On April 30, 2024, the French Foreign Legion celebrated the 161st anniversary of the 1863 Battle of Camerone, an epic moment in its history. The celebrations were held across the regiments in France and abroad. See images.
Major Raymond Cabaribère (1913 – 1954)
Major Raymond Cabaribère was an officer of the French Foreign Legion. He was killed in action on April 21, 1954, during the Indochina War, while commanding the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Foreign Infantry Regiment. He was 41 years old.
130 years ago: A forgotten campaign in West Africa ended
In February 1894, the last elements of the French Foreign Legion left the Slave Coast in West Africa where they had successfully participated in two expeditions aimed at a local kingdom’s ruler and his forces. Not only did the legionnaires face heat, disease, and supply problems, but they also had to fight local female warriors, Amazons…
Read more130 years ago: A forgotten campaign in West Africa ended
2e REI: 2024 Republic Day Parade in India
On Friday, January 26, 2024, an honor detachment of the French Foreign Legion represented the French Army during the 75th Republic Day Parade that took place at the Kartavya Path in New Delhi, India. Along with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, French President Emmanuel Macron attended the ceremony as a special guest.
2023 Legion Christmas nativity scenes
For the French Foreign Legion, seen as a traditional pro-Catholic institution in France (unlike the rest of the French Army), Christmas Eve marks the second most important holiday. To celebrate it, legionnaires in all units of the Foreign Legion – regardless of their origin and religious – create nativity scenes (crèches) every year and compete to see which one is the nicest and most original. The scenes can be small, static ones, or performed live with hand-made scenery. This long-standing Legion tradition is unique within the French Army. If you are interested, see some of the nativity scenes created by legionnaires in December 2023.
2e REI: 2023 Christmas Cross Country Run
As usual, also this year the French Foreign Legion regiments organize sports competitions for its men, as part of the coming Christmas festivities. This includes the 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment (2e REI), which organized its Christmas cross country run this week, close to Nimes, its garrison in Southern France. See images.
1er REC, 2e REI, 1er REG: Exercise BIA 23
This week, on November 27, began an important tactical combined arms maneuver BIA 23 that takes place in the Marne Department in northeastern France, north of Camp Mailly. Organized by the 6th Light Armored Brigade (6e BLB), it is to be the very first French exercise involving a combined arms brigade of the modern SCORPION generation ready for an operational deployment. Among the participating units are the Foreign Legion’s 1st Foreign Cavalry Regiment (1er REC), 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment (2e REI), and the 1st Foreign Engineer Regiment (1er REG).
DOCUMENTS: 1847 1st Foreign Legion Regiment honorable discharge certificate
A new part of the DOCUMENTS series. A very rare document is presented here; it is the oldest French Foreign Legion-related document currently available on our website. It was issued as early as 1847 to a Belgian legionnaire at the conclusion of his honest and faithful service in North Africa.
Read moreDOCUMENTS: 1847 1st Foreign Legion Regiment honorable discharge certificate
120 years ago: A violent battle in Algeria
In early September 1903, a violent battle was fought in Algeria between men of a Foreign Legion mounted company and a Moroccan war party. The battle that lasted more than seven hours resulted in heavy casualties on the Legion side.
2e REI: 2023 El Moungar Day
On September 2, 2023, the 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment (2e REI) commemorated the 120th anniversary of the 1903 Battle of El Moungar, a crucial moment in their history. See the images.
Legion: New Caledonia in August 2023
As we informed earlier, three regiments of the French Foreign Legion have deployed their men to New Caledonia in the southwest Pacific Ocean, east of Australia, since June 2023. The legionnaires should stay in this special overseas collectivity of France for four months, as is common practice for the so-called short duration mission (MCD). See some new images from taken during their deployment in August.