PHOTOS: 1938 Camerone Day in Syria | French Foreign Legion Information

A new part of the PHOTOS series. See a rare set of pictures taken in Syria in late April 1938. They show legionnaires of the 1st Foreign Infantry Regiment (1er REI; now 1er RE) during the most important holiday of the Foreign Legion (April 30), commemorating the famous 1863 Battle of Camerone.

Following the end of World War I, the territories of Syria and Lebanon came under French administration. The first legionnaires arrived there in 1921. In 1936, they were regrouped in the Foreign Legion Levant Group under Lt. Colonel Barre. The group consisted of two autonomous battalions, the 1st and 4th. In 1939, the unit transformed into the 6e REI.

In late April 1938, the two battalions (under Captains Brisset and Hourtane) were staying at Camp Nabek, a training camp used for annual military maneuvers, located between the capital of Damascus and Homs. Thus, for the first time, the celebrations were organized jointly by both battalions of the Legion Group.

For Camerone Day (April 30) events, an Arc de Triomphe was built by legionnaires at the entrance of the camp, along with a war memorial erected in the center of the camp. On April 30, following an inherent military parade, the main two-hour program took place in an arena, circus, also built by the Legion. Among the various circus acts performed by legionnaires it was possible to watch clowns, gymnasts, dancers, and comedians. The legionnaires also staged the last stand of the Camerone battle.

In fact, it was possible to identify the following set of pictures thanks to a 1938 issue of Légion étrangère, the Foreign Legion’s official magazine that existed before 1945. An article dedicated to the Camerone Day in Syria appeared there, including some of the photos published today.

Click on the images to enlarge them:

Photos - Foreign Legion - 1938 - Camerone Day - Syria - Troops — Troops waiting for a review before the parade.

Photos - Foreign Legion - 1938 - Camerone Day - Syria - Captain Mafteiu - troops — Captain *Mafteiu* (mounted on horse) and his men waiting for a review. Note the two legionnaires wearing sunglasses.

Photos - Foreign Legion - 1938 - Camerone Day - Syria - Troops - Review — Review of the troops conducted by a Foreign Legion major.

Photos - Foreign Legion - 1938 - Camerone Day - Syria - Parade — Legionnaires parade at Camp Nabek, Syria, on April 30, 1938.

Photos - Foreign Legion - 1938 - Camerone Day - Syria - Band - Camp Nabek — Legion band trains inside Camp Nabek for 1938 Camerone Day.

Photos - Foreign Legion - 1938 - Camerone Day - Syria - Camp Nabek - Arc de Triomphe — *Arc de Triomphe* built by legionnaires at the entrance of Camp Nabek.

Photos - Foreign Legion - 1938 - Camerone Day - Syria - Camp Nabek - War Memorial — War Memorial constructed by legionnaires at Camp Nabek. Plaques placed on three sides of the monument bear the names of places of important Legion battles. The woman holding a man in her arms symbolizes the Legion protecting its dead.

Photos - Foreign Legion - 1938 - Camerone Day - Syria - circus - Band — Foreign Legion in Syria’s band opening the performance in the circus built by legionnaires for 1938 Camerone Day.

Photos - Foreign Legion - 1938 - Camerone Day - Syria - circus - gymnasts — Performance featuring Foreign Legion gymnasts.

Photos - Foreign Legion - 1938 - Camerone Day - Syria - circus - fakirs — Legionnaires performing as Hindu fakirs.

Photos - Foreign Legion - 1938 - Camerone Day - Syria - circus - Cossacks — Dance of the Russian Cossacks.

Photos - Foreign Legion - 1938 - Camerone Day - Syria - circus - bullfighting — Comedy act featuring Spanish-style bullfighting.

Photos - Foreign Legion - 1938 - Camerone Day - Syria - circus - Camerone battle — The last stand of the Camerone battle.

Photos - Foreign Legion - 1938 - Camerone Day - Syria - circus - Old Legionnaires — Legionnaires dressed as their ancestors from the mid-19th century bid farewell to the audience with the slogan “Long live the Legion!” (*Vive la Légion!*).

Photos - Foreign Legion - 1938 - Camerone Day - Syria - Camp Nabek - revue — Article about the 1938 Camerone Day in Syria that appeared in a 1938 issue of *Légion étrangère*, the former official magazine of the Legion.

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