A rare photo of a private of the 1st reserve automobile company, 1914-1917.

The beginning of the World War found the Russian automobile troops actually in the creation stage: 10 automobile companies were supposed to be formed only by the end of 1914. After the outbreak of hostilities, especially with the receipt of a large number of vehicles for military service, this process accelerated significantly. However, the military department immediately faced the problem of an acute shortage of specialists needed to maintain complex equipment. It has existed since 1910 . The training automobile company was transformed into A military automobile school, where both drivers and motorists were trained. The formation of marching replacements was entrusted to the spare automobile companies, where the trained soldiers got acquainted with the equipment, put it in order and prepared to be sent to the troops. The 1st Reserve Automobile Company reported directly to the head of the Military Automobile School. She was in Petrograd, in the so-called Salt Town on the Fontanka embankment, near Salt Lane and Market Street (now Gangutskaya Street).

The soldier in the photo is wearing a 1912 campaign shirt made not of cloth, but of simplified cloth or "cloth-like" (mixed cotton-wool) fabric of a protective color, which is typical for the period of the First World War. The lining on three sides of the red cloth shoulder straps from the so-called "educational" (yellow with a narrow red lumen) braid indicates that he successfully completed a course of study in He graduated from the Military Automobile School and qualified as a driver or motorist. This skin was a kind of qualification mark and was preserved for the entire period of service, in whatever part the specialist served. In addition, a special sign of automobile parts (wings, bridge with wheels and steering wheel), as well as encryption from the invoice numbers "1" and the letters "Z" are reinforced on the shoulder straps. The buttons on the shoulder straps are metal. Since August 1914, the lower ranks of all branches of the armed forces have been supplied with cavalry-style waist belts with a peg buckle.

Photos of motorists who have undergone special training are quite rare these days. On the back of the photo is an inscription made by descendants with a ballpoint pen indicating the name and surname of the person depicted. Postcard format. Guarantee of authenticity.