French dragoon and chasseur soldiers at the beginning of World War I. The word dragoon originally meant mounted infantry, who were trained in horse riding as well as infantry fighting skills. During the 18th century, dragoons evolved into conventional light cavalry units and personnel. In 1914 there were still dragoon regiments in the British, French, German, Russian, Austro-Hungarian, Peruvian, Norwegian, Swedish, Danish and Spanish armies. The name is possibly derived from a type of firearm (called a dragon) carried by dragoons of the French Army. Chasseur is the designation given to certain regiments of French and Belgian light infantry (Chasseurs r pied) or light cavalry (Chasseurs r cheval) to denote troops trained for rapid action. Bain News Service circa 1914/15.
