French M15 Muslim Cavalry Helmet

[Allan H.]

I recently posted a French Horizon Blue tunic that I found in Kansas. Here is a second piece that showed up from the same source. Here you will find a French M15 combat helmet that has been repainted to the olive/ brown color normally seen on WWI  vintage helmets. The most interesting thing about the helmet is the front plate! Below the RF letters for the Republic of France is the crescent moon associated with Muslim troops. The French used both Algerian and Turkish soldiers as cavalry, refered to as "Spahi." 

 

Here are views of the interior of the helmet and a close up of the markings on the rim.

 

I would appreciate any input that the group may have on this piece.

 

Allan

[patches]

Zouaves also wore this type of insignia, Zouaves were as we know White Frenchmen, they were just part of the Colonial Army, I think the Algerian, Tunisian and Moroccan Tirailleurs wore this plate too, though not the Foreign Legion, they wore the Flaming Grenade.

[toitoine66]

To be correct not only the Zouaves wore this type of insignia, this is the "Armée d'Afrique" Army of Africa = troops based in North Africa, originally to maintain order there. This includes the foreign legion, the zouaves, the Algerian riflemen, spahis, African hunters, African artillery, BILA etc... But the foreign Legion wore the grenade you right on this point.

 

And to continue about the Adrian helmets insigna, the Grenade mixed with the anchor are the Colonial army = intended to serve in the colonies outside North Africa: colonial infantry, colonial artillery (colonial "white", based in mainland France), Senegalese, Malagasy and Annamite riflemen (based in the colonies). Small exception, the RICM created in Morocco.