CARDS series. This post is dedicated to Camerone invitation cards — formal invitations issued by French Foreign Legion units for the celebration of Camerone Day, the Legion’s most important day, commemorating the 1863 Battle of Camerone in Mexico. Camerone Day is observed every year on April 30, and the approaching anniversary makes this the most fitting time to present this part of the series.
Unfortunately, little is known about the history and evolution of Camerone cards. They served as formal invitations, typically addressed to senior guests such as garrison commanders or local military and civilian authorities. In the 1930s, invitations to Camerone Day celebrations were usually part of so-called programmes — illustrated multi-page booklets that served both as invitations and as detailed schedules of the celebrations or associated evening events. After World War II, these were gradually replaced by smaller, more concise invitation cards. Also, unlike the booklets or the dinner invitations featured earlier in this series, Camerone cards were mostly printed rather than handmade and illustrated by legionnaires.
The following gallery presents a selection of Camerone cards issued by different Legion units, most of which no longer exist today. The examples span the years 1941 to 2006, with a bonus item from 1928.
Click on the previews to enlarge them:
Camerone invitation card issued by the 3rd Battalion of the 6th Foreign Infantry Regiment (6e REI) in Syria, 1941. This simple yet extremely rare card marks the regiment’s second — and final — Camerone celebration. Just five weeks later, British forces invaded Syria, and the French, including the legionnaires, were forced to leave the territory after heavy fighting.Camerone card issued by the Foreign Legion Regrouping Center (CRLE) in Offenburg, West Germany, 1951. The center, which later relocated to nearby Strasbourg, France, served as the main assembly point for German volunteers. Note the then-new insignia of the Legion’s Joint Depot (DCRE), to which the center was officially assigned. Today, this insignia belongs to the Legion Command (COMLE).Inside of the CRLE 1951 Camerone card.Back of the 1951 Camerone card, featuring the original insignia of the DCRE.Camerone card issued by the 1st Legion Saharan Motorized Company (1re CSPL), stationed in Aïn Sefra, Algeria, 1953. The card has been published with the kind permission of Andrew J. Mitchell, a passionate Foreign Legion insignia collector and author of several books on the Legion, including Foreign Legion Insignia – 2e REP.First inside page of the 1re CSPL Camerone card, featuring several photos of the company, including its fanion (guidon) guard and the barracks in Aïn Sefra. Collection of Andrew J. Mitchell.Second inside page of the 1re CSPL Camerone card, containing the actual invitation. As shown, the company was commanded at the time by Captain Raymond Cabaribère, who was killed in action exactly one year later during the First Indochina War (1946–1954). Collection of Andrew J. Mitchell.Camerone card from 1954, issued by the 26th Engineer-Legion Battalion (26e BGL), a mixed engineering unit consisting of legionnaires and French engineers serving during the Indochina War. This was the last Camerone of that war, which ended three months later.Inside of the 26e BGL 1954 Camerone card.Camerone card issued by the Legion’s Moroccan Motorized Group (GPLEM), in 1954. The card has been 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.Inside of the GPLEM 1954 Camerone card. Collection of Krzysztof Schramm.Camerone card issued in 1954 by the Foreign Legion Smaller Depot (PDLE). Based in Oran, Algeria, the unit served as an intermediate administrative office/transit depot between France and the then-Legion headquarters in Sidi Bel Abbès, Algeria. Collection of Krzysztof Schramm.Inside of the PDLE 1954 Camerone card. Collection of Krzysztof Schramm.Camerone card issued in Sidi Bel Abbès in 1955, by the Foreign Legion Autonomous Group (GALE, created in 1950). An HQ and administrative unit supervising the entire Foreign Legion, the GALE was disbanded two months later, in late June 1955. The COMLE and the 1st Foreign Regiment (1er RE) were formed in its place. Collection of Andrew J. Mitchell.Camerone invitation card issued by the 5th Foreign Infantry Regiment (5e REI; now 5e RE) in Algeria, 1957. Note the two regimental insignia: an older badge from the Indochina War period (left) and the then-current badge. Collection of Andrew J. Mitchell.Inside of the 5e REI 1957 Camerone card. Collection of Andrew J. Mitchell.A gatefold-style Camerone card issued by the 1st Foreign Cavalry Regiment (1er REC) in Khenchela, Algeria, 1959.Front of the invitation itself, inserted separately inside the 1er REC card.Back of the 1959 invitation.Camerone card issued by the 2e CSPL in 1961. The company was stationed in Laghouat, Algeria. Collection of Andrew J. Mitchell.Inside of the 2e CSPL Camerone card. Collection of Andrew J. Mitchell.Camerone card issued by the 4th Foreign Infantry Regiment (4e REI) in Algeria, in 1963.The 4e REI card was inviting to the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Camerone. This was the regiment’s last Camerone Day, as it was disbanded exactly one year later — coincidentally, also on April 30.Back of the 4e REI 1963 Camerone card.Camerone card issued by the Foreign Legion Detachment in Mayotte (DLEM), 2006. Collection of Krzysztof Schramm.As a bonus, here is a very rare, handmade invitation to an entertainment program held on the eve of Camerone Day by the 3rd Battalion of the 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment (2e REI) in Khénifra, Morocco, April 29, 1928. The invitation, sent to a member of the French Army Corps of Engineers, has been published here with the kind permission of a private collector, who wished to remain anonymous.
