Interesting Bren pic

[browningautorifle]

Here's a pic I found elsewhere, very interesting. Black soldiers fighting in France, 1944

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[harry mac]

As black American soldiers weren't generally allowed in combat units at that time, would they have been armed with discards and pick ups? I notice the rifleman in the pic is armed with a 1903 Springfield.
Is the anchor emblem on their helmets significant?

[scoobsean]

As black American soldiers weren't generally allowed in combat units at that time, would they have been armed with discards and pick ups? I notice the rifleman in the pic is armed with a 1903 Springfield.
Is the anchor emblem on their helmets significant?

The story with the picture says they are Free French troops from Senegal (French African colony)

[browningautorifle]

As black American soldiers weren't generally allowed in combat units at that time, would they have been armed with discards and pick ups? I notice the rifleman in the pic is armed with a 1903 Springfield.
Is the anchor emblem on their helmets significant?

I don't think you follow. These are Senegalese Free French troops. They are armed with a British Bren and an American 1903 Springfield. The helmets are American ones, emblazoned with the anchor emblem of the French Colonial forces. The whole story is there...my point was US M1 helmets, a UK Bren, a 1903 US issue rifle and Senegalese troops in the snow (which must have been very uncomfortable). This is quite a mix of opposites and stray parts assembles for the cause.

[Beerhunter]

As black American soldiers weren't generally allowed in combat units at that time,

333rd Field Artillery Battalion?

[harry mac]

My bad, I should have read the narrative that went with the picture.

[Beerhunter]

My bad, I should have read the narrative that went with the picture.

How about the 333rd Field Artillery Battalion? Or are gunners not combat units?

[harry mac]

How about the 333rd Field Artillery Battalion? Or are gunners not combat units?

Segregation was in force in the US military at the time, although steps were being made towards phasing it out; hence units like 333rd FAB and famous, high profile units like "The Tuskeegee Airmen". Certainly, when US Army units first started coming over to the UK, black GIs were mostly employed as drivers engineers and pioneers.

[Peter Laidler]

Not according to English and Irish folklore they weren't Harry........., especially the ones based around Witney (USAF Brize Norton as was.....). While they weren't drivin', engineerin' and pioneerin', they was busy fertilizin' - the natives...............

[tankhunter]

Not according to English and Irish folklore they weren't Harry........., especially the ones based around Witney (USAF Brize Norton as was.....). While they weren't drivin', engineerin' and pioneerin', they was busy fertilizin' - the natives...............

And a Lot of them are STILL doing this!...................