French colonial badges
 

I see lots of colourful and beautifully made French colonial badged to colonial French units..Senegalese tiraellurs, Sahara camel, cavalry units etc. Are these copies or real and we're they ever worn? I have a lovely trialleur Senegalese badge which looks brand new and I can't see any soldiers wearing them in the photos. I plan to collect a few simply because they look nice but would like to read up before I do. Any suggestions?
Also, mainly are these genuine or merely fantasy pieces?
Thanks.

A good reference book on French Saharan unit insignia is "Insignes de l'Armée Française: Les Sahariens," by Jean-François Boucher. Published in April 1982 by Editions Copernic, ISBN 2-903916-00-4.

Regards,
Donovan

Ah! A reply at last!

Thanks, Donovan!

Hello Khyber,speaking from personnal experience I can say that you still can find those badges that you are looking for.......it will be a lot easier if you live in France or,if you have a contact with a french friend.
Remember also that France being a colonial state had a lot units fighting for her.Most of the unit that may interest you will be from the post war era when France sent a lot of her troops in Indo-China (1946 to 1954) and to Algeria (1954 to 1962).
A lot of those units' badges are from aesily available to outright impossible to get since some units where created in Indo-China and served only in that theatre of operation.Also,
those badges will get you in competition with french collectors and there are a lot of them interested in the colonial troops......From experience you can still find original badges in some militarial show,as frar as I know there no copies made.Beware though that some french units were still active in the post colonial era in the french army.
Finally, I can suggests that if available in your area to buy Militaria Magazine or find old issues that have something to do with colonial troops (mainly those early issues).
Also I can suggests to you to get a good idea of how much a badge cost,check with INSIGNES MILITAIRE LAVOCAT just google the name it will come up then go to the catalogue.A bit difficult to find something but go the second page at the bottom you will find a list of the units listed by categories.

In any case,if you need help,please contact me by pm.

Jo

Hi Joe.
Thanks for your very detailed reply. Very helpfu and I really appreciate it. I'm mainly a collector of British Indian army medals and badges but find the French Foreign Legion fascinating with their involvement in North Africa and also their experiences in Indo-China, Dien Bien Phu etc..I find their badges attractive so will try to get a few..
Incidentally are you on the sagongs medal forum?
Regards and best wishes.
Sunil

Hello Sunil, like you I am not a collector of French insignia, my primary interest has always been parachute units. But a few years ago I ran across a few French airborne badges that were just beautifully designed and made, so I tried to learn more about French foreign legion, colonial, and para units. I have a small album on the Forum of badges from these units, you may find it interesting.

Bon chance,
Donovan

One thing I forgot to mention in my post is, be very careful about the "old Legion" unit badges.Most if not all of them were reproduced for the Service Historique de la Legion Etrangère by Drago,the largest and most important badge maker in France.I was told that Drago to differentiate the old original badges from the modern repro added an "R" on the back.......but this to be taken with a large grain of salt.Also you should know that some badges were made in limited quantities,sometimes less than 100 to 200 for some companies of the Legion in some faraway postings.In my case I would be very wary of any Foreign Legion badges dating back from the 1930's or 1940's and sometimes. from units who fought at Dien-Bien-Phu.
Just be sure of what you are buying.Caveat Emptor.
As to yor question about the Sagong Forum.......not a member.
In the French army,a 'regiment' is made up of up to 1200 men....so a lot of badges to be supplied.
One book that you must get is ,INSIGNES DE LA LÉGION ÈTRANGÈRE, By Christian Malcros a bit old as it came out in 1981. ASIN; B00113928UQ from Amazon.co.uk or you may try Ebay.
Cheers
Jo

Jo,
There is a book on the armoured and artillery unit badges of the French Army. Do you know what it is called, I'd like to obtain a copy if I could.

I don't collect them but like the DUI of United States artillery units I like to know what there is.

Cheers,
Keith

Sorry I can’t help you with your request.Again sorry.
jo

No problems, thanks anyway.

Thanks for all the good advice, Jo.. Yes have to watch out fro the repros,..that's what prompted my question in the first places..lots of copies of Indian and British badges so a minefield ..not to mention German badges which are really lovely but the market is flooded with fakes I think..

Many thanks again,
Sunil

Hello Keith

The book you are looking for is called "L'Artillerie D'Assault et Les Chars de Combat" by D C Bartlett, written in 1988, no IBSN number. Its A4 size, soft cover, 40 pages.

If you would like a photocopy PM your address and I will send you a copy.

Dennis

Thanks Dennis, PM sent.
Keith

French
 

If these are what you are after, I'm quite willing to trade/sell them

Stephen.