Description
Original Item: Only One Available. Spahis were light cavalry regiments of the French army recruited primarily from the indigenous populations of Algeria, Tunisia and Morocco. At the outbreak of World War Two in 1939 the Spahis comprised three independent brigades, each of two regiments and still horse mounted. Each regiment was made up of four sabre squadrons with five officers and 172 troopers in each. Three regiments saw active service in France in 1940. Hermann Balck was of the opinion that they were the best troops that he met in both world wars. One Spahi regiment (1er Régiment de Marche de Spahis Marocains) distinguished itself in service with the Free French during World War II. Garrisoned in Vichy-controlled Syria as part of a mounted cavalry unit some of the regiment crossed the frontier into the Transjordan in June 1940. After mounted service in Eritrea, this detachment was subsequently reorganized and equipped with armored cars by the British in Egypt. The expanded and mechanized regiment served in Egypt, Libya and Tunisia, and was part of the French forces that liberated Paris in August 1944.
This is an example of a high quality private purchase Spahi officer kepi as used in colonial Morocco. It was issued to an offer with cross design to the crown. Front has the crescent moon with star insignia. The Interior features a blue leather sweatband…
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