I was asked by former (?) forum member Ossie O. to have a look at a legion book which was researched, written and published by Paul de Pierres.
The title is A MOI LA LEGION! Australian in the French Foreign Legion.
Front cover Back cover L to R David Mason, Brian Smith, Ossie O.
Many of the photos have been donated by Ossie O, who asked me to give a write-up about it in the Books Reviews thread. I received the book on Monday and haven’t been able to put it down yet.
Here is extract from the introduction :
Australians have joined the French foreign legion for diverse reasons. Some were soldiers of fortune, others were on the run from all sorts of situations, some just wanted to be soldiers somewhere and others wanted the French passport that a completed Legion contract offers. Many sought adventure, travel and hopefully opportunities that might come with the tag of ex-legionnaire in their curriculum vitae…
However there are not just Australian nationals. There are Germans, Norwegians, Spanish, Belgians etc. That which binds them, other than the legion, is that they all now reside or are laid to rest in Australia.
__________ __________
There are at least 132 stories, most recounted by the legionnaires themselves. Here is a quote from Ossie O.’s story :
You go to the legion- The legion doesn’t come to you! The legion doesn’t have the time or resources to handle people with kid gloves, you have to learn fast, it’s fit in or **** off…
photo from the book of Ossie O. getting ready for a night aquatic recce with 3rd Cie REP
The stories, as far as I can tell are authentic. One of them tells of a legionnaire who completed his five years from 1985 -1990 says:
He served as a medic in 13 DBLE and then 2 REI finishing in 1 RE. Things were relatively quiet while he was serving in the legion
Another went on to admit that he had deserted from the REP a short while before the Kolwezi jump recounts:
… sat on park bench and cried my heart out: my regiment had gone into action, real action, not just peace keeping, and I had missed it…
David Mason, whom I had met while in the 13, Djibouti says:
We were called out for operation Godoria, This operation was brought on by the collapse of the Mengistu regime in Ethiopia. The just over 4000 troops in the Djiboutian army were no match for the 40 000 mainly military refugees, tanks and heavy weapons of a defeated army…
I remember this operation well and played a (very) small part in it. I’ll tell you about it another day and also a funny anecdote which I’m sure will stir up a few memories for those that were there.
So I’ll sum up by saying that this is a must read for anyone who is interested in the legion, it’s history and stories recounted by those who were there.
Contents
Adjoining Battle of Camerone
Page 2 1850 -1919
Page 22 Famous Legionnaires
Page 23 1920 - 1939
Page 37 Myths and Realities
Page 38 1940 - 1945
Page 47 Demise of a Legion Platoon
Page 48 1946 - 1954
Page 58 1955 - 1962
Page 66 !963 - 2016
Page 95 Acknowledgments/ Bibliography
Page 96 Amicale
Page 97 Index
If anyone is interested in buying a copy, drop me a PM and I will send you Paul de Peirres’ email. Understandably he doesn’t want it pasted all over the forum.
The price is A$35 equivalent to €22 + post and packaging.
And no I don’t get a cut !
The author of A moi la Legion ! is not limited to this book, he has among others, written
“Allies forever”
“To learn And to Serve”
“Under two flags”
David Mason has published a book “Marching with the devil.
The question is when is Ossie O. going to bring out his book?
The title is A MOI LA LEGION! Australian in the French Foreign Legion.
Front cover Back cover L to R David Mason, Brian Smith, Ossie O.
Many of the photos have been donated by Ossie O, who asked me to give a write-up about it in the Books Reviews thread. I received the book on Monday and haven’t been able to put it down yet.
Here is extract from the introduction :
Australians have joined the French foreign legion for diverse reasons. Some were soldiers of fortune, others were on the run from all sorts of situations, some just wanted to be soldiers somewhere and others wanted the French passport that a completed Legion contract offers. Many sought adventure, travel and hopefully opportunities that might come with the tag of ex-legionnaire in their curriculum vitae…
However there are not just Australian nationals. There are Germans, Norwegians, Spanish, Belgians etc. That which binds them, other than the legion, is that they all now reside or are laid to rest in Australia.
__________ __________
There are at least 132 stories, most recounted by the legionnaires themselves. Here is a quote from Ossie O.’s story :
You go to the legion- The legion doesn’t come to you! The legion doesn’t have the time or resources to handle people with kid gloves, you have to learn fast, it’s fit in or **** off…
photo from the book of Ossie O. getting ready for a night aquatic recce with 3rd Cie REP
The stories, as far as I can tell are authentic. One of them tells of a legionnaire who completed his five years from 1985 -1990 says:
He served as a medic in 13 DBLE and then 2 REI finishing in 1 RE. Things were relatively quiet while he was serving in the legion
Another went on to admit that he had deserted from the REP a short while before the Kolwezi jump recounts:
… sat on park bench and cried my heart out: my regiment had gone into action, real action, not just peace keeping, and I had missed it…
David Mason, whom I had met while in the 13, Djibouti says:
We were called out for operation Godoria, This operation was brought on by the collapse of the Mengistu regime in Ethiopia. The just over 4000 troops in the Djiboutian army were no match for the 40 000 mainly military refugees, tanks and heavy weapons of a defeated army…
I remember this operation well and played a (very) small part in it. I’ll tell you about it another day and also a funny anecdote which I’m sure will stir up a few memories for those that were there.
So I’ll sum up by saying that this is a must read for anyone who is interested in the legion, it’s history and stories recounted by those who were there.
Contents
Adjoining Battle of Camerone
Page 2 1850 -1919
Page 22 Famous Legionnaires
Page 23 1920 - 1939
Page 37 Myths and Realities
Page 38 1940 - 1945
Page 47 Demise of a Legion Platoon
Page 48 1946 - 1954
Page 58 1955 - 1962
Page 66 !963 - 2016
Page 95 Acknowledgments/ Bibliography
Page 96 Amicale
Page 97 Index
If anyone is interested in buying a copy, drop me a PM and I will send you Paul de Peirres’ email. Understandably he doesn’t want it pasted all over the forum.
The price is A$35 equivalent to €22 + post and packaging.
And no I don’t get a cut !
The author of A moi la Legion ! is not limited to this book, he has among others, written
“Allies forever”
“To learn And to Serve”
“Under two flags”
David Mason has published a book “Marching with the devil.
The question is when is Ossie O. going to bring out his book?
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