poilus

The "poilus" were delighted to see them, and shewed their appreciation by giving our men the whole of the contents of their water bottles.

The Sherwood Foresters in the Great War 1914 - 1919 History of the 1/8th Battalion W. C. C. Weetman

Many of them were back resting in billets, and the warm welcome they gave us as we passed through the narrow streets of the village crowded with French "poilus," the whole

The Sherwood Foresters in the Great War 1914 - 1919 History of the 1/8th Battalion W. C. C. Weetman

Hairy little "poilus" in their faded blue uniforms, paused to watch these strange processions, to shout "Vive l'Amerique!" and to hurl witticisms and uncomplimentary epithets at the prisoners.

History of the 113th Field Artillery 30th Division 1920

And those seven greasy 'poilus' they are crazy to go too.

Rhymes of a Red Cross Man 1916

And they listen to my stories, seven 'poilus' in a row,

Rhymes of a Red Cross Man 1916

Seven lean and lousy 'poilus' with their cigarettes aglow.

Rhymes of a Red Cross Man 1916

Newspaper men taking flashlights and "poilus" in uniform crowded the station platform as the train with our still numerous party pulled out.

Face to Face with Kaiserism 1909

The poilus' official rehabilitation began in 1995 when then-President Jacques Chirac decided to award the Legion of Honour to all living WWI combatants.

Collectors Vie For World War I Memorabilia Tobias Grey 2010

The soldiers of the First World War were affectionately called "les poilus" -- literally, the hairy ones.

Lisa Nesselson: The War To End All Wars? Well, Not Exactly 2008

Madeleine vividly recalled helping her mother and sisters make bandages for the poilus, when she was a little girl.

Lisa Nesselson: The War To End All Wars? Well, Not Exactly 2008