of the reason for Portugal's quarrel with Germany, and no feeling of hostility towards the German soldiers opposite them...The British were indeed very doubtful of the Portuguese divisions' fighting worth. This doubt was based in part on a judgement of their morale - which was not improved by the practice of allowing the officers home on leave but not the men." Due to low numbers of effectives, the two Portuguese divisions were amalgamated into a single division in early April 1918, and were holding a long line around Neuve Chapelle at the onset of the "Georgette" offensive on April 9. Keegan notes that, following a hurricane bombardment, "On the Portuguese front the leading waves of the four attacking divisions found the defensive positions for the most part already evacuated."

The colour of the field uniform was similar to the French horizon blue. It consisted of a single-breasted tunic with stand collar and fly-front. It had parallel pleated patch breast pockets with pointed flap and button, but no side pockets. The tunic was worn with matching pantaloons and puttees. The greatcoat was double-breasted with large fall collar. Officers wore a single-breasted greatcoat with six buttons in front, pleated patch breast pockets, and slanting side pockets.. Officers also wore a long grey cloak with dark-blue velvet collar, and pointed grey cloth collar patches on which were worn the badges of rank.

The peaked service cap had a matching cloth-covered peak with row of silver braid for officers and natural coloured leather (silver lace for officers) chin strap, and the arm-of-service badge was worn on the front. The special fluted steel helmet was believed to have been manufactured under contract in Birmingham, England.

 

 

For the most time officers used the same basic uniform as their men, but some did wear open tunics with grey shirts and black ties, while others wore tunics with large “bellow” side pockets. Matching breeches were worn with brown leather field boots, or ankle boots with leather gaiters. Officers wore the “Sam Browne”-belt, while other ranks received the Portuguese version of the British 1908-pattern webbing. The standard issue rifle was the Mauser-Virguiero 6.5mm, but the troops in France were issued with the Lee-Enfield for ease of ammunition supply. They also used other British armament, like the Lewis LMG, and the Stokes mortar.

Do you need more info?

Viriatus - with colour plans
Mainly on the special Portugese helmet