French Insignia Question, Free French with DSC and SS Medals?

[AustinO]

Picked this one up in a local shop yesterday because I noticed the Silver Star, then saw the DSC on the other fellow.  Figured I'd give it a go trying to ID the DSC recipient, but have to confess I know very little about French insignia at the end of the war.  

 

I'm assuming they're Free French, basis the US gear, and probably an Alpine unit.  Does anyone recognize the shoulder patch/badge they're wearing? It almost looks like a bulls head with horns on a shield?  Unfortunately the flag is partially obscuring a unit number so thats no help...

 

Any thoughts/comments are appreciated. Thanks!

 

[AustinO]

[AustinO]

Bump to the top, still a mystery to me. 

[easterneagle87]

This is a GREAT shot and hopefully someone will pipe in with some info.  

[toitoine66]

Very difficult to say, there is many many french unit with a shield as emblem. I feel like there is a crescent moon witch could mean this could be an Troupe d'Afrique unit. I guess there is an Loraine cross as well.

 

I will try to find more about this pics

[toitoine66]

Hello,

 

i shared the pic on a french forum, and people saw more things than me. The guys on the left are not US troops but french Colonial Infantry Division, could be the 9eDIC. If you look closely one guy have a ranks on his shoulders and you can see an anchor painted on the helmet tipicly 9eDIC. The guys with the flags could be somes resistants or a Choc Regiment, the 1st Choc regiment got the 235eRI flag. On the flag of this picture there is a "1".

 

[toitoine66]

Hello, there we go we have an answer. 

Thoses guys are the flag guard of the 7e Régiment de Chasseurs d'Afrique 

 

29 february 1944 Italia on the left lieutenant DE ROCHAMBEAU 

 

[Preppy Picker]

I love the helmet!!

[toitoine66]

An other pic with the sames guys:

[AustinO]

Thanks again for all the help toitoine! 

 

I did some more digging this morning and found photos of these guys receiving their CdGs in April 1944 Italy: https://imagesdefense.gouv.fr/fr/le-general-de-monsabert-remet-des-decorations-ici-a-l-aumonier.html

 

And I think this sketch may be the man holding the flag, but I have not been able to find his first name - nor any mention of the DSC medal: https://collectionjeandelpech.musee-armee.fr/la-collection/corvec-7e-regiment-chasseurs-dafrique

 

The man on right in my photo with the facial scar is seen in this Algeria 1943 photo driving the vehicle in a parade: 

https://imagesdefense.gouv.fr/fr/defile-d-une-jeep-amphibie-ford-gpa-du-7e-rca-regiment-de-chasseurs-d-afrique-lors-du-14-juillet-1943-a-alger.html