A French Tanker's badge depicting a British Tank. There is no further explanation. Any ideas?
BTW, the article suggests that the practice of using playing card suits to identify French Tank units might be based on a little pun. Artllerie Spéciale was abbreviated to AS; as is French for "ace". Only a theory.
"Sometimes things that are not true are included in Wikipedia. While at first glance that may appear like a very great problem for Wikipedia, in reality is it not. In fact, it's a good thing." - Wikipedia.
The French Army did order around october 1914 a number of mark V star British tanks. They were delivered post Armistice. They were in use until early 1930. Some, inactive ones, were still present on 1940.
This could be a badge used by these "bataillon de tanks lourds", but I must say that, without being an expert, I have never seen a tissue badge for these units.
Mark V* in October 1914 ! ! It was, of course in 1918.
On 6 November 1918, 99 Mark V* were received by the "Artillerie Spéciale" (camp de Bourron). First in October . . . . and all the tanks before Armistice ! - 86 Mark V* male - 13 Mark V* female
The 424 machine guns arrived by train in Bourron (coming from Tank corps in france) only on 5 th November 1918.
General Estienne's Telegram n° 14527/GQG/Armées du Nord et du Nord/Est du 6/11/1918 (SHD Vincennes carton 16N2130)
The first command was from 175 Mark V* and December delivery for 70 Mark V* was cancelled by Note n° 8394 AS / Direction de l'Artillerie/Sous-Direction de l'Artillerie d'Assaut du 18/11/1918 (SHD Vincennes carton 16N2130).
This badge was not an official badge used by Artillery Spéciale.
Michel
-- Edited by Tanker on Monday 25th of October 2010 10:59:37 AM
The Mk V*s crossed my mind, but the Tank on the badge has the tail wheels of the Mk I. Admittedly, it might have been intended to symbolise the first Tanks to go into action. On the other hand, the French were (and are) rather keen to emphasise the independence of their Tank programme and had already introduced their own emblems by the time the Mk V*s were delivered.
-- Edited by James H on Monday 25th of October 2010 12:27:04 PM
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