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  #1  
Old 23-09-15, 07:12 PM
Tonomachi Tonomachi is offline
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Default What do these filed cuts on beret badge mean?

I picked up this Algerian War period French Airborne coloniaux maroon beret at an insignia show last weekend. I wanted it because of these file cuts along half the perimeter of the beret badge. I've seen this once before on a French winged dagger beret badge of the type worn by the French Foreign Legion paratroopers. I thought maybe these cuts referred to combat jumps (16 to 17?) but the same photos were sent to a collector and former paratrooper in France who doesn't know what they signify but they are not for combat jumps. The beret badge is missing the loops on the back and sewn directly to the beret. The manufacture of the beret badge is Coinderoux. Does anyone know what these cuts were for?

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  #2  
Old 23-09-15, 07:22 PM
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54Bty 54Bty is offline
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Maybe years of service.

Marc
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  #3  
Old 23-09-15, 08:04 PM
Tonomachi Tonomachi is offline
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Originally Posted by 54Bty View Post
Maybe years of service.

Marc
You are probably correct. I just received information from another source that said this beret probably belonged to a conscript or draftee who couldn't wait to get out of the Army and kept track of his time in service by filing these cuts into his beret badge. Does anyone know for sure if this was a practice for I guess discontent soldiers?
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Old 23-09-15, 08:14 PM
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Mike Jackson Mike Jackson is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tonomachi View Post
You are probably correct. I just received information from another source that said this beret probably belonged to a conscript or draftee who couldn't wait to get out of the Army and kept track of his time in service by filing these cuts into his beret badge. Does anyone know for sure if this was a practice for I guess discontent soldiers?
I was about to say the same thing - the equivalent of the of the British National Serviceman's "chuff chart" or "days to do chart". The file marks would be months and possible, the hatched period (c 2 o'clock) - 3 weeks mid-service leave? Mike
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Old 23-09-15, 08:18 PM
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Phillip Herring Phillip Herring is offline
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Posted in error.
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Old 23-09-15, 11:11 PM
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Voltigeur Voltigeur is offline
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Starting in 1950, conscription,for military service,in France was for 18 months but was increased and maintained up to 30 months in certain cases.
One thing to mention in this case is, that all paratroopers units whether "coloniaux"(maroon beret) or "métropolitains" (light blue beret up to 1956-57 then maroon) were made up of volunteers only....so the hashmarks on your badge could signify the time the para already spent in service....*

Jo

* in this case your guess is as good as mine....
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Last edited by Voltigeur; 24-09-15 at 12:56 PM.
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Old 24-09-15, 02:06 AM
Tonomachi Tonomachi is offline
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Thanks for everyone's input.
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  #8  
Old 13-10-15, 05:23 PM
Colin S Colin S is offline
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Default Cuts on beret badge

I have also been told they do signify combat jumps. This may be a practice which varied between units, so one paratrooper may not be aware of what other units did....the French did perform many combat jumps in Indochina and Algeria, so cuts on a beret badge would be a visible tally for an old sweat.
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Old 14-10-15, 12:35 AM
rhodesianmilitaria rhodesianmilitaria is offline
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17 jumps? How many para jumps did they do in Indo China and Algeria?
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Old 14-10-15, 01:46 AM
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In Indochina, there was 153 jumps made by 14 Para Battalions (6 were French,6 Vietnamese Para Batt.,1 Laotian,1er BPL, and 1 Khmer,1er BPK).
52 jumps were made at the company level,63 at the battalion level for re-enforcing garrisons, and 33 at battalion level on search and destry missions.
You have to remeber that at that time, all paras units serving in Indochina were made up of volunteers* only and were used as "troupes de choc" by the French HQ and most of the time as "firemen" whenever their services were required.

* All French,Sengalese,Moroccan,Algerian troops serving in Indochina were volunteers serving for a period of 24 months and, but more often 30 months.

Jo

As for the Algerian conflict I'm trying to find the total jumps made......
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Last edited by Voltigeur; 14-10-15 at 01:56 AM.
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