1st Foreign Cavalry Regiment

1st Foreign Cavalry Regiment 1e Régiment étranger de Cavalerie 1rec SVG.svg 150 Regimental Insignia of 1er REC 1921 – present France 23px French Army 6th Light Armored Brigade3rd Division Armoured Cavalry Reconnaissance & Fire Support ~ 1,000 men Colonel Leinekugel Le Cocq Official Website of the 1st Foreign Cavalry Regiment, Section Le Chef de Corps Camp de Carpiagne (Bouches-du-Rhône), France Royal Étranger Nec pluribus impar A nul autre pareil (To none other equal) La Colonne (The Column) Interwar period Battle of Messeifre Battle of Rachaya World War II Operation Dragoon First Indochina War Algerian War Lebanese Civil War 1975-1990 Multinational Force 1982-1984 Koweït 1990–1991 Global War on Terrorism (2001-present) War in Afghanistan (1978–present) Operation Enduring Freedom Afghanistan Northern Mali conflict Camerone Day (30 April), Saint-Georges Day and Christmas 150px Insignia 1er REC Abbreviation 1st Foreign Cavalry Regiment Foreign Legion Command 6th Light Armoured Brigade (France) Command & Logistics Squadron (ECL)Brigade Recce Squadron (EEI)1st Squadron (1er Esc)2nd Squadron (2e Esc)3rd Squadron (3e Esc)5th Squadron (5e Esc)Anti-tank Squadron (EAE) The 1st Foreign Cavalry Regiment (fr 1er Régiment Étranger de Cavalerie, 1er REC) is the only cavalry regiment of the Foreign Legion in the French Army.1er régiment étranger de cavalerie - Armée de terre https://www.defense.gouv.fr/terre/armes/arme-blindee-cavalerie/1er-regiment-etranger-cavalerie 2022-03-21 www.defense.gouv.fr It is one of two armoured cavalry regiments of the 6th Light Armoured Brigade.1er Régiment Étranger de Cavalerie - Armée de terre https://www.defense.gouv.fr/terre/l-armee-de-terre/le-niveau-divisionnaire/3e-division/1er-regiment-etranger-de-cavalerie live 2022-01-15 www.defense.gouv.fr https://web.archive.org/web/20220115053238/https://www.defense.gouv.fr/terre/l-armee-de-terre/le-niveau-divisionnaire/3e-division/1er-regiment-etranger-de-cavalerie 2022-01-15 1er Régiment Étranger de Cavalerie Information https://foreignlegion.info/units/1st-foreign-cavalry-regiment/ 2022-03-26 en-US thumb|250x250px|Barracks in Camp de Carpiagne. The regiment has been stationed at Camp Carpiagne near Marseille since 2014, when it moved from Quartier Labouche in Orange, Vaucluse. It had spent 47 years in Orange after relocating from Mers-el-Kébir, Algeria in October 1967.La garrison - 1er Régiment Étranger de Cavalerie - Armée de terre https://www.defense.gouv.fr/terre/l-armee-de-terre/le-niveau-divisionnaire/3e-division/1er-regiment-etranger-de-cavalerie live 2022-01-15 www.defense.gouv.fr https://web.archive.org/web/20220115053238/https://www.defense.gouv.fr/terre/l-armee-de-terre/le-niveau-divisionnaire/3e-division/1er-regiment-etranger-de-cavalerie 2022-01-15 History Levant and Morocco from 1921 The 1st Foreign Cavalry Regiment (1er REC) was created on March 8, 1921 at Sousse from elements of the 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment. The title of the 1er REC would not become official until January 20, 1922, under Decree n°6330-1/11 of January 20, 1922. https://web.archive.org/web/20140106222400/http://1rec.legion-etrangere.com/mdl/info_seul.php?id=119&idA=110&block=15&idA_SM=0&titre=historique-du-1er-rec 2014-01-06 Official Website of the 1st Foreign Cavalry Regiment, Section Historique 1er Régiment étranger de cavalerie The cadres of the new unit were drawn from existing French cavalry regiments. Only one junior officer (Second Lieutenant Antraygue) had had previous Legion experience while one non-commissioned officer had been in service with the 1st Foreign Regiment 1er RE. Of the 156 other ranks of the newly formed 1er REC, 128 were Russians. A significant contingent hailed from the White Army of Wrangle. These included thirty officers (one a former general of the Imperial Russian Army and one a former colonel); 14 non-commissioned officers and 33 Cossacks. Most of the remainder had served as regular cavalrymen with the Wrangle forces. Beginning in 1925, the 1er REC was engaged as mounted cavalry in Syria (4th Squadron ) and in Morocco (3rd Squadron). In both theatres of operations, the Foreign Cavalry Regiment served with distinction, notably in the Levant at Messifre (September 17, 1925) and at Rachaya (from November 20 to 24, 1925). The fanion of the 1er REC received the Croix de guerre des théâtres d'opérations extérieures with 2 palms, the fourragère of the colors of the Croix de Guerre and the 1st Class Lebanese Order of Merit Medal. From 1927 to 1934, the 1er REC saw active service in Morocco (3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th Squadrons), followed by patrol work along the northern border of the Sahara. In 1934 the 5th squadron was equipped with White-Laffly and Panhard armored cars. The remainder of the regiment retained horses and sabers. World War II and Indochina War In 1939 the two existing regiments of Foreign Cavalry were still only partially motorized. However, in 1940, the 1e REC was dispatched to France as part of the 97th Reconnaissance Group of the Infantry Division (97e GRDI). As such it was engaged in combat from May 18 (at the Somme) until the Armistice. A citation issued at the orders of the Armed Forces praised the heroism of the Legionnaires during this period. Following the Battle of France the 1er REC took up garrison duties in Tunisia. In 1943, the regiment was re-equipped with U.S. material, consisted of one light tank squadron and four armored car squadrons. Its new role was that of divisional recce regiment of the newly raised 5th Armored Division (5e DB). In 1943, the 1er REC was engaged against the Germans in Tunisia. In 1944, the 1er REC landed on the côtes de Provence as one of the French armored units participating in the Liberation of France. At the end of World War II, the regimental colors were decorated with two new palms and the fourragère of the Croix de Guerre. In 1946, the 1er REC embarked for Indochina. The regimental squadrons plus two autonomes groups (detached units) served for nine years in Cochinchina and Tonkin. Three new citations and the fourragère of the Croix de Guerre of TOE were added to the regimental colors, while the two autonomes groups earned 6 citations. Algeria and the modernization of the Regiment After returning to French North Africa in 1954, the regiment was involved in the Algerian War for eight consecutive years of active service. Following the Évian Accords and the independence of Algeria the 1er REC regrouped at the base of Mers El Kebir. It was then reassigned, on October 17, 1967, to peacetime duty in metropolitan France for the first time. The 1er REC was now based at Orange in the Quartier Labouche garrison. Reattached to the 14th Infantry Division (14th DI) on January 1, 1976; the 1st Foreign Cavalry Regiment returned to Africa the same year, serving in Djibouti and then Mayotte. In 1978 and 1979, the regiment participated in Opération Tacaud in Tchad where an Army citation was awarded. During this period, the regiment received new equipment, including the FAMAS service rifle, MILAN anti-tank guided missiles, VAB armored personnel carriers, and the AMX-10RC armored car. From May to October 1983, the 1st Foreign Cavalry Regiment served in three separate deployment areas: within the ranks of the Multinational Force in Lebanon; with a tactical command headquarters stationed in Beirut; in Tchad within the combat deployment cadre of Operation Manta; and in Djibouti. Within the ranks of the FAR and Division Daguet thumb|left|200px| The 6th Light Armoured Division (6e DLB) operating the left flank of the 34 nations coalition during the Gulf War. The 1st Foreign Cavalry Regiment remained within the Force d'Action Rapide (FAR) and was part of the Division Daguet. In July 1984, the Royal étranger was incorporated into the 6th Light Armoured Division (6e D.L.B). Engaged in operation Daguet starting September 15, 1990; the regiment as whole was found complete in the desert of Saudi Arabia on November 6, 1990. Following an initial preparatory phase, the regiment saw service as part of Operation Desert Storm. On February 23, 1991; the regiment crossed the Iraqi frontier, reached its objective at the D'As Salman air base within 36 hours. Victorious, the 1st Foreign Cavalry Regiment intact from personnel or material loss, decorated a new palm on the regimental colors. From December 1992 to June 1993, the regiment served in Cambodia as part of the United Nations peacekeeping force (APRONUC). Operations post 1993 thumb|left|400px|Commemoration of the Battle of Camarón by the 1st Foreign Cavalry Regiment at the Roman Theatre of Orange. The 2nd Squadron of the Regiment served in Sarajevo as part of the United Nations Protection Force (FORPRONU) from October 1993 to February 1994, and subsequently with the cadre of BATINF from January to June 1995. From 1995 to 1996, the 1st Foreign Cavalry Regiment was engaged in the former Yugoslavia within the cadre of the force de réaction rapide (FRR) and in Chad as part of Opération Épervier. From May to September 1996, the 5th Squadron, recreated in July 1993, was first deployed in the Central Africa Republic during Operation Almandin II. The 1er REC also participated in Guyane, Mayotte and Djibouti. In 1997, the regiment served in the Republic of Congo assisting in the evacuation of refugees. During 1999 the regiment participated in operations with NATO forces in Kosovo, deploying one armored squadron (5e ESC) in the Macedonia, then dispatching the scouting squadron in Kosovo. Since then, the 1st Foreign Cavalry Regiment has participated in Opération Licorne in the Ivory Coast and in (fr) Opération Pamir in Afghanistan. In January 2013, an AMX 10 RC unit from the regiment was deployed in Mali as part of Operation Serval, to counter an Islamist offensive against the local government and engaged in battle for control of the town of Diabaly.Harding Andrew Mali Conflict: 'French Fighting Islamists in Mali' 16 January 2013 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-21038856 BBC News 16 January 2013 As of June 2015, with nearly 1,000 men and advanced equipment, the Regiment is on permanent stand-by to undertake any mission being allocated to it. Organization The regiment is currently divided into 7 squadrons1st Foreign Cavalry Regiment Foreign Legion Information https://foreignlegion.info/units/1st-foreign-cavalry-regiment/ 2022-03-27 en-US Escadron de Commandement et de Logistique (ECL) – Command and Logistics Squadron. 1er Escadron – 1st Squadron (4 combat troops and a command troop) 2e Escadron – 2nd Squadron (4 combat troops and a command troop) 3e Escadron – 3rd Squadron (4 combat troops and a command troop) 5e Escadron – 5th Squadron ( 4 combat troops and a command troop)De nouvelles unités pour la Légion étrangère http://www.legion-etrangere.com/mdl/info_seul.php?id=424&block=22&titre=de-nouvelles-unites-pour-la-legion-etrangere Foreign Legion 2015-12-27 Escadron d'éclairage et d'investigation de brigade (EEI) – Brigade Reconnaissance Squadron. (4 troops) Escadron d'Aide à l'Engagement (EAE) – anti-tank squadron Equipment Three squadrons are equipped with the AMX 10 RC, a light wheeled armoured vehicle armed with a 105mm gun.Le régiment http://1rec.legion-etrangere.com/modules/info_liste.php?article_theme=31&idA=111&block=15&idA_SM=0&titre=le-1er-rec-aujourd-hui/ 2011-12-30 2012-04-26 https://web.archive.org/web/20120426082013/http://1rec.legion-etrangere.com/modules/info_liste.php?article_theme=31&idA=111&block=15&idA_SM=0&titre=le-1er-rec-aujourd-hui/ dead The EEI is equipped with the Panhard VBL. Traditions Insignias Regimental Colors thumb|right|300px|Regimental Colors of the 1st Foreign Cavalry Regiment Decorations fourragère with ribbon colors of the croix de guerre 1914-1918 with olives of ribbon color of the croix de guerre 1939-1945. fourragère with ribbon color of the Croix de guerre des Théâtres d'opérations extérieurs.Par analogie avec les dispositions intervenues à l'occasion des hostilités qui se sont déroulées entre 1914 et 1918, il est décidé, en avril 1945, de commémorer par une fourragère les actions d'éclat ayant entrainé l'octroi d'au moins deux citations à l'ordre de l'armée aux régiments ou unités formant corps en opérations depuis le 2 septembre 1939. Il ne s'agit pas à proprement parler d'une fourragère nouvelle. En effet la forme et les couleurs de la fourragère 1914-1918 (Il n'existe pas de fourragère aux couleurs du ruban de la croix de guerre 1939-1945 actuellement, mais il y a eu une fourragère aux couleurs de cette dernière, mais qui a été abandonnée au début des années 1950, car elle apportait une certaine confusion, alors pour simplifier, le système des olives a été mis en place) sont maintenues mais il est créé un système d'olives qui placées au-dessus du ferret permettent de différencier l'origine de ces deux fourragères. La Croix de guerre 1939-1945 with 3 palms. La Croix de guerre des théâtres d'opérations extérieures with 4 palms. La Croix de la Valeur militaire with 1 palm. 4th squadron decorated November 19, 2012, with Croix de la valeur militaire with palm ( Afghanistan ).http://www.legion-etrangere.com/modules/actualite_seule.php?id=281&block=22&titre=les-regiments-etrangers-de-la-6e-blb-decores article sur le site de la Légion étrangère 2015-06-30 https://web.archive.org/web/20130124172206/http://www.legion-etrangere.com/modules/actualite_seule.php?id=281&block=22&titre=les-regiments-etrangers-de-la-6e-blb-decores 2013-01-24 dead Honors Battle Honors Camerone 1863 Levant 1925–1926 Morocco 1925–1927 Ousseltia 1943 Colmar 1945 Stuttgart 1945 First Indochina War 1947–1954 AFN 1952–1962 Koweït 1990-1991http://www.boc.sga.defense.gouv.fr/visu/boc_visu4.php?nor=S0751979S&id=16892 Décision n°12350/SGA/DPMA/SHD/DAT du 14 septembre 2007 relative aux inscriptions de noms de batailles sur les drapeaux et étendards des corps de troupe de l'armée de terre, du service de santé des armées et du service des essences des armées, [[:fr:Bulletin officiel des armées]], n°27, 9 novembre 2007 2015-06-30 https://web.archive.org/web/20140221172402/http://www.boc.sga.defense.gouv.fr/visu/boc_visu4.php?nor=S0751979S&id=16892 2014-02-21 dead "Édition Chronologique n°|45 du 29 octobre 2010". Le Ministère de la Défense instruction n°|1515/DEF/EMA/OL/2 du 23 septembre 1983, modifiée, sur les filiations et l'héritage des traditions des unités; décision n°|010318 /DEF/CAB/SDBG/CPAG du 15 juillet 2008 portant création d'une commission des emblèmes. Art 1er. L'inscription "Koweït 1990-1991" est attribuée aux drapeaux et étendards des formations des armées énumérées ci-dessous. 2e R.E.I, 1er R.E.C, 6e R.E.G, 3e R.I.Ma, 1er R.P.I.Ma, 11e R.A.Ma, 4e Régiment de dragon, 1er Régiment de Spahis, 6e Régiment de Commandement et de Soutien, 1er R.H.C, 3e R.H.C, puis les formations de l'Armée de l'Air les 5e, 7e, 11e escadre de chasse, la 33e escadre de reconnaissance et les 61e et 64e escadre de transport. Le présent arrêté sera publié au Bulletin officiel des armées, Hervé Morin. Regimental Commanders Foreign Legion Command Honneur et Fidélité Tenure (1921 - 1939) 1921 – 1922 : Colonel Perret 1922 – 1923 : Lieutenant Colonel Sala 1923 – 1925 : Colonel Maurel 1925 – 1931 : Colonel Sala 1931 – 1932 : Colonel Burnol 1932 – 1935 : Colonel Bonnefous Tenure (1935 - 1946) 1935 – 1940 : Colonel Berger 1940 – 1943 : Colonel Levavasseur 1943 – 1945 : Colonel Miquel 1945 : Major Lennuyeux 1945 – 1946 : Colonel Robert 1945 – 1946 : Lieutenant Colonel Marion Tenure (1948 - 1956) 1948 – 1949 : Lieutenant Colonel Doré 1949 – 1951 : Lieutenant Colonel de Battisti 1951 – 1952 : Lieutenant Colonel Royer 1952 – 1953 : Lieutenant Colonel Deluc 1953 – 1954 : Lieutenant Colonel Hardoin 1954 – 1956 : Lieutenant Colonel Coussaud de Massignac Tenure (1955 - 1975) 1956 : Commandant Ogier de Baulny 1956 – 1958 : Lieutenant Colonel Spitzer 1958 – 1960 : Lieutenant Colonel Hervé Le Barbier de Blignières 1960 – 1961 : Lieutenant Colonel de la Chapelle 1961 – 1962 : Lieutenant Colonel Barazer de Lannurien 1962 – 1963 : Lieutenant Colonel de Monplanet 1963 – 1965 : Lieutenant Colonel de Froissard de Broissia 1965 – 1967 : Lieutenant Colonel Ansoborlo 1967 – 1969 : Lieutenant Colonel Bart 1969 – 1971 : Lieutenant Colonel Caillard d'Aillières 1971 – 1973 : Lieutenant Colonel Fesneau 1973 – 1975 : Lieutenant Colonel Lorho Tenure (1975 - 1995) 1975 – 1977 : Lieutenant Colonel Devouges 1977 – 1979 : Lieutenant Colonel Raymond Le Corre 1979 – 1981 : Lieutenant Colonel Audemard d'Alançon 1981 – 1983 : Lieutenant Colonel de la Presle 1983 – 1985 : Lieutenant Colonel Ansart de Lessan 1985 – 1987 : Colonel Belloir 1987 – 1989 : Colonel Badie 1989 – 1991 : Colonel Ivanoff 1991 – 1993 : Colonel Yves de Kermabon 1993 – 1995 : Colonel Franceschi Tenure (1995–present) 1995 – 1997 : Colonel H. Clément-Bollée 1997 – 1999 : Colonel Colas des Francs 1999 – 2001 : Colonel Bertrand Clément-Bollée 2001 – 2003 : Colonel Yakovlev 2003 – 2005 : Colonel de Saint-Chamas 2005 – 2007 : Colonel Windeck 2007 – 2009 : Colonel Dupont 2009 – 2011 : Colonel Gilles Jaron 2011 – 2013 : Colonel Jean-Christophe Béchon 2013 – 2015 : Lieutenant Colonel Rémi Bouzereau Official Website of the 1st Foreign Cavalry Regiment. Section Ancien Chefs de Corps 2015 - 2017 : Colonel Valentin Seiler 2017 - 2019 : Colonel Olivier Baudet 2019 - 2021 : Colonel Meunier 2021 - 2023 : Colonel Leinukugel Le Cocq 2023 - 2025 : Colonel Dias 2025 - present : Colonel Larchet See also Major (France) Music of the Foreign Legion (MLE) Paul Gardy Serge Andolenko René Lennuyeux Jean Compagnon 2nd Foreign Cavalry Regiment Armored Train of the Foreign Legion Notes References www.legion-etrangere.com Porch Douglas The French Foreign Legion 1991 Harper Collins New York 978-0-06-092308-2 Windrow Martin French Foreign Legion 1914–1945 1996 Osprey Publishing Oxford 1-85532-761-9 Windrow Martin French Foreign Legion Since 1945 1996 Osprey Publishing Oxford 1-85532-621-3 External links Official site – 1er Régiment étranger de cavalerie https://web.archive.org/web/20150502200903/http://1rec.legion-etrangere.com/ 2015-05-02 History + images - 1er REC's History en Category:Cavalry regiments of France Category:Cavalry regiments of France in World War II 1st Foreign Cavalry Regiment Category:Military units and formations established in 1921