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Post by mahlmann on Mar 2, 2009 14:20:55 GMT -5
Hello,
I finally managed to get my Kepi Blanc today. What I am curious about is when would the white cover be worn? When would it be left off? Also, would these rules be the same for WWII as post war?
Grayden
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Post by oggy on Mar 2, 2009 18:44:32 GMT -5
At all times...The Kepi Blanc by the FICW was a Walking Out/Dress item.
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Post by lt13demi on Mar 2, 2009 19:49:24 GMT -5
Veeeeeeeeery early in Indochine they were seen on duty. I think this was due to a lack of other headgear. Were talking like 1945-46. But oggy is right. Use a beret , calot, helmet or chapeau du brousse for field work! Even pith helmets were used early on.
Renault
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Post by cookie on Mar 16, 2009 12:44:53 GMT -5
Haiphong Harbour, 1955. Legionnaires are standing around watching VietMinh troops enter the town. They are wearing M47's and Dark Kepi's.
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Post by Legion Etrangere on Aug 11, 2009 10:47:48 GMT -5
mahlmann,
There are several pics I have seen of kepi's being worn in theatre, including some ECPAD photos from Dien Bien Phu with Legionnaires in the workshops. There is the famous photo of the pass in review of 3e REI at Phu Dong as well as other locations.
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Post by lt13demi on Aug 13, 2009 22:11:06 GMT -5
Thank you Martini for reminding us of those pics of the Legionnaires at DBP, re-assembling the M24 Chaffees wearing their KB's! Those are pretty popular photos!  Good call!!!!!!! I think by this time these Legionnaires were not that concerned about kodak moments, and were wearing what they had! ;D Renault |
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Post by soldatsoucy1 on Aug 14, 2009 7:21:39 GMT -5
Not an Indochine photo, but there is a photo in one of Martin Windrows Men at Arms books... i think it is French Foreign Legion Since 1945...on page 96 there is a photo from Bosnia 1996 showing Legionnaires on patrol in a armored vehicle. They are wearing their Kepi Blancs. The caption states at the end "characteristically, the Legion wish all comers to know who exactly who they are"
italics mine.
Doc
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Post by oggy on Aug 14, 2009 8:35:07 GMT -5
When I was in Kiseljak, back in 95, we were co-located with a Sqn from the REC - they never wore the KB, so I suspect that photo was posed...
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Post by cookie on Aug 14, 2009 14:25:10 GMT -5
Good PR though.
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Post by oggy on Aug 15, 2009 6:04:58 GMT -5
Oh Yeah!!!! Mind you, I can see them showing their presence in Sarajevo in that way...Sniper, what Sniper? |
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Post by rockape867 on Jul 13, 2018 5:40:53 GMT -5
At all times...The Kepi Blanc by the FICW was a Walking Out/Dress item. When wearing the kepi,which by our period was predominantly for walking out or formal parades, the white cover was worn at all times by junior ranks and sometimes on specific parades by Sergents. Dark kepis were worn by senior NCOs and Officers for all occasions. The white kepi has been the official headgear of the Legion since before WW2 and was first worn in public at the Bastille Day parade in Paris 1939. |
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Good call!!!!!!! I think by this time these Legionnaires were not that concerned about kodak moments, and were wearing what they had! ;D