rankfilm Posted August 10, 2018 Share Posted August 10, 2018 Hi all I'm reading a book that has French Foreign Legion soldiers in and it's started me researching the uniform early 1900s I am stumped regarding their headwear. I can find similar Kepi hats when googling - all are predominantly dark blue, leather band with red felt trim. But the hats I have come across range from ww2 to virtually modern day. The only difference I can see is brass buttons or silver buttons Does anyone know if there's a way to determine if they're pre 1900, ww1 ww2, 50s etc... The hats I've found are largely made by Piere Huard & Co Thanks in advance 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rankfilm Posted August 10, 2018 Author Share Posted August 10, 2018 I also keep finding a mix of Kepi's with the insignia stitched on and those without the badge on the front. Does anyone know if they would have been plain or have a stitched badge? Thanks again 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fritz Posted August 10, 2018 Share Posted August 10, 2018 Here is how a pre-1914 regular French infantry Képi should look like, in this case for 91. Régiment d'Infanterie. These were worn with a blue cotton cover in the field and in the the first months of the Great War until gradually replaced with the new horizon blue uniform in early 1915. The foreign legion would have had the same type of Képi, but not with the regular infantry number at the front. They may have had a flaming grenade or an anchor, as often in the case of colonial troops. The side buttons would also have been different as to the regular army, which in the case of the Képi shown had small lightly domed brass buttons with a rim and with a flaming grenade symbol. I had an example many years ago similar to that in the picture, but the number had been removed - the wearer probably became a prisoner of war. Very rare to find nowadays. Note, this cap has a soft top, sloping downward toward the front, quite different to the later stiffened examples, which I find are not so attractive. (internet photos) 1914 period Infantry without numbers. Note side button form. Képi for generals - this example for Marechal Joffre, probably after 1918 General, WW2 period, possibly Vichy France, note different style of decoration This example for an officer of Engineers or Artillery, Prémier Lieutenant, probably early WW1 period 1st pattern early horizon blue early 1915 for other ranks. Capitaine de Réserve, ca. 1939 Képi ca. 1870 for a medical official. Service de Santé 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rankfilm Posted August 10, 2018 Author Share Posted August 10, 2018 Thanks Fritz, it looks like it's the later examples I've been coming across in my research Any ideas why some have insignia and some don't? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fritz Posted August 10, 2018 Share Posted August 10, 2018 Difficult to explain. Some could be identified by their colours. Officers usually had silver or gold braid trimmings. Most military képis would have a regimental number, also the side buttons would indicate the branch of service, whether infantry, artillery, pioneers, etc. Best to consult reference books. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rankfilm Posted August 19, 2018 Author Share Posted August 19, 2018 Hi everyone, Following my previous queries and a recent visit to the Hotel National des Invalide in Paris (much to the disgruntlement of my wife) had got me looking at Victorian Kepi's/hats in general. I've found this example during googling - I'm assuming it's British from the style of the crown. Can anyone tell me if British troops wore the Kepi or if they used a Shako at this point? Is this a legit piece of uniform or an inaccurate reproduction? Thanks 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kenny Andrew Posted August 19, 2018 Share Posted August 19, 2018 The British used pill box caps but I have never seen one like this, the 63rd regiment of foot is the Manchester regiment. I don't know much about the Manchester Regiment but the visor on the cap looks like a German vulcan fiber visor, as far as I know these were never used on British caps, also it does not look over 100 years old to me. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fritz Posted August 19, 2018 Share Posted August 19, 2018 This could most probably be an old German student's cap, of which there were many forms and variations in the 19th and early 20th Century, and still to a small extent present day. Your illustration shows the Victorian crown, which has probably later been added to the cap by somebody. These caps were commonly known as a "Tönnchen" and were worn by the so-called Schlagende Verbindungen, which were élite conservative students corps, each university having it's own corps. Kaiser Wilhelm was in his younger days a member of the "Bonner Borussia" in Bonn, whilst he studied there during his youth. Here are some older examples. Studenten Corps were officially prohibited from 1934-1945. These corps are also traditionally associated with duelling scars (Schmiß). 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kenny Andrew Posted August 19, 2018 Share Posted August 19, 2018 I would agree Fritz, most likely a students cap with extra badges added to deceive 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rankfilm Posted August 20, 2018 Author Share Posted August 20, 2018 Great info as usual guys. Much appreciated. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chip Posted September 27, 2018 Share Posted September 27, 2018 Foreign Legion enlisted man's private purchase cap. This came in a lot from a WWI American pilot along with a French trench knife, but I have been told that it is more like a WWII style cap. The side buttons are the correct pattern for the Foreign Legion. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fritz Posted September 28, 2018 Share Posted September 28, 2018 This has a slightly different shape to the standard line infantry képi, if you compare with previous picture. The Legion buttons have been in use for well over a hundred years, and still basicly unchanged. Example shown is definitely early WW1 or earlier. After 1915 the coloured uniform was replaced by horizon blue, shortly afterwards, the Legion received khaki uniforms of a similar cut to the horizon blue. Definitely not WW2. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fritz Posted July 6, 2020 Share Posted July 6, 2020 More photo examples added at my first post of article 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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