Possibly assisting the navy gunners were these women . I don't know if these women actually served, survived the Commune, or just dressed up for the photos.
Clara Fournier
Two photos of Hortense David above and two of Marie Christine Dargent below. The lower one is her "pointeuse" uniform.
Photos and names come from a number of sources including the excellent site
The Siege and Commune of Paris,
http://www.library.northwestern.edu/spec/siege/
What a letdown! When I heard the word "commune" coming from you, I expected something racy. Just kidding. The photos are great.
ReplyDeleteI was hoping for racy but I found a little more...
ReplyDeletehttp://www.iisg.nl/collections/petroleuses/a03-699.php
Clara Fournier and Hortense David were punished as "Petroleuses," arsonists, by the government.
"Hortense David, targeted pieces of ordnance, sentenced to life imprisonment."