The American Berthier, The Remington MLE 1907/15 and the 93rd Colored DivisionDuring World War I the

The American Berthier, The Remington MLE 1907/15 and the 93rd Colored DivisionDuring World War I the Berthier rifle was the backbone of the French Army.  However, the French could never produce enough for their wartime needs.  During the war the French military contracted Remington to produce 200,000 Mle Berthier 1907/15 rifles.  The Remington Berthier was an exact copy of the French Berthier, with the exception that on the side of the receiver was stamped “Remington MLE 1907/15.  While the Remington Berthier was of incredibly high quality the French government reneged on the contract claiming that the rifles did not meet French barrel rifling and chamber dimensional standards.100,000 Remington Berthiers were manufactured, all of which Remington was stuck with as surplus.  Many were used for training and to army reserve and national guard units.  However, the most interesting story of the American Berthier is its use with the 93rd Colored Infantry.  Instead of serving under US command, the 93rd Colored (made up entirely of African Americans) was lent on detached service to the French Army and order to serve with African colonial troops because the American Expeditionary Force refused to serve alongside them .  These unique soldiers were often issued with secondhand equipment from both armies.  They would wear US uniforms, with French helmets, and with American Berthier Rifles. Because they wore the French helmets, they were given the nickname "blue helmets”, a nickname which stuck and became the source of their division patch.  The 93rd Colored would serve with incredible distinction, earning a reputation as fierce fighters and winning numerous battlefield commendations. -- source link

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