FFL | French coloured side caps, Indochina War

[The Saint]

Side caps worn by French troops during the Indochina War. The colours are according to the arm-of-service.

The origins of these caps came from WW2 when the Free French were clothed in British or American uniforms. The troops adopted coloured caps as a way to distinguish their nationality, starting in the Italian campaign.
The arm-of-service colours were definitely codified in 1946, often following the tunic cloth/facing combination of pre-1914.

From L to R : Sergeant of Transport Corps, Moroccan Spahis (Light Cavalry), Foreign Legion and Marines.

[filupe]

They look bloody good, Eric - no doubt they'd look even better on 'Marcel' ... did you custom make these or are they available from somewhere?

[ActionMan]

Beautiful work!

[The Saint]

Thanks.

filupe, I made them, on commission (except the Spahis), and certainly can do others.

Cheers

[AEB1]

Eric these are brilliant! If you are willing to make more, I would certainly want a Legion and a Marine one.

[vart]

Just Beautiful !! (as usual)

Bravo !

[The Saint]

Thanks, gents.

AEB1, I am rather busy at the time, but I will tell you when I can work some more.

Here's a picture showing the cap in use by two officers :

[dudulle.69]

Hi Eric
I'd like 2 Transport Corps, and 1 marines
Thank you contact me for the price

[romedome]

Nice, Eric!

HmmMMmm. Will any of these work for French Indochina artillery units (e.g. 10th Colonial Artillery Regiment) or Cavalry/Tank Units (e.g. 5e Regiment de Cuirassiers, aka the "Royale-Pologne")?

And also, do you also make French Indochina Cavalry/Tank unit berets, by any chance?

Cheers!
Romeo

[The Saint]

Romeo,

The Colonial Artillery used the general issue Colonial troops side caps. To distinguished them from the other Colonial units, they sometimes put the anchor over a scarlet background.

5e Cuirs had a dark blue with red top cap, no problem in making it. For the anecdote, one of my mother's elder brothers was in "Royal Pologne" in 1953-54.

I have already made a Chasseurs tan beret for my friend Pascal, plus two others in order.

The problem as stated in my reply to AEB is my current lack of spare time, but I will add you to the list.

Cheers

[romedome]

Thanks, Eric! :-)
I'll send you a private message next.
Cheers!

[The Saint]

Two more for variety : Algerian tirailleurs and another Foreign Legion.

These two have the regulation Pattern 1946 cut, with a straight top. It was never as popular as the private purchase cap with curved top (as seen in the first post).

[ladaboy]

Exellent custom work on these side caps

[dudulle.69]

I received my order

[The Ulsterman]

Fabulous work Eric, your work is very neat and precise.
The caps are beautiful.


Neil.

[The Saint]

Thanks ladaboy and Neil.

Dudulle, glad to see they've found their heads.

[romedome]

Beautiful!

[The Saint]

Another one, for a Moroccan Goumiers Lieutenant.
Prior Indochina, these were worn by the Free French European cadres in Italy and France.

[The Saint]

A few more, made for various commissions :

Regulation patterns for Engineers (private first class) and Transport Corps :



Private of Signals, regulation pattern.



French Air Force, 1950s Lieutenant (right) and current caporal-chef (left). The stylised eagle (called 'scavenger') was adopted in the 1970s.

[GregT]

these are stunning, the closer the camera gets the better they look!

Originally Posted by dudulle.69