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Post by dodgevince on Oct 11, 2011 0:56:55 GMT -5
Hi there! I cannot resist in posting a few pics from our last multi-era living history camp, near Tours, along the Loire river on the 1st and 2nd of October... The pics are showing the french volunteers during the 1952 summer time, just before the T-Bone battle Enjoy!      See ya! Vince |
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Post by m1steelpot on Oct 11, 2011 18:57:33 GMT -5
Awesome! Great impressions. also like the fact that you guys aren't afraid to get your clothing and gear dirty and used! Great job guys!
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brigadepiron
Sergeant 
Belgian United Nations Command (BUNC)
Posts: 145 
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Post by brigadepiron on Oct 12, 2011 15:06:30 GMT -5
C’est belle!
Je suis surprisé que la bataillon Français n’ait pas porté des tenus ou des insignes nationaux ? Désolé, je ne sais rien au sujet de la BF ONU !
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Post by dodgevince on Oct 12, 2011 15:43:59 GMT -5
About french gear, uniforms and the like, there is a simple answer:
The french batt. was supposed, from the very beginning to be part of an US Infantry regiment, and was thus organized upon the US Infantry TO/E of the time...
The french, however, left Marseille (October 25th, 1950) dressed with french uniforms, along with US HBT's. When they found themselves in Fusan, the US army found them so poorly equipped against the Korean winter they decided to issue M43's to the french batt. (if ever you find Wehrmacht WWII skis in south Korea... don't ask, we brought them...)
The parkas, arctic sleeping bags were issued later, on the front line (the parkas, not before the 1952 winter!!)
About "national insignia": the french batt. was initially supposed to wear the US made M1944 national emblem (which is, by the way, still in use nowadays: I wore it in Lebanon and Bosnia during the 90's!!) but Gen. monclar found them to close, in shape from the french volunteer legion in russia (632 Infanterie Regiment-Franzosich-). So the patch was not worn... but the french soldiers did wear their original rank system, lots of french regiments insignias (their former corps, and the like) and gave themselves a distinctive "French look" (beards, insignias, etc)
About the gear, it's even more simple: the US Army told the french Gov't they would furnish ammos, but for US weapons... looking back on the large amount of weapons furnished by the USA during WWII, the french left Marseille with standart US Infantry weapons...
Hope this helps!
Vince
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brigadepiron
Sergeant
Belgian United Nations Command (BUNC)
Posts: 145
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Post by brigadepiron on Oct 16, 2011 13:21:54 GMT -5
Merci!
Il y a combien dans votre groupe avec des tenues BF ONU?
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Post by dodgevince on Oct 16, 2011 14:00:08 GMT -5
I'll write my reply in english, for an easier understanding of our US hosts... ^^
Our group has 25 members, all intersted and equipped for the french batt. (aka Bataillon Français de l'ONU, B.F ONU) in Korea...
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brigadepiron
Sergeant
Belgian United Nations Command (BUNC)
Posts: 145
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Post by brigadepiron on Oct 19, 2011 13:46:02 GMT -5
No worries! No chance of persuading your collegues to "convert" to Belgian contingent?  ;D It is good that there are so many interested people! It must be the biggest KW group anywhere no? |
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Post by dodgevince on Oct 19, 2011 14:38:28 GMT -5
I don't know if we are the biggest group for the KW, but we are the only one in France...
I know some Polish pals are also reenacting the KW, but I suppose they are not so numerous!
About "converting"... huh, hehem, weeeeeell... It has been difficult enough to recruit our lads that trying to divert them from the French batt. would be hazardous... to my health!^^
The trick: I opened our group to the WWII era (29th Div in Normandy), got a lot of members and then started to "convert" them to the KW, slowly, quietly, but surely. after a few KW camps, and mostly a few visits to KW French batt Vets, most of them decided to continue KW reenactment...
Hey, what about visiting us for our next camp, or expo (we have one in January)?
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brigadepiron
Sergeant
Belgian United Nations Command (BUNC)
Posts: 145
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Post by brigadepiron on Oct 20, 2011 3:55:58 GMT -5
You seem to have got the right idea ;D!!!
I can't do January but I'll try and get across the border to go to one of your events in the summer! Which one would you recommend?
One of those Polish chaps contacted me about Belgian Korea component reenactment, but he seems to have lost interest...tant pis.
BP
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HocMajorum
Corporal 
Lieutenant - 41 (Independent) Royal Marine Commando
Posts: 27
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Post by HocMajorum on Oct 20, 2011 16:06:50 GMT -5
We might have to arrange a little trip across the channel!
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;D