Troupes de Marine - The Anchor of Gold

The Anchor of Gold

As a naval symbol since ancient times, the anchor appeared on the uniforms of French sailors from the late eighteenth century. The Marine Infantry and Artillery troops adopted this insignia at the same time and it remains the modern symbol of the Troupes de marine.

• 1772: a royal ordinance provides for the port anchor on the uniforms of the French Royal Navy.
• 1900: the anchor is carried by the Colonial Infantry.
• 1916: the Colonial Troops adopt the badge of an anchor over a flaming grenade (the latter being a traditional distinction of elite troops).
• 1919: All officers of the Colonial Troops adopt a gold anchor on their kepis.
• 1920: an anchor entwined with a cable becomes the common badge of Colonial Troops.
• 1933: Colonial Artillery gunners no longer wear the grenade insignia.
• 1935: the anchor insignia appears alone on the armbands of worn by Staff officers of the Colonial Troops.
• 1939: the anchor no longer to be worn with an intwined cable.
• 1945: the anchor ito be worn on all the attributes of the Colonial Troops.
• 1953: approval of an anchor "of tradition".
• 1962: introduction of the TDM beret, regulated by the Corps.
• 1985: anchor "of tradition" worn on pennants.