Berets, Anyone?

Bouwerij_Jongen said:

Daan, a question and an observation about the last photo of
the two Chasseurs Ardennes soldiers standing by their bicycles.

I wonder are these reenactors or are they actual soldiers?
I notice that their berets are pulled down to the right side.

I pull my berets to the right because I am lefthanded and my habitual action is
to use my right hand to pull down the beret over my right ear.

i have seen myriad photos of French Chasseurs Alpins and 90% of the time
the berets are worn pulled down on the left; compared to our two Belgian Chasseurs Ardennes.

I like the boar insignia. A boar is featured in the Franch 9e bataillon Chasseurs Alpins.

The green color is not one I have seen before.
Is that a special Belgium color?

Plus, by Laulhere.

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Good to get "back to business as it should be", after my previous post.
Yes, Bouwerij_Jongen, the pictures of these Chasseurs Ardennais are re-enactors, the uniforms those of the WWII-years. These re-enactments are popular in the Ardennes; the Chasseurs Ardennais is an elite unit similar to the French Alpins.

The bicycles were then an essential part of the regiment, as it's origins lie in a "Wielrijders Regiment", an infantry regiment on bicycles.
The origin of the Chasseurs Ardennais started with a concept conceived in 1914 by Colonel Bremer and pushed further by General Albert Hellebaut in 1928: the creation of a corps on the east border of Belgium, near Germany, in order to protect against a German attack. They were envisaged as a counterpart to the French Chasseurs Alpins light infantry, which inspired the uniform and traditions of the Chasseurs Ardennais but were intended to serve as bicycle infantry with responsibility for guarding the Belgian frontier in the Ardennes.

On 10 March 1933, King Albert I changed the unit's name from "10e de ligne" to "Régiment des Chasseurs Ardennais". Subsequently, these soldiers, stationed in Arlon, wore a wild boar emblem, signifying the Ardennes, on their green Basque-style berets.

You are correct re the way they pull the beret, to the right. It's an interesting story actually; the relatively small Basque berets were/are no hindrance to aiming a gun, but the very large "Tartes" of the Chasseurs Alpins would get in the way of the right eye when pulled to the right.

Since most people, including Chasseurs, are right-handed, it was made a rule to pull the tarte to the left.

And yes, the colour is a special shade of green that Laulhère exclusively makes for the Chasseurs Ardennais.

Bouwerij_Jongen said:

I sometines run across a vintage carte postale from France that shows someone wearing a beret.
but this postcard photo is my best one yet.
It is from a booklet of photos of Cauterets which is now a spa town/ski resort and commune in the
Hautes Pyrenees just up the hill from Lourdes.
The photo features local hiking guides.
Each guide is wearing a beret and they are a diverse group.
View attachment 263330

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That is a great picture - good find!
Nice to see, but makes me sad too - reminding me of my friend Jean-Claude Pertuzé, who died earlier this year. He was a keen mountaineer, a treasure trove on French mountaineering history and would have been able to name many of the guides pictured.
This is a drawing by him of Armand Charlet (1900 –1975), was a famous French mountaineer and mountain guide:

Charlet was amongst the most celebrated mountaineers and guides of his era.
Claire Engel commented,
"He was head and shoulders above anyone else. His name has been associated for almost fifty years with the toughest climbs in the range of Mont Blanc. All those who have been with him in the mountains have been struck by his impresssive, almost tragic face, his intelligence and culture, and above all by his speed and poise when climbing,"
and Wilfrid Noyce stated that "It was amusing to note how Armand's pre-eminence was recognized by the other guides and hut-keepers. His word was law."

He made 3,000 ascents and guided over 1,200 friends and clients – of whom a third were women. He specialised in ascents of the Aiguille Verte in the Mont Blanc massif, which he climbed 100 times by fourteen different routes, including seven first ascents.

He featured in many of the first mountain films, a genre that developed after the First World War. He was the central character in À l'assaut des aiguilles du Diable (Marcel Ichac, 1942), a mountain film that Engel rates as "little short of a masterpiece".

During the Second World War, Charlet used his mountaineering skills in assisting people to cross the frontier, in defiance of the Germans.
And yes, always with a large beret...

TheOldFashioned said:

@Daan, I've been a passive observer of this thread and have been considering picking up a beret. I recently came across a simple black vintage one with this label and was wondering if you could provide any information:
View attachment 270356

I tried researching on my own but didn't have much success so I haven't bought it (yet). Based on my limited understanding from what I read in this thread that liner type is referred to as bayadère and was popular in the 50s-60s timeframe.

I did actually come across the same label posted on your web site, so I figured I would reach out to you for any additional assistance that you may be able to provide. Thank you for your help.

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Daan said:

Looks like a nice beret in very good condition. Time period more 1950's than 60s. I have come across the label a few times, but don't know who the actual manufacturer is.
The letters 'BZ' suggest a company starting with 'Z' (the 'B' standing for Bérets); this could be Bérets Zephyr, an old-time manufacturer long out of existence, but I am far from sure. It could also be a label used by Blancq-Olibet, who used dozens and dozens of labels over the many decades.

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TheOldFashioned said:

Closing the loop after purchasing the beret in question after a couple listing cycles. It arrived with some more moth nibbles than was shown in the pictures, but still in pretty good shape all things considered, so I'm happy:
View attachment 281325

Dimensions

Size: 59cm
Weight: 78g
OD: 10.5"
​

Thank you again for your help and all your contributions to this thread.

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Philipe said:

looks lke it fits well , moth bites are good for character

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