PHOTOS: A cavalryman in Algeria, 1950s to 1960s

August 10, 2024 · Posted in 1rec, 2rec, photos

See a new part of the PHOTOS series. This time is shared a set of pictures of a cavalryman who was serving in Algeria, North Africa, from the late 1950s to the mid-1960s.

Foreign Legion - 1er REC - 2e REC - Legionnaire

Unfortunately, none of the photos is described, and nothing is known about the identity of the legionnaire who is captured in them. Anyway, I tried to do my best to find at least some pieces of information about when and where the images could be taken. Follow the results of the research.

It seems that the legionnaire joined the Foreign Legion in about 1957 and was sent to Algeria, then the homeland of the Legion, where the war was going on. He was assigned to the 3rd Instruction Center (CI3). The CI3 was based in Mascara, Western Algeria, in the barracks called “Quartier Soyer”. After his instruction, the young legionnaire was sent to the 2nd Foreign Cavalry Regiment (2e REC). He later became a radio operator and served with the regiment until 1962. That year, the Algerian War ended. As a result, the 2e REC was disbanded and its men merged with the sister unit, 1st Foreign Cavalry Regiment (1er REC). At the time, our legionnaire had already been promoted to sergeant. In the 1er REC, he served with the 5th Squadron, one of the two squadrons (incl. the 6th) which consisted of former 2e REC men. It seems that he continued to serve with the 1er REC until the 1970s and got the rank of adjudant. Then he might be transferred to the 5th Mixed Pacific Regiment (5e RMP, former 5e REI) in French Polynesia. Unfortunately, his trail ends here.

As usual, the photos were provided to our website and published with the kind permission of Krzysztof Schramm, historian of Poland’s Foreign Legion veteran association (A.A.A.L.E. de Pologne) and author of Zygmunt Jatczak: I Regret Nothing.

As always in the PHOTO series, just click the image to enlarge it. Thank you.

Foreign Legion - 3rd Instruction Center (CI3) - Mascara - Algeria - 1950s
Foreign Legion 3rd Instruction Center (CI3) in Mascara, Western Algeria, late 1950s. Our legionnaire, doing his basic instruction there, is first from the right in the photo.
Foreign Legion - 3rd Instruction Center (CI3) - Mascara - Algeria - 1950s
Parade of an instruction company in Mascara, late 1950s. Our legionnaire with the cross above his head.
Foreign Legion - 3rd Instruction Center (CI3) - Mascara - Algeria - 1950s
Basic instruction. Training with the MAS-49/56 rifle, Algeria, late 1950s.
Foreign Legion - 2e REC - Algeria - 1950s
A duty that even the greatest commando had to master alone. A nice color photo of that time. Algeria, late 1950s.
Foreign Legion - 2e REC - Algeria - 1950s
Our legionnaire is equipped with an old MAS-36 rifle. Algeria, late 1950s.
Foreign Legion - 2e REC - Algeria - 1950s
A legionnaire was always seen as a warrior and a builder at one. Algeria, late 1950s.
Foreign Legion - 2e REC - Algeria - 1960s
Somewhere in Algeria with the 2e REC, early 1960s.
Foreign Legion - 2e REC - Algeria - 1960s
A cup of tea provided by a local woman, early 1960s.
Foreign Legion - 2e REC - Algeria - 1960s
A radio operator with the 2e REC, early 1960s. Note the nicely visible “2” inside the grenade’s bomb in the beret badge.
Foreign Legion - 2e REC - Algeria - 1960s
A radio operator with the 2e REC, early 1960s.
Foreign Legion - 2e REC - Algeria - 1960s
A little rest during the mission, with his MAS-49/56. Algeria, early 1960s.
Foreign Legion - 2e REC - Algeria - 1960s
Somewhere in Algeria with the 2e REC, early 1960s.
Foreign Legion - 2e REC - Algeria - 1960s
In Algeria with the 2e REC. The photo might have been taken in Sidi Okba in 1962. Our legionnaire is sitting, second from the right, with a small moustache.
Foreign Legion - 1er REC - Algeria - 1960s
Now a seasoned warrior standing by an EBR of the 1er REC, early 1960s.
Foreign Legion - 1er REC - Algeria - 1960s
Sergeant of the 5th Squadron 1er REC, most likely in front of the regiment’s camp in Mécheria, Western Algeria, around 1963.
Foreign Legion - 1er REC - Algeria - 1960s
With a 1er REC Jeep somewhere in Algeria, around 1963.
Foreign Legion - 1er REC - Algeria - 1960s
With a 1er REC colonel and the regiment’s HQ staff.
Foreign Legion - 1er REC - Algeria - 1960s
Shaking hands with a French general, like the other NCOs of the 5th Squadron 1er REC. Note that they wear the 2e REC badge on their shoulder board, to remind their original regiment.
Foreign Legion - 1er REC - France - 1970s
Already an adjudant of the 1er REC, most likely in France in the 1970s.
Foreign Legion - 1er REC - Polynesia - 1970s
Probably leading a parade of his 5e RMP heavy equipment unit in French Polynesia, in the 1970s.

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PHOTOS: Foum El Hassan Post in Morocco in the early 1940s
PHOTOS: 100th Anniversary of the Battle of Camerone in Aubagne in 1963
PHOTOS: 2e CMRLE in Indochina in 1953
PHOTOS: 1er RE Adjudants around 1900