German? Swiss? French?

[Chris Boonzaier]

I found this in Morroco...

Looks like a German Jaeger...

[Chris Boonzaier]

A better shot...

[Chris Boonzaier]

But

BAT FUS 16

NoEL 1917

Sounds French/Swiss/ or Belgian?

[avadski]

I think it's french from world war 1. Bat Fus stands for Batallion Fusilier - something like Rifleman Battalion...

[Chris Boonzaier]

Hi,

from the text I would say french.... but did they wear that headgear?

On the back are mountains... but the chasseur Alpin wore totally different headgear...

[Claudio]

Hi Chris,

That's for sure Swiss... it was the Bataillion fusilier 16, of the 3rd Infantry Brigade, 2nd Divison. This unit was formed in the bilingual (French/German) Canton (state/region) of Fribourg/Friburg. The tschako is a typical Swiss one (Ordonnanz/Ordonnance 1898 see link http://www.rost-und-gruenspan.ch/ and http://www.rost-und-gruenspan.ch/downloads...tschako_01.pdf). The medal commemorates very likely the active service (Mobilmachung/Mobilitation) of that unit at the borders during WWI.

Ciao,

Claudio

Edited March 19, 2009 by Claudio

[Chris Boonzaier]

Hi,

an interesting footnote to WW1 history.

Thanks

<Chris