In May 1940 the German Army invaded France and six weeks later Paris fell. An armistice was signed between France and Germany, but Charles de Gaulle quickly formed a government-in-exile and created the Free French Forces.
One of the principal units raised was the 1st Free French Division, which was first organized under British sponsorship as the 1st Free French Light Division in May 1941 near Tel Aviv. This unit was issued British equipment including sun helmets – and it engaged Vichy authorities in the Levant (modern day Lebanon and Syria). Units of the division continued to serve with Allied Forces and fought at Bir Hakeim and El Alamein.
A period photo of a Free French soldier – he wears British equipment but is armed with a French MAS-36 bolt action rifle. A close up of the Free French helmet plate is also seen (Private Collection)
The division was later was reformed as the 1st Free French Division in February 1943, and subsequently fought in the Tunisian Campaign in April and May 1943. The unit then garrisoned Libya before being reequipped with U.S. weapons and uniforms before taking part in the Italian Campaign. As noted the unit relied on a variety of equipment and Free French forces continued to utilize French equipment including sun helmets, as well as British sun helmets.
Author Roland Hennequin noted in his book Casques Militaries Français that British helmets were “worn by elements of the 1st DFL (Free French Division) in Africa in the early 1940s. The rare tricolour enamelled brass insignia decking the helmet is fixed by two horizontal clips folded into the cap.”
A close up of the enameled badge (Author’s Collection)
This particular badge has been faked, but original examples – as noted by Hennequin and other sources – highlight that originals are enamelled. Many of the copies/fakes that show up have brush strokes or the paint is crazed and cracked. Baked enamel paint from this era would be smooth to the touch and there would be chips rather than cracks.
The type of Wolseley helmet that was used with the Free French helmets isn’t spelled out, but photographic evidence would suggest that the helmets were likely produced during the wartime – noted by the fact that these have three or less folds in the puggaree.
This example above is made of pressed felt rather than cork and was likely produced in 1941 or 1942 and would be in keeping with the types of helmets that were issued to British and allied forces in North Africa at that time. The enameled badge was not likely used that long, likely as it made the wearer stand out – but also because by the middle of 1943 the Free French forces were being issued with American equipment including the M1 steel helmet.
The Wolseley was not the only type of helmet used in North Africa and the Middle East, as Bombay Bowlers and other Indian pattern sun helmets – as well as civilian model sun helmets such as the “Standard Pattern” were also pressed into service.
The Free French also utilized their own respective Model 1931 pattern helmets as well. Many of these were reissued with the divisional badge that featured the Cross of Lorraine – which likely appealed more to the French soldiers than the tricolored badge.
A British “Standard Pattern” sun helmet – similar in appearance to the French Model 31 sun helmet. This example features the Free French Cross of Lorraine flash (Collection of the Musee d’Armee in Paris)