Unknown Navy Shoulder Board

**Dillinger022** · 10-01-2018, 09:37 AM

I recently acquired this seemingly vintage shoulder board of an unknown nation's navy in a lot. The only thing I know for certain is that it's not German.
Does anyone know what nation's navy this board belonged to?
Thanks for any and all help.

**Kohima** · 10-01-2018, 09:44 AM

No clues from the reverse of the button, I take it?

Intriguing... I’ll see what I can find.
Bob

**Dillinger022** · 10-01-2018, 10:05 AM

I didn't even think to check the button's reverse...
It bears the inscription: Edouard Chapsal & Cie
So I guess it's French.

**Kohima** · 10-01-2018, 10:29 AM

Not necessarily, but it’s a good starting point!

Bob

**Dillinger022** · 10-02-2018, 04:57 AM

It's not a WW2-era French Navy shoulder board.

**Dillinger022** · 10-04-2018, 08:03 AM

It turns out that it's a British Army officer Mess Dress shoulder board with an incorrect French-made naval button as identified by a knowledgeable collector on another militaria board.

**Phil9790** · 04-29-2019, 09:40 PM

The button has nothing to do with the Navy but rather has to do with the French colonial army from back then (“troupes coloniales”, now called “troupes de marine”). And I can certify this, having served in the French Navy.