On September 2, 2018, the 115th anniversary of the famous Battle of El Moungar occurred. The battle took place at El Moungar, a waterhole north of Taghit, western Algeria, on September 2, 1903. That day, the 22nd Mounted Company, 2e RE (2e REI now) were ambushed by a Moroccan war party.
The fierce battle took almost eight hours. The 22nd Mounted Company (2 officers and 111 legionnaires) suffered heavy casualties. Their Captain Marie-Louis Vauchez was killed, together with a Danish officer serving in the Legion, Lieutenant Christian Selchauhansen, his deputy. Also 34 legionnaires were killed. Another 47 legionnaires were seriously wounded. Finally, the enemy was fought off. Today, the battle is commemorated annually. The date of the battle became a regimental holiday of the 2e REI.
This year, the battle was commemorated discreetly by a ceremony at Camp des Garrigues near Nimes, the garrison town of the regiment, on September 2.
Every year, the 2e REI organizes El Moungar Challenge, a part of the commemoration of the battle. Below, you can see several photos from 2018 El Moungar Challenge, which took place at Nimes, the garrison town of the longest-serving regiment of the Foreign Legion.
PHOTOS. 2018 El Moungar Challenge, Part 1. Click on the FB icon to see all photos.
https://www.facebook.com/2eREIofficiel/posts/2167852289952955
PHOTOS. 2018 El Moungar Challenge, Part 2. Click on the FB icon to see all photos.
https://www.facebook.com/2eREIofficiel/posts/2170451366359714
PHOTOS. 2018 El Moungar, commemorated discreetly at Camp des Garrigues near Nimes, September 2. Click on the FB icon to see all photos.
https://www.facebook.com/2eREIofficiel/posts/2183693248368859
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Related posts:
2e REI: 2017 El Moungar Day
2e REI: Four wounded legionnaires in Mali
2e REI: U.S. Marines at Camp Garrigues 2018
2e REI: Well-trained legionnaire