Jump to content
News Ticker
  • I am now accepting the following payment methods: Card Payments, Apple Pay, Google Pay and PayPal
  • Latest News

    Tricolor Shoulder Strap Stripes?


    Recommended Posts

    Guest Rick Research

    This photo was sent from St. Avold on 22 June 1916, though I suspect it may have been taken much earlier from the quality of the uniforms and those snazzy corduroy trousers! What ARE thse two ? freshly recruited members of Infantry Regiment 173 wearing?

    They do not appear to be One Year Volunteers with some form of mutant Imperial colors

    In fact, they are wearing straps that have no piping at all-- which I'd associate with overcoat straps!

    So are these little black-white-red strips nothing more than passing out of basic training gewgaws?

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    Guest Rick Research

    That's what I figured. "Best platoon of the day," maybe? Sort of like the gummed metallic foil stars we had proudly stuck to our foreheads in grammar school for coloring within the lines or whatever. :rolleyes:

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    Rick,

    By early 1915 the corps and other pipings had been dropped. This was one of the first steps in the simplifications of the manufacturing process for uniforms. Other changes that saved on increasingly hard to get textiles were soon to follow. By 1916, the initial shortages had passed, only to return later in the war as the naval blockade did its work.

    My impression is that these are some sort of patriotic, basic training graduation handouts. Nothing official and not like any of the semi-official strips that were worn on the straps of certain divisions.

    Chip

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    Rick,

    I don't, but a friend of mine has one in his shoulder strap collection. I will contact him and see if he can scan it for you.

    I do have some examples from the 12.Division, which had its various units wear colored strips across the bottom of their shoulder straps. The color varied according to the unit. I have three different straps from the division with the strips.

    Chip

    Edited by Chip
    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    Create an account or sign in to comment

    You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

    Create an account

    Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

    Register a new account

    Sign in

    Already have an account? Sign in here.

    Sign In Now
    ×
    ×
    • Create New...

    Important Information

    We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.