1st Foreign Regiment

1st Foreign regiment (1er Régiment étranger)
Regimental badge of 1er RE
Active	1841 - present
Country	France
Allegiance	French Foreign Legion
Branch	French Army
Part of	Foreign Legion Command 31st Brigade (France) (1981-1984)
Garrison/HQ	Aubagne
Motto(s)	Honneur et Fidélité
Colors	Green & Red
March	Nous sommes tous des volontaires (We are all volunteers)
Anniversaries	Camerone Day (April 30) and Christmas
Engagements	Crimean War Siege of Sevastopol 1854 Second Italian War of Independence Battle of Magenta French intervention in Mexico Battle of Camarón World War I World War II Multinational Force in Lebanon Gulf War Global War on Terror (2001-present)
Commanders
Notable commanders	Raphaël Viénot Paul-Frédéric Rollet
Insignia
Beret badge of the 1st Foreign Regiment
Abbreviation	1er RE

Each year, the French Foreign Legion commemorates and celebrates Camarón in its headquarters in Aubagne and Bastille Day military parade in Paris; featuring the Pionniers leading and opening the way.

Captain Jean Danjou (Battle of Camarón)

The 1st Foreign Regiment (French: 1er Régiment étranger, 1er RE) is the oldest and most senior regiment of the French Foreign Legion.

The regiment is also in charge of special institutions of the legion to include the magazine Képi Blanc, the Legion's Athletics Team (ATHLEG) and the Military band.

History, creation and different nominations

Royal Foreign Regiments

1st Foreign Regiment Pionniers

The Legion retook since 1831 the tradition of Pionniers.

1st Regiment of the 1st Foreign Legion

1st Foreign Regiment of 1885

The 1st Regiment of the Foreign Legion was created in 1841 based on 3 battalions in the newly created 1831 Foreign Legion.^[1] The 1st Regiment of the Foreign Legion became in 1855 the 1st Regiment of the 1st Foreign Legion.^[1] This regimet merged with the 2nd Foreign Regiment (2^e R.E.), (1856-1861) in 1859 and became the Foreign Regiment (R.E), (1862-1875), then came the 1st and 2nd battalion of the Foreign Legion (L.E), (1875-1884) which produced the 1st Foreign Regiment of 1885 that consequently became the 1st Foreign Infantry Regiment in 1922 and the 1st Foreign Marching Infantry Regiment (French: 1er Régiment Etranger d'Infanterie de Marche, 1er R.E.I.M) in 1943.^[1]

1st Foreign Regiment of 1856

The 1st Foreign Regiment (1er R.E.) (1856-1861) was created based on the 1st and 2nd Foreign Regiments of the 2nd Foreign Legion.^[1]

1st Foreign Regiment of 1955

The 1st Foreign Regiment (1er R.E) (1955–present) was created based on the recreated 1st Foreign Infantry Regiment (1946-1955).^[1] This 1st Foreign Regiment gave formation on September 1, 1972 to the Foreign Legion Groupment (G.L.E) which became the Foreign Legion Command (C.O.M.L.E) on July 1, 1984.^[1] With the Foreign Legion Command, the 1st Foreign Regiment constitute the <<Maison Mère>> (Mother House) of the Foreign Legion.^[2]

This expression inherited from Sidi Bel Abbès came from the primordial role the regiment played in conserving tradition and rendering the 1st Foreign Regiment a genuine turning plateau for the ensemble of the Foreign Legion.^[2][3] Quartier (garrison) Raphaël Vienot of Aubagne and Sidi Bel Abbès were both named in honor of colonel Viénot. Aubagne also houses the French Foreign Legion Museum.^[2]

Created in 1841 and stationed in Aubagne since 1962, the 1st Foreign Regiment is the patron of all Foreign Legion regiments.^[2] Beyond this historical aspect, the 1st Foreign Regiment represents a major cornerstone in the career paths of legionnaires.^[2] The legionnaires initiate their careers from the 1st Foreign Regiment at the selection center of incorporation while also confirming successful return upon completion of basic training before deploying to a legion operational regiment.^[2] Legionnaires also pass by the 1st Foreign Regiment each time a posting of a regiment changes, and also finalize in the same regiment their departure formalities at the end of active duty service.

Missions of the 1st Foreign Regiment

The 1st Foreign Regiment, is a regiment with essentially an administrative vocation which major missions are the support of the Foreign Legion and the Foreign Legion Command.^[3] However, during exterior and interior misson deployments requirements of units and regiments of the legion; the 1st Foreign Regiment usually also dispatches particular individuals or teams of specialists (O.M.L.T).^[3] In addition, the foreign regiment like all regiments of the French Army, does also engage in the alert phase mission of Vigipirate.^[3] The 1st Foreign Regiment also dispatches and supports global humanitarian missions around the globe during natural catastrophe and disasters.^[3]

Organisation

The regiment consists of three companies, as follows:^[4]

• Pionniers Sections of Tradition
• Compagnie de Commandement et des Services Régimentaire (CCSR) - Regimental Command and Services Company
• Compagnie des Services de la Légion Étrangère (CSLE) - Foreign Legion Services Company
• Compagnie Administrative du Personnel de la Légion Étrangère (CAPLE) - Foreign Legion Personnel Administration Company

It also runs the following:^[4]

• Institution des Invalides de la Légion Étrangère (IILE) à Puyloubier - Foreign Legion Invalid Institution, at Puyloubier
• Centre d’Hébergement et d’Accueil de la Légion Étrangère (CHALE) à la Ciotat - Foreign Legion Accommodation & Welcome Center, at Ciotat
• Centre des Permissionnaires de la Légion Étrangère de la Malmousque (CPLEM) à Marseille - Foreign Legion Leave Center, at Malmousque

Also reported within the regiment is the Foreign Legion Emergency Staff and Statistics Division, a Legion intelligence section.

Tradition

Insignia

<gallery = "mode packed">

File:Insigne 1er régiment étranger-transparent.png|

Regimental Insignia of the 1st Foreign Regiment, 1er R.E.

Image:Insigne du 1° REI.JPG|

Regimental Insignia of the 1st Foreign Infantry Regiment, 1er R.E.I (1950-1955)

Image:Médaille de l'expédition au Mexique.JPG|

Commemorative medal of the Mexico Expedition

File:Écusson de la 31e brigade.jpg| The Foreign Legion Groupment, G.L.E in the 31st Brigade featuring Poseidon
between Legion colors (Green and Red, left) and Troupes de marine (Blue and Red, right). File:Pionniers.png|Pionniers of the 1st Foreign Regiment

Image:Flag of Mexico.svg|

Flag of Mexico

Image:CodexMendoza01.jpg|

Codex Mendoza

File:Insign de béret 1er RE Type 3.jpg|

Beret Insignia of the 1st Foreign Regiment

</gallery>

The insignia of the 1st Foreign Infantry Regiment, (1er R.E.I), (1950-1955) retook the symbolics of the Foreign Legion with the grenade of 7 flames and the green, red colors of the legion. The regiment is represented inside the grenade while the globe commemorates the relic of the Foreign Legion in Sidi Bel Abbès.

The current isnginia of the 1st Foreign Regiment, (1er R.E), retook the symbloic ruban of the Commemorative medal of the Mexico Expedition created in 1863. This insignia was initially destined for the 3rd company of the 4th Foreign Regiment in 1936. The inisgnia becoame that of the Autonomous Group of the Foreign Legion, (G.A.L.E) and was then adopted by the 1st Foreign Regiment, (1er R.E.) in 1955.

The insignia makes reference to a white diamond shape on which figures the arms of Mexico (a black Circaetus holding a serpent) and a roman saltire with Foreign Legion and Mexican colors.

Regimental Colors

Verso Colors of the 1st Foreign Regiment, 1er R.E with Honneur et Fidélité.

Regimental Song

Chant de Marche : Nous sommes tous des volontaires featuring:^[5]

Nous sommes tous des volontaires,
Les gars du 1er étranger,
Notre devise est légendaire,
Honneur Fidélité - Fidélité,
Marchons légionnaires,
Dans la boue, dans le sable brûlant, (bis)
Marchons l'âme légère, (bis)
Et le cœur vaillant, (bis)
Marchons légionnaires. (bis)

Nous marchons gaiement en cadence,
Malgré le vent malgré la pluie,
Les meilleurs soldats de la France,
Sont là devant vous, les voici.

Partout où le combat fait rage,
L'on voit le 1er étranger,
Exemple d'héroïsme, de courage,
Se couvrir de glorieux lauriers.

Gardons dans le fond de nos âmes,
Le souvenir de nos aînés,
Et pour la grenade à sept flammes,
Loyal prêt à tout sacrifier.

Decorations

• Legion of Honour on April 28, 1906
• Croix de guerre 1939–1945 (France) with 1 palm^[6]
• Gold Medal of the City of Milan since March 9, 1909
• Cross with swords of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta

• 

  Legion of Honour
• 

  Croix de guerre 1939-1945 with 1 palm
• 

  Gold Medal of the City of Milan

Honors

Battle honours

• Sevastopol 1855^[6]
• Kabilie 1857
• Magenta 1859
• Camerone 1863
• Extrême-Orient 1884-1885
• Dahomy-Maroc 1892-1907, 1925
• Madagascar 1895-1905
• Orient 1915-17
• AFN 1952-1962

Foreign Legion and Regimental Commanders

Tenure (1841-1955)

1st Regiment of the 1st Foreign Legion Tenure (1841 -1856)[7] 1er régiment étranger de la Légion étrangère, (1er R.E.L.E)[7] 1841 : colonel de Mollenbeck 1842 : colonel Despinoy 1843 : colonel Mouret 1846 : colonel Mellinet 1850 : colonel Lesueur de Givry 1851 : colonel Bazaine 1854 : colonel Vienot killed heading the regiment 1855 : colonel Levy 1855 : colonel Martenot de Cordoue 1st Foreign Regiment Tenure (1856-1862)[7] 1er régiment étranger, (1er R.E)[7] 1856 : colonel Meyer 1858 : colonel de Saint-André 1858 : colonel Granchette 1858 : colonel Brayer 1859 : colonel Martinez

Foreign Regiment Tenure (1862-1875)[7] Régiment étranger, (R.E.)[7] 1862 : colonel Butet 1862 : colonel Jeanningros 1865 : colonel Lavoignet 1865 : colonel d'Ornano 1866 : general Jeanningros 1866 : colonel de Courcy 1866 : colonel Guilhem 1867 : colonel Deplanque 1870 : colonel de curten 1870 : colonel Thierry 1871 : colonel Chaulan 1871 : colonel de Mallaret Foreign Legion Tenure (1875-1884)[7] Légion étrangère, (L.E)[7] 1875 : colonel de Mallaret 1881 : colonel Oscar de Négrier 1883 : colonel Grisot

1st Foreign Regiment Tenure (1885-1942)[7] 1er Régiment Etranger, (1er R.E)[7] 1885 : colonel Grisot 1886 : colonel Wattringue 1890 : colonel Barberet 1891 : colonel Zeni 1895 : colonel de Villebois-Mareuil 1896 : colonel Bertrand 1900 : colonel Dautelle 1904 : colonel Boutegourd 1907 : colonel Girardot 1910 : colonel Bavouzet 1913 : colonel Boyer 1914 : Lt.colonel Cosman 1914 : colonel Tahon 1915 : Lt.colonel Met 1916 : Lt.colonel Heliot 1918 : Lt.colonel Forey 1920 : colonel Boulet-Desbarreau 1925 : colonel Paul-Frédéric Rollet

1931 : colonel Nicolas 1934 : colonel Maire 1934 : colonel Debas 1935 : colonel Azas 1939 : colonel Robert 1940 : colonel Flan 1940 : colonel Girard 1940 : colonel Bouty 1941 : colonel Lambert 1941 : colonel Barre 1942 : colonel Vias 1st Foreign Marching Infantry Regiment Tenure (1943)[7] 1er régiment étranger d'infanterie de marche, (1er R.E.I.M)[7] 1943 : Lt.colonel Gentis 1st Foreign Infantry Regiment Tenure (recreated 1949-1955)[7] 1er régiment étranger d'infanterie, (1er R.E.I)[7] 1949 : colonel Babonneau 1949 : colonel Gaultier 1950 : colonel Pénicaut 1953 : colonel Thomas 1955 : colonel Raberin

Tenure (1955-present)

1956 : colonel Thomas[8] 1959 : colonel Brothier[9] 1961 : colonel Vaillant[10] 1963 : colonel Vadot[11] 1966 : colonel Chenel[12] 1968 : colonel Fuhr[13] 1970 : colonel Letestu[14]

1972 : Lt.colonel Plantevin[15] 1974 : colonel Riou[16] 1976 : colonel Delsuc[17] 1976 : colonel Thibout[18] 1978 : colonel Ameline[19] 1980 : colonel Talbourdet[20] 1982 : Lt.colonel Bénézit[21]

1984 : colonel Cler[22] 1986 : colonel Carles[23] 1989 : colonel Bernier[24] 1992 : colonel Cayrou[25] 1994 : colonel Raymond[26] 1996 : colonel Blevin[27] 1998 : colonel Pierson[28]

2000 : colonel Relave[29] 2002 : colonel Guenin[30] 2004 : Lt.colonel Xavier Lantaires[31] 2006 : colonel Jean-François Hackenbruch[32] 2008 : colonel André Labat[33] 2010 : colonel Alban des Courtils[34] 2012 : Lt.colonel Damien de Besombes[35] 2014 : Lt.colonel Remy Rousseau[36]

Notable personalities having served in the 1st Foreign Regiment

• Captain Jean Danjou
• Peter I of Serbia
• Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener
• Brigadier General Giuseppe Garibaldi II with his 5 brothers, 2 of whom were killed in combats at Argonne in 1915.
• Eugene Bullard
• Pierre Segretain
• Pierre Jeanpierre

Gallery

• 

  Relic of the Foreign Legion at Sidi bel-Abbès

• 

  Place d'armes of garrison (quartier) Vienot at Aubagne

• 

  Relic of the Foreign Legion at Aubagne

See also

• Swiss Guard
• Moroccan Division
• Marching Regiment of the Foreign Legion

References

1. Official Website of the 1st Foreign Regiment, Affiliations of the 1st Foreign Regiment
2. Official Website of the 1st Foreign Regiment, Regiment History
3. Official Website of the 1st Foreign Regiment, the 1st Foreign Regiment
4. "Le 1er Régiment étranger". Legion Etrangere. Retrieved 2011-12-31.
5. Official Website of the 1st Foreign Regiment, Chant du 1er Régiment étranger
6. Official Website of the 1st Foreign Regiment, Regimental Colors and decorations
7. Official Website of the 1st Foreign Regiment, Foreign Legion and Regimental Commanders (1841-1955)
8. Official Website of the 1st Foreign Regiment, Regimental Commanders (1955-present)
9. Official Website of the 1st Foreign Regiment, Regimental Commanders (1955-present)
10. Official Website of the 1st Foreign Regiment, Regimental Commanders (1955-present)
11. Official Website of the 1st Foreign Regiment, Regimental Commanders (1955-present)
12. Official Website of the 1st Foreign Regiment, Regimental Commanders (1955-present)
13. Official Website of the 1st Foreign Regiment, Regimental Commanders (1955-present)
14. Official Website of the 1st Foreign Regiment, Regimental Commanders (1955-present)
15. Official Website of the 1st Foreign Regiment, Regimental Commanders (1955-present)
16. Official Website of the 1st Foreign Regiment, Regimental Commanders (1955-present)
17. Official Website of the 1st Foreign Regiment, Regimental Commanders (1955-present)
18. Official Website of the 1st Foreign Regiment, Regimental Commanders (1955-present)
19. Official Website of the 1st Foreign Regiment, Regimental Commanders (1955-present)
20. Official Website of the 1st Foreign Regiment, Regimental Commanders (1955-present)
21. Official Website of the 1st Foreign Regiment, Regimental Commanders (1955-present)
22. Official Website of the 1st Foreign Regiment, Regimental Commanders (1955-present)
23. Official Website of the 1st Foreign Regiment, Regimental Commanders (1955-present)
24. Official Website of the 1st Foreign Regiment, Regimental Commanders (1955-present)
25. Official Website of the 1st Foreign Regiment, Regimental Commanders (1955-present)
26. Official Website of the 1st Foreign Regiment, Regimental Commanders (1955-present)
27. Official Website of the 1st Foreign Regiment, Regimental Commanders (1955-present)
28. Official Website of the 1st Foreign Regiment, Regimental Commanders (1955-present)
29. Official Website of the 1st Foreign Regiment, Regimental Commanders (1955-present)
30. Official Website of the 1st Foreign Regiment, Regimental Commanders (1955-present)
31. Official Website of the 1st Foreign Regiment, Regimental Commanders (1955-present)
32. Official Website of the 1st Foreign Regiment, Regimental Commanders (1955-present)
33. Official Website of the 1st Foreign Regiment, Regimental Commanders (1955-present)
34. Official Website of the 1st Foreign Regiment, Regimental Commanders (1955-present)
35. Official Website of the 1st Foreign Regiment, Regimental Commanders (1955-present)
36. Official Website of the 1st Foreign Regiment, Regimental Commanders (1955-present)

• www.legion-etrangere.com
• Windrow, Martin (1971). French Foreign Legion. Oxford: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 0-85045-051-9.

External links

• Official website - 1er Régiment étranger
• French Foreign Legion recruitment portal
• Képi Blanc magazine