The Siamese Expeditionary Force
by P. Klykoom & Robert Robinson
Introduction
When war broke out in August 1914 Siam, unable to afford alienating any of the major powers, readily declared a policy of strict neutrality. The United State’s entry into the war however helped reinforced King Vajiravhud’s views that an Allied victory was imminent, and that the kingdom’s neutrality might be held against her after the war. On the other hand, joining the war on the side of the Allies might bring about several benefits, among them an end to the treaties of extraterritoriality.
Siam declared war on the Central Powers on July 22, 1917. It was, however, an unpopular move. Unlike France and Britain, Germany had a good record in Siam. Germany had never threatened Siamese territory, and at the beginning of the war had by far the largest shipping interests, carrying much of Siam’s exports. Some prominent princes and the majority of the officer corps had received their education from Prussian military academies.
On September 20 the Ministry of War announced the decision to dispatch to the Western Front a 1,300-man expeditionary force consisting of motor transport elements and an ambulance unit, as well as an aviation contingent. A call for volunteers was issued. The response proved gratifying, and for the next six months the king personally supervised the training of the troops. The force set sail on June 19, 1918, arriving in France in late July.
A number of officers in the Siamese aviation (then designated the Army Flying Battalion, to become the Royal Aeronautical Service in 1921) had been trained by France even before Siam entered the war and some of these had already returned to France and flew with French squadrons. The bulk of the Army Flying Battalion also went to France in June 1918 to be trained on more modern aircraft types than they had been using in Siam.
The expeditionary force saw some action, suffering casualties (19 dead and a larger number wounded) but the Flying Corps had not finished training before the war ended.
In 2001 the last surviving member of the Siamese Expeditionary Force, Yod Sangrungruang, was promoted to lieutenant. He died on Oct. 9, 2003.
The uniforms
The kingdom’s entrance into the war coincided with the introduction of a new uniform for the army. Dark green in colour, it consisted of baggy trousers, puttees, and a single-breasted tunic with a standing collar, seven brass buttons which ran down the front, and four pleated pockets. Officers were allowed straight trousers and riding breeches, while some of those serving in the Flying Battalion favoured opened tunics worn in combination with shirts and ties. Black ankle boots were issued to enlisted men while officers wore knee-high boots. The Russian-style peaked cap, badged with the Army Unalorm emblem, was universally worn by all ranks.
Officers wore stiff, detachable, brass-edged shoulder boards on which were attached metallic rank and unit badges. Other ranks’ shoulder straps indicated unit number; these were reversible, one side green and the other appropriately coloured. Branch of service was indicated by distinctive colours displayed on the cap bands, shoulder boards and straps, as well as by metallic badges attached the collar.
On arrival in France the expeditionary force was issued French Adrian helmets, repainted green.
Below can be seen the senior officers at the Siamese Expeditionary Force's Parade in 1918. Among them are the Princes Bhanurangsi Savangwongse Bhanubandh, Purachatra Jayakara, Chakrabongse Bhuvanath, and Prajadhipok Sakdidejana. The two boys in the middle are the Princes Chula Chakrabongse and Birabongse Bhanubandh.
The Army Flying Battalion
The Army Flying Battalion appear to have worn a similar uniform to the rest of the expeditionary force although there are unconfirmed reports that it may have been in French horizon blue.
Equipment
The standard rifle used was the 8 x 50mm Siamese M1903 Mauser (Thai Type 46).
Modelling
Ordinary soldiers could be fairly easily represented by replacing the heads of models of British figures with those from French ones. For example swapping the heads from Airfix WW1 infantry with French ones. Producing baggy trousered senior officers might be a little more difficult.
Link
Klick here to see the
excellent site of P. Klykoom, that deals with Thailand in WW2.