Along with the Pith Helmut and the Fez, the beret has it's place in our nostalgia line. Fellow AR member JBdeRunz once provided this link for those who would like to obtain an original beret from France. There are all types: the classic beret Basque, the French Foreign Legion beret, Monty's English style beret, etc. www.chapellerie-traclet.com Unfortunately the site is only in French but just follow the links to beret and you should be able to see what's available.

Check the link "berets homme" to get the men's line.

Talking about berets
What is the coin that Capstick has in his beret ?

Cheers,

André

I would like to know why the beret came about and its srong association with commando or special forces.

Was it based on some practical aspects.

Mike

In France there is a museum for almost everything, including the beret. The history of the Beret is ancient; the word is derived from the Latin "birrus" or birrum". Since time immemorial man has made hats and caps out of wool. There are apparently records of Cyprien, archbishop of Carthage and martyrised in 258 AD, with a beret as part of his sacerdotal uniform. In western Europe its oldest recorded existance is in the Bearne and Landes (southwest) regions of France and has been the typical rural headware for centuries. The oldest written reference to it is a Landaise text from the 15th century.

The generally accepted explanation for its popularity with armed forces comes from the Carlist wars in Spain from 1834 to 1840 when it became popular with the Basque based forces. There is no consensus on just when the beret became a patriotic symbol for the French in times of war. Now berets have regional shapes and colors. In Basque country it is red for festive occasions, in the Alpes it is wide and floppy worn with the excess to one side.

Does the French beret come with a white flag?

M16, Do you know of many instances where the French Foreign Legion surrendered? I think you will find that their tradition is to die first. In fact, their biggest celebration (Cameron in Mexico) commemorates a battle in which they were almost wiped out to the last man. You need to read up on Legion history. The regular French Army is, on the other hand and like most of the US Army, staffed with people who entertain the idea of getting out the shit alive.

Wink,
Thank you for a fantastic homepage!
I haven't seen so many Berets since I left the Euronaval exhibition, Paris in year 2002!

The Berets place at the Safari is in my humble opinion during the Breakfast! Toghether with strong black Coffe anda Croisant (right spelled?)

I would go for the "Béret de chasseur alpin"

Husky

The beret is also the best hat to wear when you're in the back of the pickup barrelling down some dusty road with your rifle in the rack and your hands on the hip flask of Knockandu.

Wink

Thanks for the info

Cheers,

André

quote:

Originally posted by Wink:
The regular French Army is, on the other hand and like most of the US Army, staffed with people who entertain the idea of getting out of the shit alive.

I'm glad you specified "most." There are still some of us with a "DIP" mindset.

And for the record, I have a lot of respect for the FFL -- not for who pulls their strings, but for them as soldiers.

Russ