Berets

[craigtx]

In perousin' the Doursoux website I came across the "three piece beret" would this be a correct design for use for FIW and Algeria?

I know that the modern beret designs aren't quite right.

[lew]

I have one of Doursoux's three piece berets. It's well-made and will work great for an Indo/early-Algérie impression.

The one piece béret appeared as the Mle. 52. The three piece was sometimes seen in Algeria, more so in the early years, but it was rapidly overtaken by the one piece. There are pictures of of the single (seule) piece being worn by support troops loading paras into C-47's to be dropped on Dien Bien Phu. These were probably airborne support units, and therefore Metropolitan paras (blue berets). Some pictures show the one piece berets being worn as they are today: tight to the head. The vast majority were worn slightly looser, but not quite as baggy as the three piece.

Other than being worn tighter, the berets worn by today's French forces are basically identical to those used during the period, at least externally. The colors have not changed since they were adopted. Maker's marks will obviously differ. For Indo, stick with the three piece for colonial and Legion paras to be on the safe side. The blue beret adopted by the Metropolitan paras in 1952 would have been mostly that year's model. I do have un béret blue de trois parties. The band is my head size, but it fits more like a chef's hat. It's monstrous.

[craigtx]

Good to know! It gives me an excuse to get one, maybe two (one legion, one para). How do the sizes run? My size needed tends to differ per hat style. I measure a 23 1/4 so I'm either a 7 3/8 or 7 1/2 (59 or 60) my one piece Legion beret is a 60 the 59 was just a tech too small...

[lew]

The fit on the three-piece is a little snug. I usually wear a 59, but could probably have gotten away with a 60. Still wearable, though. Reminds me, I should get off me arse and get un insigne de béret for it.

[craigtx]

I'll prolly go with a 60 then. unfortunately I've got one of those inbetween sizes. I have a 59 1/2 and a 60 kepi and they both fit well. Go figure...

[lew]

I bought four each maroon (amarante) and blue (bleu roi) for Metro and colonial paras. All were made by the same company, and no two fit exactly the same despite being either 59 or 60. Thankfully, I erred on the larger side for most.

I have two Legion berets (57 and 59) and two Commandos de Marines berets (57 and 59, one with insignia) if you or anyone else is interested. I am no longer interested in portraying those units, so those sit unused.

[craigtx]

I'd be interested in the 59 Legion beret, although I'm a little nervous given my track record with size 59 berets. What are ya lookin' to get out of it?

[toussant]

I'm thinking about making an in country version of a three piece beret as seen in Guyader's book on the Legion. I already have some green woolen material that is virtually identical to the one piece original I have in my collection- I think I'd like to also add the two piece wool ribbon in red and green in proper Legion fashion- any thoughts or suggestions friends?
---Toussant

[lew]

Suggestions: Go for it. That sounds like a great project. Just make sure that your skill level can produce a decent result. In-country tailors were quite skilled. What are you going to use for the head band- leather? Good luck!

[toussant]

Yes, I will use thin black leather as found on edge binding on other berets. I have some pretty decent hand sewing skills of my own having hand sewn a number of personal items for my French/Indian War colonial unit from the past 25 years. I'm pretty sure I could do it as the beret is so similar to the pieced Scots bonnet I use from the time period- tight tiny stitches that are finer than the results one can get from a mere machine. I still need to find out how to take and post pictures...
Adieu!
---Toussant

[rasperguy]

Can someone post the link for the correct Indostyle berets, also for the one piece for Algeria the way you get it tight is buying the beret two sizes too small, use boiling water to wet, ring out excess water, and stretch it to your head, it will mold onto it, then pack in news paper the molded beret and let dry. US and French style berets today are done this way, a fopau is to wear it chef, (cook) style floppy. When the Army adopted those stupid black berets it was comical seeing everyone who never wore a beret wear it, whole regiments of chefs...

[toussant]

I have been using Raymond Guyder's book on the French Foreign in Indochina. It has a HUGE collection of many of the various colors and materials that were deployed in the construction of berets. Several really cool examples use the recycled 'frogskin' camo from US hbt clothing and/or jungle packs! I'm not sure if this is a guide to all berets in country, but it may be a good start to research what you're looking for...
Adieu!
---Toussant

[lew]

Oct 21, 2015 23:01:04 GMT -5 rasperguy said:

Can someone post the link for the correct Indostyle berets, also for the one piece for Algeria the way you get it tight is buying the beret two sizes too small, use boiling water to wet, ring out excess water, and stretch it to your head, it will mold onto it, then pack in news paper the molded beret and let dry. US and French style berets today are done this way, a fopau is to wear it chef, (cook) style floppy. When the Army adopted those stupid black berets it was comical seeing everyone who never wore a beret wear it, whole regiments of chefs...

Wearing it tight is not period-correct, as least as far as the average goes. A small percentage did, but most were floppy, one-piece or not. Period photos are fairly easy to discern if a beret is featured, since the tight-to-the-noggin style appeared in the mid to late-'60's.

[rasperguy]

Oct 22, 2015 23:02:51 GMT -5 lew said:

Oct 21, 2015 23:01:04 GMT -5 rasperguy said:

Can someone post the link for the correct Indostyle berets, also for the one piece for Algeria the way you get it tight is buying the beret two sizes too small, use boiling water to wet, ring out excess water, and stretch it to your head, it will mold onto it, then pack in news paper the molded beret and let dry. US and French style berets today are done this way, a fopau is to wear it chef, (cook) style floppy. When the Army adopted those stupid black berets it was comical seeing everyone who never wore a beret wear it, whole regiments of chefs...

Wearing it tight is not period-correct, as least as far as the average goes. A small percentage did, but most were floppy, one-piece or not. Period photos are fairly easy to discern if a beret is featured, since the tight-to-the-noggin style appeared in the mid to late-'60's.

For Algeria yes, for Indo no...agree

[lew]

We're on the same page, then. Cool.

[timp]

I'm looking fr a bleu roi example

[timp]

Just been on  doursoux website and they appear to do blue three piece berets so happy days but can anyone vouch for their accuracy? 

[craigtx]

Steve (Lew) seems happy with his.

Craig

[lew]

Yes, mine are fantastic. I had the opportunity to compare it with an original before I sold that off. They could easily pass as originals if it weren't for the lack of maker's marks. I think the blue looks better than the red, too. I may be biased with my predilection for the Metropolitan para units, though.