Veteran

Hi Chris I can understand your excitement about this very unusual find. It certainly looks right to me. The "ribbon" is quite unique. Just cannot remember seeing anything quite like that before, it looks homemade to me.. Sorry I cannot suggest anything about the written statement in the back. Salut !

I quite understand. My reaction came from the difference between "Francs-Tireurs" which were basically irregulars and the strict legionnaire soldiering. It may be that he was part, at one time or an other during that war, of one of those Francs-Tireurs units. If so my guess would be that he was no more (or not yet) a legionnaire. Just a thought about your interesting badge. Hope it is useful.

An interesting badge, no doubt. But what makes you think it relates to the French Foreign Legion ? A number of foreign volunteers fought on the French side during the 1870-71 war against Germany, serving with a variety of units. It is also true that three battalions of the Foreign Legion also took part in the war. To be quite honest, that type of badge is not very much in the French style.... but so many strange things happen, n'est-ce pas ? Thanks for showing it. Let's hope someone comes up with a good answer. Sorry I can't be more constructive. Veteran

Hi Chris You are right. This man was a true warrior. Thanks for sharing Paul

This may well be an interesting custom-made unofficial pelisse for a French hussard NCO. Were they tolerated (?) or worn "privately" ?: The unusual features are : Less fur linings than officers' pelisses. The back part is far less ornate. The rank chevron should never be. The lace on the collar which would have been used to wear on one shoulder Hungarian style, a practice officially barred to French cavalry officers since the end of the Second Empire (1870) Obviously not an official issue, was it produced by a good Paris military taylor who was used to making officers' pelisses and would have "adapted" their pattern to "fit" a request from NCOs ? I confirm ralstona's information : all light cavalry officers - and them only - could wear a pelisse, Regards Veteran

Hello Eric I cannot be precise as to why I have this feeling, Possibly its very light blue colour and the fact it is a "pelisse" restricted to cavalry officers' wear and was not supposed to bear rank insignia .Rather more like a cold weather short coat to be worn over the uniform jacket. I do have a good reference book which shows a picture of an Hussard officer wearing a more elaborate one in 1895. It is very much like yours. My knowledge of uniform values amounts to nothing.... I am a medal collector. But since you asked and I thought I could help, I just answered your post. Best regards Veteran

Hello Eric, You are right : pre-WW1 French hussard NCO's walking-out jacket.... possibly "improved". The silver chevron on the lower part of each sleeve is for a "marechal-des-logis" i.e. sergeant. Very nice and spectacular piece of uniform Congratulation Veteran

The first picture is probably a fireman. The second, which is clearly Napoleon III period, is a Second-Lieutenant, possibly of one of the Grenadiers de la Garde Imperiale Regiments. The rank might be a Chef de bataillon (Major) depending how the shoulder plates really looked like, but I rather doubt that. Veteran

Hello Camerone54 The 5e R.E.I. (Regiment Etranger d'Infanterie) was the traditionnal unit in Indochina before and during WW2. They suffered greatly at the end of the Japaneese occupation. I personnally have met one of the survivors quite recently. They were fully intitled to the INDOCHINE clasp to their WW2 Commemorative Medal. If you saw them with the EXTREME-ORIENT clasp, they may have had trouble finding the proper INDOCHINE clasp and simply used the easy to find Colonial Medal clasp. I saw the survivors when they were brought back to Sidi-bel-Abbes late in 1945. But that was quite some time before the Commemorative Medal came into existence. Regards Veteran

Hello Frankly, this is the first time I see this sort of pleasant looking jewellery. It certainly relates to no official order or decoration of the Napoleonic period. It would even be difficult to say what period it is. I sincerely hope someone has better information to give. Veteran

Thank you all for this wonderful post. My cross has been carefully scrutinised and no sign of a mark of any kind can be seen on any of the arms. It certainly looks very much like the 4th class badge last shown by JapanX; Congratulationss for the fine series of crosses shown ! I am very grateful. Veteran

Paul I tend to agree with your suggestion. It makes full sense to me and really puts in better words what I meant by "Kerensky Period". I hope other members of this forum will be kind enough to express their thoughts about the whole thing. Thanks again. Paul

Thank you all for your kind attention to this post. Here is as large a scan as I can manage to produce. The enamel has a "see-through" quality, showing the metal background. This background looks very much like the older crosses made by the Russian jewellers which French makers have not usually tried to produce.. Hope this helps. Best regards Veteran

Thank you Paul for this quick and considered information. I have had this for decades now and strangely a very similar cross with swords was recently sold on eBay. This is why this one came back to my mind. It does not look truly post-WW1-french, which are usually silver or silver gilt with proper hallmarks. Rather like this Cross of Saint-Georges, with flat enamels not the bulbeous look of the Saint Wladimir cross shown : But this could nevertheless be the case. Your help is, as usual, highly appreciated. Thanks again. Paul

Hello everyone Could this gilt metal 4th Class cross of the Order of Saint Wladimir be one of the post Csarist period ? The enamels look quite good and the arms of the cross are bulbeous. No hallmarks as far as I can see. Anyone have an idea ? I really wonder how one can tell them. Best regards Veteran

Paul is rignt about the ALLEMAGNE clasp. It goes with the French WW2 Commemorative Medal. We received it for operations after the Rhine and the Siegfried Line had been passed, at the very end of the European campaign. The EXTREME-ORIENT clasp rather belongs to the Médaille coloniale for operations in Indochina between 1946 and 1954. Best regards

Hello blueman Nice helmet. Are you sure it is French ?

Hello Xtender This is an interesting date on a medal for Tuscany : in 1862; Ferdinand IV had been deposed following the establishment of the Kingdom of Italy (1860). The Grand Duke was a member of the Austrian Imperial family and retired to Austria after the victory of the Sardinian and French armies. Could this medal have been struck (and awarded?) to Tuscan loyalists in recognition of their services during the war which was lost by their side?. Both the Military and Civilian Orders of Merit had the same ribbon, it could be a medal attached to one of them (see Spada, A. : Onori e Glorie / Regno d'Italia e Antichi Stati Italiani. Milano 1977). I too would like to know what it really is and eventually what it could be worth. It might be quite scarce. Thanks for showing these good pictures.

Thank you for your interest and quick answer. I will send a picture as soon as I can get to my scanner. Dr. Kovache received the medal for saving the lives of Greek sailors on board the tanker Georgius V after a boiler explosion. He remained with them for nearly three weeks despite the fact that their ship was close to sinking. This explains the Greek and French awards. But why was the Loyd's medal awarded ? Best regards

Hello all, A silver Lloyd'a medal for saving life at sea was awarded to Dr; Claude (or Charles) KOVACHE of the French M.S. Jean Laborde 10 August 1970. I am writting up the story that goes with it and would very much like to know : 1. At what date the award was made by Lloyds and what were the reasons mentioned for it (if any)? How many were made during the years 1970 & 1971? 2. How many of these medals were ever awarded to Frenchmen and foreigners at large ?. 3. Is there a "reference book" for these medals, which appear to have been sparingly awarded ? The Lloyds medal came in a group with French Order of Maritime Merit (chevalier), French Merchant Marine bronze medal for saving life at sea (only 33 during the year), French Life saving Society (Société Nationale de Sauvetage en mer) silver medal and Greek silver gilt Maritime Lifesaving medal. Dr. Kovache also held the WW2 French Croix de guerre. Thank you for reading this note. The slightest bit of information will be grafully received. Best regards Veteran

The additionnal information helps understand the situation better. The last picture is in metropolitan troups uniform : the number on the collar (163/8?) could be an infantry or a artillery regiment. With his pall in Foreign Legion uniform, he is a Legionnaire 1st class, possibly in Indochina.. I was under the impression that you thought he was serving in Indochina in the 1950s. From the story, he probably was serving with the 5th Foreign Infantery Regiment (5 R.E.I.) which was the normal Legion Regiment in Indochina prior to 1940. They stood up against the Japs in 1945 with near total losses. (I met a survivor last year, the story is incredible). Regards Veteran

HI What makes you think these items are insignia of existing order ? They could have been made as costume jewellery or theater props. Best regards Veteran

Hello Rob I cannot help wondering about that picture.... the tie & that shirt I just could not figure worn by a self respecting non-com in the Legion!!! The shoulder rank stripes would be more like a sergent's from what I can see. You would NEVER have passed the gate in Sidi-bel-Abbès wearing any thing like that: Best regards Veteran

This is normal wear-and-tear on Legion of honor badges, since they were permanently worn when they belonged to a serving officer Their enamel has always been delicate and most makers would currently re-enamel damaged badges in the 1800s. Perfectly complete badges are nicer to look at, but they were possibly re-enamelled or may have been owned by civilian recipents who wore them only very occasionnally. Yours a straightforward looking badge. Veteran

That's just it ! Thanks Hendrick