United Nations Police

[Irish]

Here is a grouping of French Gendarmerie type pocket badges. These fall into 2 U.N. groups, Lebanon "UNIFIL" and Yugoslavia "FORPRONU. All being French maker marked on the reverse. I would assume these are all private purchase. Can anyone say what the difference is between the silver and gold badges as far as use and or designation. Many Thanks John.

Edited November 26, 2010 by Irish

[Irish]

A group of Military Police type pocket badges. Locally made. These would be for the UNEF 2 and UNIFIL missions. Interestingly 2 from the Italian contingent

[Irish]

And a brassard for the New Zealand Contingent.

[bmsm]

John,

Welcome to the Forum and you have some very nice badges and arm brassard on display. Keep up the good work and am looking forward to seeing more of your items.

Bob

[Irish]

Thanks Bob, I will continue to post more U.N. pieces. I know this thread was U.N. Police, should I start a new thread for non-police U.N pieces? I quess that is a question for the moderators. I enjoy the civil and educated discussion presented by this Forum. Best John

[speagle]

All,

I have previously posted this pic of some of my pocket fobs, but thought I'd repost as we are talking about UN units. All of these were worn by reps from different countries at Panmunjeom, South Korea.

I beg your forgiveness as this is probably out of the scope of this forum (but I still think they are all pretty neat:whistle:

Thanks

Ed

[Mervyn Mitton]

I can't think of another sub-Forum that would specifically cover all UN Badges and insignia. They are a very interesting subject and are attracting a lot of interest - both Police and Army. Why not keep posting here and if Nick prefers them on another site, he will surely tell-us.

[Les-Art]

Irish,

John, regarding your question on why some of the French Gendarmerie badges are silver and some gold.

Silver - GENDARMERIE DEPARTMENTALE - This is the 'Normal' units that police metropolitan France and overseas areas governed by France.

Gold - GENDARMERIE MOBILE - This is the 'Military' units that are used for 'Maintenance of Order' and have full infantry capability including armoured vehicles.They also work in Metropolitaine France and Overseas territories

The issuance of these badges is a minefield with all the variations produced, some are private purchase and others are issued. The background piece is normally issued and the centre is issued when required, in other words just before you leave for the area.

A general 'rule of thumb' is the more crowded the design the more likely it is a private purchase item. Example - top left of your photo IS an official design for 'PROVOST in LEBANON' it has a design number within regulations and bottom right IS NOT an official design, so it would be a private purchase as a souvenir.

I have seen many ,many designs and I would not be surprised to that it has reached a hundred by now.

Is this any help?

Best Regards,

Les

[Les-Art]

Mervyn,

There is a suitable sub-forum for the NON-POLICE U.N. badges and insignias it is

REST OF THE WORLD - Militaria and Histroy

It already has a thread on U.N. Medals, so don't see any reason why it couldn't have a thread for U.N. badges.

Personally, I would like to see the Military items moved out of the Police Sub-Forum, as most of the Website is FOR Military items, and with this small area designated for the discussion of POLICE items I don't think it would be unreasonable to have it available purely for the discussion of Police subjects.

This sub-forum is the reason I joined this Forum, if it is going to get cluttered with talk about military matters then there seems little point in logging on except to look at the pictures without taking part in the discussions.

Best Regards,

Les

[Irish]

Mervyn,

There is a suitable sub-forum for the NON-POLICE U.N. badges and insignias it is

REST OF THE WORLD - Militaria and Histroy

It already has a thread on U.N. Medals, so don't see any reason why it couldn't have a thread for U.N. badges.

Personally, I would like to see the Military items moved out of the Police Sub-Forum, as most of the Website is FOR Military items, and with this small area designated for the discussion of POLICE items I don't think it would be unreasonable to have it available purely for the discussion of Police subjects.

This sub-forum is the reason I joined this Forum, if it is going to get cluttered with talk about military matters then there seems little point in logging on except to look at the pictures without taking part in the discussions.

Best Regards,

Les

Thank you Les, for the clarification on the Gendarmarie badge colors. Your observation regarding the cluttered look of some badges holds true in most all instances of supposed theater worn insignia. U.N insignia is a very broad and at times confusing area, it is likely best to post all non-police related pieces in a seperate sub forum. Best John

[Mervyn Mitton]

Les - I hadn't realised they were covered on the section you mention. I take your point on keeping this for Police items - after all - it has become a special section. I have no particular powers on the Forum - only a fancy title (!) - how would you suggest we separate them ? Keep going as we are, but new Military on the other Forum - or, ask Nick to move the affected postes from here ? We will then need a list of the posts we are asking to have moved.

What do other members think ?

[Gordon Craig]

Gentlemen,

Since this is a dedicated police forum I think that we sould keep it that way. UN Police badges would certainly fit here but general UN badges really belong on a different forum.

Regards,

Gordon

[Les-Art]

Hi John ( Irish).

Here is some additional info on the French Gendarmerie pocket badges.

The official designs are called 'Homologue', this is the registered design for the Gendarmerie Nationale , if you check the reverse of your badges you will find 'H 696' behind the Knights Helmet, in raised lettering. This is the design registration number for the 'backplate', sorry don't know it's official title, sometimes refered to as the 'plaque'. The backplate comes in three different types of plating - Argent (shiny silver), Vieux Argent (antique silver) and Or (Gold). You have examples of each in your photo. The 'Argent' and 'Or' are issued by the HQ and the 'Vieux Argent' is purchased by members from the equivilent of the US 'PX' stores, although all three types can be purchased if the members require extras for trading, collecting, giving to relatives, etc.

The centre shield, 'Ecu', originally had a design number on the back which corresponds with the 'Official' design created by the Gendarmerie HQ. This number normally takes the form of 'G' followed by 4 numbers in raised lettering on the reverse of the shield at the top. Currently I don't think they appear as it is an extra mould cost to have them included. As with the 'Plaque' these 'Ecu' can be purchased at the PX stores. There were 47 official designs in 1982, however several more have been added since then and I'll have to do a little research on which ones are currently used.

The badge you have with ONU maybe a locally made private purchase, as it looks to be a one piece badge, and the ONU badge is more normally fully enamelled with hard enamel yours has soft.

If you are interested I will try to find out which UN designs are official and which are local.

Best Regards,

Les

[Irish]

Thanks Les for the information on the Gendarm badges. 47 Different designs, I would have never thought that many. You are spot on with the description Of the Homologue # 696, most all of the badges have this. I am showing 2 of these badges again disassembled. the ONU Liban piece has a Arthur Bertrand maker mark while the Ecu shield is not marked and does appear to be of local manufacture. The FINUL Provost badge has a DRAGO made backplate and a DRAGO made Ecu..

The Front

Edited November 30, 2010 by Irish

[Irish]

Reverse disassembled. ONU Liban on Left. FINUL Provost on Right.

[Les-Art]

John,

I have looked at your additional pictures and agree that the ONU Ecu is a locally made piece of poor quality, compared with the issue piece.

The manufacturers ARTHUS BERTRAND and DRAGO are the ones that turn up most often as they have been in production the longest. Other manufacturers have made them but more recently . Just as a matter of information these metal badges are no longer used on working uniforms ,but are now reserved for the Dress uniform and occasions when a smart appearance is required. All Ecu are now embroidered arm patches worn on the left arm, attached by velcro, gendarmes assigned to U.N. duty wear the military shield in the colours of the french flag with 'FRANCE' above. I have not seen any of the UN Ecu as arm patches.

The 47 designs I mentioned cover all the French Departments(counties), specialist units, HQ staff, Air, Maritime and overseas units. Added to this are the areas of French Technical Assistance in Africa, I think 9 countries, the former Colonies of Algeria,Tunisia,Morocco, Indo-china, then there are new Ecu for the Caribean Islands and the Comoros isands. Then we have to add the official designs for the UN, IFOR, KFOR, etc and I think it shouldn't be far of of 100.

Some additional info on your badges , the 'FINUL PREVOTE' is the 3rd design, many Ecu have the same title but designs have changed over the years. The one in your previous photo second from top left is 'EGM Prevote Ambassade de Beyrouth' 1st type, the second type had Blue arabic writing and on the flag, this unit was the defense for the Embassy in Beruit. EGM = Escadron Gendarmerie Mobile.

I have found some more info so will collate it and hopefully be able to tell you what all your badges represent, if you need this info.

Best Regards,

Les

[Irish]

Yes any additional info related to type and design will be appreciated. I must admit I do not know very much on these pieces. Is there a reference book you work from on these badges or from your own accrued knowledge?

Does Amabassade de Beyrouth refer to the Ambassador or the Embassy or is this a distinction without a difference. What would the duties of this individual be? Thanks John

[Les-Art]

John,

Accrued knowledge on most of them. Occassionally come across info in books and the internet, but unfortunately no single source.

'Ambassade' refers to the Embassy. 'Beyrouth' = BERUIT. I don't know exactly the duties of the gendarmerie personnel but as they are GM then I would think they would be Compound defense, personal security for the Ambassador and staff and escort off the compound. If you have seen the movie 'Bourne Identity' then what the Marines do in the US Embassy is basically what the Gendarmes would do. In Lebanon the GM would have Armoured cars available also.

Since 2004 when ' National Service' was abolished in France, the Homologue for those doing service in the 'Gendarmerie Auxiliare', has been re-assigned to regular Gendarmes doing duty at the French Embasses around the world.

Talking about Auxiliare, two of the badges on the top row of your photo are for this type of unit, Ecu is Light Blue top with Grenade and Tree and lower half French Flag, it is the '1er Escadron Marche Gendarmerie Auxiliare, Beyrouth' . Looks like you have two different qualities of construction the one with hard enamel will be the issue one and if the other is poorer quality it will be locally made.

If you have an interest in other French insignias then check out the book 'FRENCH AIRBORNE TROOPS, WINGS AND INSIGNIAS' by Jacques BALTZER and Eric MICHELETTI. Published by Histoire & Collections. This is the English cersions of the book and covers as it states ' there are more than 1.000 present day insignia in this work, 100 from WW2, 150 from the indo-china period, 30 particular to the Algerian conflict, 200 from non-TAP units, 550 from Overseas operations, 150 from the classes. 200 concerning the Lebabnon (of which 150 are of Local manufacture) and 80 which reached us in less than two months during the making of the book'

It does cover some Gendarmerie Units but not all, each items is photgraphed in full colour from the front and some have photos of the reverse if it has interesting markings.

I'll post more info as I find it on the other badges in your photo.

Do you have any other UN police brassards in your collection ?

Best Regards,

Les

[leigh kitchen]

A nice collection of insignia there Irish - there are leathers for some of the the shield shaped French insignia on ebay at the moment - buy 20 for £10.

[Irish]

A nice collection of insignia there Irish - there are leathers for some of the the shield shaped French insignia on ebay at the moment - buy 20 for £10.

Thanks Leigh, I will have a look.

[Les-Art]

Hi John,

Some more info on you gendarmerie badges.

Third form left on top row;

UNIFIL PREVOTE - Escadron Parachutiste d'Intervention.

The lower part of the design represents a parachute canopy.

Haven't been able to find any details on the design of the badge on the right of the bottom row, so it is possibly a local one.

If I find out anything else I'll let you know.

Best Regards,

Les

[Irish]

Thanks Les, I looked closer and you are correct that is a chute, I had not noticed it before. thanks for the help.

FYI... I started another thread for UN Militaria Non-Police in the modern conflicts area.

best

John

[Les-Art]

John,

I think that is the right place for your new thread on UN Military insignias, some great stuff there.

Here is the final identification on the bottom row of your photo, left to right;

PREVOTE - FORPRONU 1st type.

PREVOTE - FORPRONU 2nd type GD

PREVOTE - FORPRONU 2nd type GM

PREVOTE - FORPRONU local - un-official , no other information available

There is an official 3rd type design for this unit, so quite a few more badges are around if you wanted to expand on your French Gendarmerie collection.

Look forward to seeing any other Police related insignias you have.

Best Regards,

Les

[Irish]

Les, Thanks again for your help in indentifying my Police badges. I will post more Police items soon. Best John

[Hebbo]

G'day All,

This was the UN Brassard that was issued to me whilst deployed to UNMIT in Timor 2007. I never wore it. It was issued as some contingents wore their national police uniforms which did not display the UN patch.

Chris