France RMLE for Veteran...

[Chris Boonzaier]

Done by an Ex Legionnaire...

http://gmic.co.uk/index.php/topic/62022-legionnaire-of-the-rmle/?p=584494

[Bernhard H.Holst]

Hello Chris.

Thanks for bringing this to our attention.

I have seen the "Rhin et Danube" arm patch still in wear. Apparently for reasons of tradition.

Bernhard H. Holst

[Veteran]

Hello Chris and Bernhard

The combat uniform worn by this figure is reasonnably accurate. Except for a few mistakes :

The white kepi was, of course, strictly out. Only worn on parade with the blue wollen belt. Never with combat gear (a U.S.Army kzki forage cap was worn as a service cap).

A "caporal chef" (white kepi with golden band would° have worn a regulation Legion grenade badge with two green and a golden chevrons for rank.

The heavy combat helmet NEVER would have been painted RMLE !!! German sharpshooters were very good and needed no encouragement of the kind.

I cannot remember exactly when the French 1st Army RHIN & DANUBE badges were first issued. But I suspect they were after the RMLE had been reverted to 3rd Foreign Legion infantry Regiment (3e REI) on July 4th 1945. A RMLE legionnaire would therefore not have worh it with his combat gear during the Liberation of France and German campaigns from October 1944 through May 1945;

.

Regards

Paul