French Army Signal collars or shoulder badges

[Quicksilver]

Have a new pair of facing Transsmission (Signals) insignia from France. Are they collar badges or worn on an epaulett? The badges are aprox 3cm in diameter and metal and enamel. Very well made by COINDEROUX PARIS with pins. When were they introduced? Could not find any website showing them or other collar dogs being worn. I note that the Belgian Troupes des Transmission also have new round collar badges. Have also seen these same signals with a yellow backing for air portable troupes.
Quicksilver

[Pierre]

Hi,
This is a collar badge for the transmission . This badge is fitted on the walking out uniform "tenue terre de France".
A photo taken on a friend of the 8th RPIMA (his regiment has just lost 8 guys in Afghanistan) Régiment Parachutiste d'Infanterie de Marine).
Regards.

Pierre

[Pierre]

Where did the photo go?

[Pierre]

Hi again,
I found these on e-..y (france). just put the words - insigne de col:

1 - Cavalerie - cavalry regiments (tanks)
2 - cadres spéciaux - would be the equivalent of the british general list badge
3 -Artillerie - Artillery
4 -Infanterie - infantry
5 - Arme du matériel - would be the equivalent of the REME
6 - écoles militaires - Army schools

and many more exist : chasseurs alpins (mountain troups) A.L.A.T (Army Air Corps), Arme du génie (Engineers) etc......

I hope this will help.

cheers.

Pierre

[Quicksilver]

Thank you Pierre for your clarification on these badges. Very much obliged. Should you find the date they were introduced I would be pleased to hear from you. I wonder how many different back ground colours there are. The signals has the roman suit of armour with the heraldic Tau for Transmission with light blue but as mentioned earlier, I have seen the same with a yellow background for airportable signals. One wonders if there are other background colours for para, legion, commando and other specialist units.
Thank you again for your assistance.
Cliff Lord

[Pierre]

Hi Cliff,
I would say that this uniform was introduced in 1990-1991. I've joined the NCO school in april 1990 and we had the old kakhi uniform. When I arrived in my regiment in june 1991 I was given the bran new uniform.

if I remember well:

- génie (engineers) have the same badge but without the T and enamel backing is black.
- Chasseur alpins (mountain troups) have a horn an yellow (joncquille) backing
there was one regiment of infanterie alpine(159RI) similar uniform but with infantry collars.
- A.L.A.T (Army air Corps) Wings + star with medium blue backing.
- Troupe de marine (French marines) Anchor with dark blue backing
- Parachustistes d'infanterie de Marine (Para Marines) have the same collar badge (they belong to the infanterie de Marine).- see photo
-Regiment étranger d'infanterie (Infantry legion) - legion shape grenade with green backing.


I'm not 100% shure for the followings
- Régiment de chasseurs parachutistes (regular para) "I think - The wing and sword with orange backing"
-Regiment étranger parachutiste (Foreign legion para) - the wing and sword with green backing.

I'm in the A.L.A.T
I remember we had a pilot (officer) coming from the Cavalry, on his uniform he had the wings but they were white metal on dark green backing!!!
So officers can have different collars ift they go to other corps.

The Fusilier-marin et commando de marine don't have them- they belong to the navy.
The Commando de l'air don't have them ,they belong to the Air force.

Cheers.

Pierre

[Pierre]

You also have unique regiments.
Regiment de marche du Tchad ( chad origin - infantry) - régiment de spahis (north african origin - cavalry) . 1 Para hussars regiment, 1 dragon para, 1 artillery para, 1 foreign legion tank regiment, one foreign legion engineers, 1 marine tank regiment...........
I don't know their collar badges,

[Quicksilver]

Thank you Pierre for your very detailed reply. It is most interesting and I can see I still have a lot to learn about the French military.
Best wishes
Cliff

[Pierre]

Hi again;
The same transmission collar badge with yellow backing?
Perhaps the "régiment des transmissions" that was in Grenoble an part of the 27th BCA (Brigade de chasseurs alpins). When I was in Gap (french alps), we usued to airborne them on the top of the montains with their radios,and stuff.
Usually the yellow backing is for the chasseurs alpins.
cheers mate.

Pierre

[Quicksilver]

Pierre, the same Transmission collar badges were on the Belgian Exxy site but with the yellow backing and it said they were for airportable or airmobile signals. Sounds like your explanation is the answer.
No worries mate, she'll be right.
Cliff