Infirmier Brassards
Red Cross brassards worn by the French army have a very distinct shape. They are oval shaped in the center and taper to each end. They can also be found with a variety of markings. If you're lucky the markings will lead you to the era the brassard was manufactured and worn in. Some of these markings, however, were used for decades, stretching from the Great War and beyond World War 2.
The brassard below was worn by Louis Mittelette during the Great War. The brassard is marked on the obverse "F VII No. 00005" and bears another illegible marking, perhaps a Ministry of War stamp. The reverse of the brassard is marked "Commission de Reception Paris" and is dated February 13, 1897. Included with the brassard is the soldiers first model identification tag, marked "Mittelette, Louis, 1907 - Melun 147." This identifies the soldier as Louis Mittelette, who would have completed his obligatory military training in 1907 in Melun; his matriculation number being 147. Additional items in this group are his 1915 Croix de Guerre, which is missing its ribbon, and his S.B.M. Medal, "French Society to Rescue Wounded Soldiers of the Army & Navy, 1914-1919."
The brassard below contains a front issue marking "IV No. 01370" and the reverse of the brassard is stamped "Commission de Reception Paris" with a date in the center. Unfortunately the date is no longer legible. However, this brassard is identical to other armbands of the period, including one in this collection dated 1897 which was used in the Great War.