Conscription of Vietnamese for service in World War I (1916)

A French report on conscription of Vietnamese peasants, for service on the Western Front during World War I:

“In 1916 Camp 82 was located in the Haiphong recruitment district, near Hanoi. On May 5th, 2295 new conscripts underwent a close physical examination before their basic training commenced. Army doctors immediately rejected 1287 men because of eyesight or hearing problems, malnutrition, malaria or skeletal deformities. However, they were not released. Instead these men were transported to the local docks, where they awaited shipment to Europe to work in French munition and aviation factories.

The remainder of Camp 82 (1008 troops) soon began their military training. Within two weeks 340 had deserted, leaving 668 men. Seven days later a further 20 men were dead from bronchial pneumonia, attributed to 15-hour training days, bad food and cramped accommodation. By the end of the month another five had died from hepatitis or blood poisoning. A total of 643 troops, or 28 per cent of the original group, went to combat units in Europe.”