WWII French Tunic ???

[chainsawrich]

Can anyone tell me what period this tunic is ? There are no dates or markings I can find. I cant find any referance anywere.

[byterock]

Corporal in the 416th Cavalry from the badges.

Not sure if it is pre, post or wartime though.

[Garulfo]

IMHO the rank is Lieutenant (1st lieutenant) : 2 gold braids.

Pattern looks pre or wartime to me (don't remember when this tunic was introduced, maybe 1938).

[chainsawrich]

Thanks guys. I can not find any information on a french 416th cav or ID. Anyone have a link or more info on it....???

[byterock]

True could be a Lt as well.

Are the bars paralell or at an angle?

I was looking at the collar tabs as officers did not wear them normally like this and the match up to what a corporal's would look like.

If they are yellow they could Sergeants.

Can we get a close up?

[chainsawrich]

Here they are

[byterock]

Looks like an LT then

[Gordon Craig]

Chainsawrich,

I don't think this is a calvary tunic. According to my reference books, during WWII the French infantry wore brown collar tabs with blue stripes but they were supposed to have red numbers and not gold. That may only have been true for enlisted men though. Officers may have had gold numerals. This last is an educated guess on my part as I am not a French uniform collector. Try looking for the 416th Infantry Regiment and see what you find.

Regards,

Gordon

[chainsawrich]

Nope, nothing on a 416th Infantry Regiment either. Whats strange is I can find no record of a French 416th anything.......

[Garulfo]

I find some info : this tunic was introduced in 1939. Don't believe that it was used after the war or for short time only. There was a 416th infantry regiment certainly formed during WWI but I can't find more info, IMO it's a reserve unit.

So this is a 1939 tunic for an infantry lieutenant. Gold numerals on the tabs are the rule for officers. Dark blue is for line infantry.

[peter u]

Hello,

Their is a 416e RP régiment de pionniers (416th pionnier regiment) the problem is that patch is khaki but should have no "soustaches".
Sorry I can't find a 416 RI (régiment d'infanterie) in the list I always use for my westfeldzug research, a khaki patch with two blue soustaches is the collar patch for an infantry regiment.

Cheers,
Peter

[chainsawrich]

I was able to find a Lt uniform for sale and its a match except its a Artillary patch. It also has the two black soustaches.

Link https://www.advanceguardmilitaria.co...ebCategoryID=6

[peter u]

Hello chainsawrich,

The tunic for sale with advanced guard has the same problem with the patches as the example this thread started with.
The patch on this uniform also doesn't match any possibilty on the list to read French collar patches for 1939-40.
In my list the "grenade" is the symbol on the collar patch of tank units.
So how could that be explained in combination wit artillery buttons and the infantry colours of the patch itself?
Could these tunics perhaps be post 1940 examples?
Because I have it difficult to find a periode picture (1940) from a French officer that wears that type of tunic.

Cheers,
Peter

[chainsawrich]

Thanks guys for all your help. I will be putting it on the Estand for sale. It is a very nice tunic and I hope it finds a good home.