Regarding the insignias and the specialty escutcheons of the French Army

(Bulletin of the armies's Republic n° 195 of May 24, 1916)

Regulatory escutcheons are divided into 2 categories:

1) the badges on the straight collar: Rectangular shape.

2) The badges on folded back collar: generally triangular shape.

However, the infantry gretcoat with a folded back collar wears the rectangular badges.

The braids (edging of the escutcheon) are always 2 in number (except for African artillery troops which have 3 braids). They are parallel and form a triangle.

Width: 2.5mm

The badges and numbers are in wool.
The height of the figures is 20 mm.

The collar insignias of Mounted troops in triangular shape.
Maximum length of the long side: 90 mm.
Maximum length of the short side: 50 mm.

The collar tabs of Infantry or Alpine Chasseurs:

Dolmen jacket: 95 mm (height and width),

Greatcoat: height: 85 mm x 105 mm.

The escutcheons are in light background wool in the Infantry and the braid is daffodil - except for the staff secretaries (bluish iron gray) and the clerks, workers and nurses (madder).

Throughout the troop, the escutcheon figures have the same shade as the braids (with some exceptions):

Line infantry: dark blue,

Zouaves: madder,

Tirailleurs (specific colonial Infrantymen): sky blue,

Foreign Legion: green,

Colonial infantry: scarlet,

Foot and alpine hunters: green,

Light Infantry of africa: purple.

For the Cavalry, the insignias are, background and piping: dark blue.

Braid color:

Cuirassier: madder,

Dragon: white,

Hussar: sky blue,

Chasseur: green,

Spahi and African Chasseur: daffodil.

For the Genie, the insignias are in black velvet and the braid is scarlet. The piping is black.

For the Train, the background wool and the piping are green.

For the Gendarmerie, the background wool and the grenade are white as well as the piping.


The battalion discs:

Since July 26 1916, an identification system has allowed the addition below the regiment number of a woolen small disc below the regiment number to identify the battalions. Called battalion discs, they did not become widespread until 1918:

- dark blue for the first battalion,

- madder for the second battalion,

- daffodil for the third battalion, etc.