In my research, I have found references to batallion d'étapes.
 
Could somone tell me what the best translation of étapes is please?  
 
It seems to mean something like line of communication, supply or base.
 
Thanks,
 
Martin

Hi Martin,
 
I don’t know what they exactly mean with : « bataillon d’étape » (may be could you give the entire sentence ?), but it could be something like :  Rations; forage (for horses), halting-place.
Hope this helps a little bit.
Freddy.

Hi,

A bataillon d’étape is a btlon of RIT which works in the "zone des étapes"; see:

http://www.memoiredeshommes.sga.de [...] y3=&op3=OR

an étape is a halting-place, a stage, or a station.  The term is also used to mean a day's march or the distance between staging places.  It also thus has the meaning of a depot.  
Thus (with no knowledge whatsoever), I would assume that a batallion d'etape would be a unit providing support services for units passing through an area.  Doc

 
Hi,
 
Etapes: general term for the whole service of transportation (railways excepted) and supply, as carried on along the line of supply (ligne d'étapes) .
 
Joel