1er FM Commando (Kieffer Commando) beret badge -
 

Good afternoon,

I wonder if any forum members can provide further information on this beret badge (likely date of manufacture)..

I discovered this badge in my father's memorabilia drawer while hunting for a memento to give to a US Marine veteran friend of ours. This is my father's badge and he tells me that it was given to him personally by his good friend Maurice Chauvet after the war (my father is a RM Commando D-Day veteran and was seconded to 4 (Army) Commando from Sept '44 as signaller to 6 (French) Tp at Flushing/Vlissingen in November '44 and thereafter. His C/O was Guy Vourc'h.

I assume the badge is a post-war manufacture as it is unnumbered, but I wonder if it might possibly be an unissued WWII-era one? It is inscribed "J.R Gaunt c1943"

My father never wore a BFM badge on his beret during his time with the French of 4 Cdo, only his RM Globe & Laurel (as can be seen by the attached photo of him with 6 Tp at Flushing/Vlissingen 1 Nov 1944: He is 3rd L, identified by his RM cap badge and radio), but does so nowadays alongside his RM badge when attending commemorative events etc.

I'd be most grateful for any provenance info on this badge and how it compares to original WWII issued ones.

TVM,
Oxonian

According to this website,this cap badge was made POST-WW2 by Gaunt as a souvenir..(in French..commémoratif..)
Jo
http://m.chrismilitaria.com/INSIGNE-...ISE-LIBRE.html


If you can read a bit of french,there's the story behind the numerals on each badges....

Fabriqué par J R Gaunt à Londres, une série de 400 exemplaires tous numérotes fut livrée en Avril 44. Le N° 1 fut affecté au Cdt Kieffer et les numéros suivants jusqu'au 195 furent affectés aux Troops 1 et 8 et K Gun. Il est à noter que le commando Guezennec reçut le N° 177! La série de 239 à 336 fut destinée aux volontaires rejoignant l'unité après le 6 Juin. 44 furent attribuées à de hautes personnalités françaises et alliées. Le reliquat servit à remplacer les badges perdus par les hommes du bataillon. Ce badge était destiné à être porté sur le béret vert. Il suit la règle et la tradition britannique : il se porte à gauche et en tant qu'insigne d'unité se porte sur la coiffure et non sur la poitrine. Cette tradition demeurera au fil du temps.... L'insigne a été remis le 10 Mai 1944 au bataillon au cours d'une prise d'armes par l'amiral Thierry d'Argenlieu Commandant les forces navales de grande Bretagne (' ex F N F L)

http://commandokieffer.canalblog.com/

Thanks Voltigeur.

I'm delighted to read that Francis Guezennec received the symbolic No. 177 as my father sat next to him at Arromanches in June 2004 when they both were presented with their Legion d'Honneur by President Chirac.

Hello
very interesting.... thank you !!

cordially
Didier

Hello,

I confirm that it is one of the many postwar restrikes.
Unlike more recent productions, it was not aimed at deceiving gullible collectors.

Best regards .. Herve

Here is a real one (Maurice Chauvet's own badge):
http://gallery.commandoveterans.org/...geViewsIndex=1