One Beret, One Corps

To highlight that all service members of the Multinational Corps Northeast form one family in spite of wearing twelve different uniforms, an extraordinary ceremony took place in Baltic Barracks on 14 September 2012, during which all service members put on a dark blue beret with insignia of Multinational Corps Northeast (MNC NE).

‘You need to wear this beret proudly; it is a symbol of our team, community, cohesiveness, loyalty,’ said the MNC NE Commander Lieutenant General Rainer Korff during the ceremony held in Baltic Barracks.

More on the Gendarmerie PM

Some more visual material on the Gendarmerie Nationale Peloton Montagne (see yesterday's post).
Pretty badges, but whether these are worn on the tarte or elsewhere, I don't know.

Overall the uniform seems very similar to that of the Chasseurs Alpins, apart from the flash light blue jacket. 

The Tarte of the Gendarmerie Nationale

It took me by surprise, watching a video of the 14th July celebrations, to see that not only the Chasseurs Alpins wear the tarte, but also the members of the specialised Mountain Units of the Gendarmerie Nationale. 

The unit is named Peloton Gendarmerie (Haute) Montange, or PG(H)M. 

Apart from the link to the French Wikipedia (above), I haven't found much about tartes in the Gendarmerie Nationale. If any reader has more information, I'd love to hear!

Sicily

This picture (and text) come from the blog of NM photographer Jann Huizenga. I like it, and the beret is unmistakingly a Basco Roma, of course...

February 9, 2012

He was sitting in the piazza in quaint little Monterosso Almo, Southeast Sicily, out in front of a bar.

I like your beret. Did you get that in France?

He pulled it off his head to study it, revealing a thick mop of hair the color of sheep’s wool.

No, no. It is from Siena.

Siena?

Si. Siena, Siena, he muttered. Tanti anni fa. So long ago.

Ah!  (I could think of nothing better to say.)

The man got very quiet and a faraway look came into his eye.

I slipped into the bar for a coffee. When I came out, his eyes were still on the horizon and his cigarette unlit.

Thank you, Jann

Zuckertüte

Traditionally, when children in Germany and Austria set off for their first day in school upon entering first grade, their parents or grandparents present them with a big cardboard cone, prettily decorated and filled with toys, chocolate, candies, school supplies, and various other goodies: a Zuckertüte (or 'sugar cone'). It is given to children to make this anxiously awaited first day of school a little bit sweeter.

Looking at these pictures from the 1920's - 1930's, there was also a tradition of berets (and sailor outfits) for the young Germans going to school. 

More dogs, still

Established in 1943 by the PDSA founder Maria Dickin, the Dickin Medal recognizes outstanding acts of bravery displayed by animals serving in the armed forces or civil defense units in any conflict of war throughout the world.

The Dickin Medal is a large bronze medallion with the inscription "For Gallantry" and "We also serve" all within a laurel wreath.

During World War II (1939-45), the founder of the PDSA, Maria Dickin CBE was aware of the incredible bravery shown by animals in active service and the home front. Inspired by the devotion of animals to man and duty, she presented a special medal specifically for animals in war.

 The PDSA Dickin Medal is the highest award any animal can receive while serving in a military conflict.

British Beret with Pompom

I found this picture on the web site of the East Riding (Yorkshire, UK) Museum. It is dated 5th June 1944 and was taken by well-known Bridlington photographer William Foster Brigham, who had photographic shops at 15 Promenade, Bridlington and in Middlesborough.
An interesting combination of a beret and the pompom as worn on French sailors' caps.
Any information much appreciated!

Upcoming Holidays

Yes, it's that time of year again: Summer Holidays (well, for those of us who live in the Southern Hemisphere).

The Beret Project will go into photographs only mode, from the 1st of January, while South Pacific Berets will close shop for three weeks from the 1st of January, while testing some berets for South Island weather conditions.

Needless to say, the web shop is always open and all orders placed will be posted on the 22nd of January. 
And all orders placed until the 31st of December will -as always- be posted within 24 hours!

Pierre Reverdy

Pierre Reverdy ( September 13, 1889 – June 17, 1960) was a French poet whose works were inspired by and subsequently proceeded to influence the provocative art movements of the day, Surrealism, Dadaism and Cubism. The loneliness and spiritual apprehension that ran through his poetry appealed to the Surrealist credo. He, though, remained independent of the prevailing “isms,” searching for something beyond their definitions. His writing matured into a mystical mission seeking, as he wrote: “the sublime simplicity of reality."

More from WWII Germany

Two more vintage photographs from war time Germany (supposedly; all information I could find is what you read here).

Not the most stereotypical was of dressing for a young lad in Nazi Germany - no idea about the story behind this photograph.

The only note coming with this picture was: "modern woman sitting astride a chair, Germany, WWII"...

Sunbathing German Soldier -con boina-

Two pictures of a German soldier, sun bathing somewhere, sometime, during World War II.

 Definitely not part of his military uniform, I can only guess the beret is a souvenir from (occupied) France.

I have seen a lot worse pictures of German soldiers in those years. 

Last Dogs

 Okay, the last two Photographs in these "Dog Series".

Rudolf Nureyeff and an unknown dog in the film Valentino, 1977

And more dogs

A street vendor in Tel Aviv, stuffing kosher Hot Dogs. 

Bereted Dogs

 
 Dogs with beret - no further comments

And this one for Matthias, see comments below:

Today's BING home-page

Today on the BING home page, a great photo of a village in Vall de Boi, Lleida province in Spain, with a statue of a shepherd with boina. 

Vintage Dogs and Berets

Ah dogs..., always a great combination with a beret. No stereotypical trench-coat and pipe as well; just vintage pictures from various sources.

John Ford

John Ford (1894 –1973) was an Irish-American film director. He was famous for both his Westerns and adaptations of such classic 20th-century American novels as The Grapes of Wrath. His four Academy Awards for Best Director (1935, 1940, 1941, 1952) is a record, and one of those films, 'How Green Was My Valley', also won Best Picture (in its famous win over Citizen Kane).

In a career that spanned more than 50 years, Ford directed more than 140 films (although nearly all of his silent films are now lost) and he is widely regarded as one of the most important and influential filmmakers of his generation.

Ford's films and personality were held in high regard by his colleagues, with Ingmar Bergman and Orson Welles among those who have named him as one of the greatest directors of all time.

In particular, Ford was a pioneer of location shooting and the long shot which frames his characters against a vast, harsh and rugged natural terrain.

Jean Giono

Jean Giono (30 March 1895 – 8 October 1970) was a French author who wrote works of fiction mostly set in the Provence region of France.

 Jean Giono with Lucien Jacques

At the outbreak of World War I he was called up for military service, and the horrors he experienced on the front lines turned him into a lifelong and ardent pacifist. In 1919, he returned to his work at a bank and a year later, married a childhood friend with whom he had two children. Following the success of his first novel, Colline (1929), he left the bank in 1930 to dedicate himself to writing on a full-time basis.

Outside France, Giono’s best-known work is probably the short story The Man who Planted Trees (and 1987 film). This optimistic tale of a man who brings a deserted valley back to life by planting trees reflects Giono’s long-standing love of the natural world, an attitude that made him a precursor to the modern ecological movement. He thus declined to receive any royalties from this text, and granted free use to anyone who wanted to distribute or translate it.

In his later years, Giono was honoured with the Prince Rainier of Monaco literary prize in 1953, awarded for his lifetime achievements, was elected to the Académie Goncourt in 1954, and became a member of the Conseil Littéraire of Monaco in 1963.

Jean Giono (R, with beret) with friend

Giono died of a heart attack in 1970.

Orders for Christmas 2012

Getting close to that time of year again. And if you agree that a beret would make a great present this Christmas, better ensure you order in time.
Below are the posting deadlines for parcels sent from New Zealand. 

And if you'd like your beret Xmas wrapped, we're happy to do so (just advice when you make your payment).

Postcards

Fisherman's Wharf, San Francisco. Thanks, Marti.

And another postcard. Don't quite know what to make of it, but thanks for thinking of me anyway, Valerie.