Honneur et Fidélité
There can be few groups with as romantic a mythology as the
French Foreign Legion, or Légion étrangère.
"You can join as a fugitive from the law and you don’t even have to give your real name."
Fording a river in full kit may have hidden dangers: currents and predators
The selection process is rigorous; only one in nine applicants
even get through the doors. Basic training is harsh and many will never get to
wear the traditional white kepi. Injury
and even death during training are not unknown.
The Legion can be made up of 140 different nationalities but
French is the common language, so learning is compulsory. There are daily lessons but as training often
leads to pain, injury and sleep-deprivation,
this isn’t easy either.
Legionnaire - 1863 Mexican Campaign
Recruits who survive what is reputed to be the most arduous military training in the world both physically and psychologically can expect a good pay rate and excellent food and lodgings whilst on base (jungle warfare training may depend on foraging for bugs). The diet includes wine from the Legion’s own vineyards in Provence, tended by former legionnaires in the veterans home there.
Women were not permitted to join the Legion until 2000 when Defence Minister Alain Richard changed the rules, saying he’d like to see 20% female recruitment over the next 20 years.
Susan Travers 1909-2003
Prior to that, only one woman ever to be a distinguished Legionnaire was an English nurse: Susan Travers who joined
Free French Forces during World War II.
Travers, known as ‘La Miss’ by her comrades, served as nurse and ambulance driver in the French Red Cross, then as a full member of the Legion in Vietnam during the First Indochina War.
Since its inception, the Legion has served in most theatres of war.
The 13th Demi Brigade, formed for service in Nor way, was in the UK when the French Armistice was declared in June 1940. It was deployed to the British 8th Army in North Africa and distinguished itself in the Battle of Bir Hakeim in which Susan Travers played a heroic part, afterwards being warded her first Croix de Geurre.
The Legion is the only branch of
the French military that does not swear allegiance to France but to the Foreign
Legion itself, although after 3 years service,
a Legionnaire, whatever his nationality, may apply for French citizenship.
Any soldier injured during conflict may
apply immediately for citizenship under "Français par le sang versé"
("French by spilled blood").
Modern day Legionnaires can be Sapeurs, Paratrooper, Commandoes and ever other profession needed by today's armed forces.
Legionnaires in an armoured transport
Sapeurs- Pioniers wear beards and leather aprons and carry axes (best not to get on their wrong side).
"Legionnaire, you are a volunteer serving France with honour and fidelity.
Each legionnaire is your brother in
arms whatever his nationality, his race or his religion might be. You show him
the same close solidarity that links the members of the same family."
 |
| The Grenade in Flames symbol of the Legion |
The march down the Champs Elysee, showing 'the crawl'.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yASlGCLkBSw
 |
| Legionnaires on patrol in Paris during civil unrest |
