French Commando Insignia, Help please

[irish]

This small group of items came from the estate of a women who had worked at one of the USO facilities in the New York City/Philadelphia area in WW2. French Naval vessels would use these ports for repairs and re-fits early in the war.

The badges shown are both military and civilian in nature. The FM Commando beret badge I recognize. what I have never figured out is the 2 bottom pieces. France silver shoulder title and the small boat badge. Could the ST have been worn by a Commando? Does anyone recognize the profile of the boat? I have looked online and did not find an exact match. It looks Motor Topedo Boat, possibly a Vosper. Any and all help is always appreciated

Jack

[Mike Jackson]

That aircraft style domed Perspex turret aft seems to be a signature of British-built Air Sea Rescue craft. Mike

https://www.bing.com/images/search?q...verlay&first=1

[irish]

Thanks Mike, that is the closest I have seen. The turret profile is quite distinct.

[half12]

Hello Jack,

Interesting group, but in fact nothing specifically commando.
"France for ever" was a free french association in USA.
The embroidered badge is a classic Free French Navy ratings breast badge. It has been used as cap badge by the commandos before the creation of the brass badge.
The metallic shoulder title has been used by all sorts of free french, but as far as I know, not by the commandos who wore the large embroidered title France.
The MTB badge looks like the american PT badge.

If you don't keep this group, I can be interested.

Best regards .. Herve

[irish]

Thanks Herve, yes I was aware of the France Forever organization. The cloth badge is what made me think Commando as in many photos it was in use as a beret badge.
Jack

[half12]

Hello Jack,

Here is the standard use of the FNFL badge..


1st BFM Commandos was a Free French Navy unit.
They used the standard embroidered FNFL badge as a right arm badge when they still wore the traditional french navy headgears in 1942.


In a second time, they used the same badge as green beret badge 1943/44


And finally, they got their own brass cap badge in april 1944.



Surprisingly, there is a picture of Philippe Kieffer wearing the large enamelled FNFL badge on his green beret in automn 1942 ... very unusual !


Best regards .. Herve

[irish]

Thanks Herve, a nice chronology of the badge and it use.
Jack

[Mike Jackson]

It took a bit of finding, but this image shows an RAF Launch (High Speed Launch?) (pennant number 2699) alongside in a Corsican port with on deck a team of ten "saboteurs" from either the French Cdo de Choc or Cdo d'Afrique and British Maj NAC Croft DSO Essex Regt - a pre-War arctic explorer and later in Special Force (?). His teams operated out of Bastia into Italy and SE France.
Apologies in advance for "borrowing" an image from a private collection published in Militaria No 191, Jun 01. Mike
RAF Launch and French Cdos d'Afrique_Corsica.jpg

[Mike Jackson]

And the same vessel again:

http://www.rafboats.co.uk/gallery/2699h/

[irish]

Originally Posted by Mike Jackson

It took a bit of finding, but this image shows an RAF Launch (High Speed Launch?) (pennant number 2699) alongside in a Corsican port with on deck a team of ten "saboteurs" from either the French Cdo de Choc or Cdo d'Afrique and British Maj NAC Croft DSO Essex Regt - a pre-War arctic explorer and later in Special Force (?). His teams operated out of Bastia into Italy and SE France.
Apologies in advance for "borrowing" an image from a private collection published in Militaria No 191, Jun 01. Mike
Attachment 162513

Hello Mike, that looks pretty close. Interesting in that it has a French connection also. Thanks for your efforts.
Jack

[Belly]

Lovely cross of Lorraine badge, still can't a nice embroidered one like that one