Camp Raffalli, Calvi

[Pink Floyd]

That’s Dave alright. He was in CCS trans for quite a while with big Kiwi Dick...Dave Cooper was always heading outre mer with a company. I keep in touch with Kiwi and Dave on Facebook. Here are some photos from today at Aubagne of Danjou’s hand being escorted from the museum to the guard house, then onto the parade ground.

 

[Joseph Cosgrove]

I have to admit, that I never knew that the captain's hand was escorted to the guard room in that manner.
As for kiwi Dick, he was another one who was always going overseas. I remember my first tournant with the 3, someone had to be replaced at the very last minute. Dick turned up and took his place. The only thing was the guy's pacquetage outre mer was way too small for him. The tournant was for Djibouti and they did not like the REP. So getting his kit exchanged turned into a nightmare.

His nick name (apart from the obvious) was Dic Dic after the animal.

 

[Pink Floyd]

Joe, just on Danjou’s hand. It was in the possession of a local rancher for 2 or 3 years after the battle. How it found its way back to the Legion is anyone’s guess. Some photos from Calvi yesterday...

 

[Joseph Cosgrove]

As for the Hand, I believe that the Legion sent a group over there in order to make a monument - which is where in the recital of Camerone they site that when the Mexican army pass in front of it they present arms. It was there that they came across the hand, perhaps the farmer came forward with it?
Of the 5 legionnaires who were taken alive, one was so badly wounded he was allowed to stay behind and be nursed by an elderly woman in the village.
I remember reading some of the original transcripts of what took place when I was in the museum. Pity I wasn't that interested at the time otherwise I could have made some photocopies.

 

[Pink Floyd]

The list is interesting, a photo and diagram of the battle site.

 

[Joseph Cosgrove]

Although not Calvi, some rare footage of Zeralda Home of the 1st REP:

1st Foreign Parachute Regiment | French Foreign Legion Information

History and photos of the 1st Foreign Parachute Regiment of the French Foreign Legion, a successor to the 1st Foreign Parachute Battalion. Well-ordered data.

foreignlegion.info

August-September 1955:

– 1st Foreign Parachute Regiment
– 1er Regiment Etranger de Parachutistes (1er REP)

– 1er REP was established on September 1, 1955

– earlier, also the date of August 1, 1955 was used
– this date was mentioned in Legion sources until the 1960’s

– 1er REP was officially stationed at Zeralda
– Major Pierre Jeanpierre kept command

IT CAN BE WATCHED BETTER ON SMALL SCREEN SIZE

 

[Rapace]

3e Cie/2e REP back in Calvi after a 4 month tour in Nouvelle-Calédonie (French overseas territory in the Pacific, East of Australia).

 

[Joseph Cosgrove]

Although not Calvi, some rare footage of Zeralda Home of the 1st REP:

1st Foreign Parachute Regiment | French Foreign Legion Information

History and photos of the 1st Foreign Parachute Regiment of the French Foreign Legion, a successor to the 1st Foreign Parachute Battalion. Well-ordered data.

foreignlegion.info

August-September 1955:

– 1st Foreign Parachute Regiment
– 1er Regiment Etranger de Parachutistes (1er REP)

– 1er REP was established on September 1, 1955

– earlier, also the date of August 1, 1955 was used
– this date was mentioned in Legion sources until the 1960’s

– 1er REP was officially stationed at Zeralda
– Major Pierre Jeanpierre kept command

IT CAN BE WATCHED BETTER ON SMALL SCREEN SIZE

Jean-Marie Le Pen. The future well-known French politician captured by an army reporter in early 1957, while speaking with local residents during the Battle of Algiers. Lieutenant Le Pen served as a platoon leader with the 1st Platoon, 1st Company, 1st REP. With his unit, he took part in the Suez Crisis in Egypt in late 1956.

He was the president and founder of the (extreme) right wing political party the Front national. The flambeau (The torch) has been taken over by his daughter Marine Le Pen. He still makes an appearance every 1st May at the statue of Jean d'Arc (Joan of arc) Here is a 2 second clip of him 2 years ago:

 

[Pink Floyd]

Some terrible news. Paul “Jacko” James was killed in Wales (Thursday) when a car hit him whilst he was riding his bicycle. Jacko was a fine paratrooper, a great character and dear friend. He served in the 4Cie 2REP, as well as ex British Para...R.I.P Jacko.

A strong turnout in support for the family from the Anciens. R.I.P Jacko

 

[Pink Floyd]

France along with the USA, Britain, Japan, Canada, South Korea, Vietnam, Indonesia and other countries (18 in total) were at Puckapunal, Victoria for AASAM (Australian Army Skill Arms Meet) 18 March-2 April. *AASAM is now in its 44th year...“irrespective of nationality, the common language of the soldiers competing in AASAM is marksmanship” quote from an Australian WO1. The challenge consists of sidearms to sniper long range.

 

[Joseph Cosgrove]

A strong turnout in support for the family from the Anciens. R.I.P Jacko

Impressive.

Over 1,000 people turned up for the funeral of this ancien legionnaire and Brit Para. Well worth the read.

Over 1,000 turn out to say farewell to Paul | cambrian-news.co.uk

Over a thousand people attended St Michael’s Church in Aberystwyth on Saturday for a funeral to pay tribute to Cllr Paul James, tragically killed in a crash while on his bike training for a charity cycle ride.

www.cambrian-news.co.uk

 

[Rapace]

A strong turnout in support for the family from the Anciens. R.I.P Jacko

• Chaque légionnaire est ton frère d'armes, quelles que soient sa race, sa nationalité ou sa religion.
• (...) Tu n'abandonnes jamais ni tes morts, ni tes blessés (...)

 

[Pink Floyd]

2REP ‘Kiwi Ray and Ossie O...
.

 

[Pink Floyd]

The Congo, Kolwezi ‘41 years ago today. Thinking of you Mark Wake and all the other Anciens that parachuted on that monumental day...Legio Patria Nostra

 

[mark wake]

The Congo, Kolwezi ‘41 years ago today. Thinking of you Mark Wake and all the other Anciens that parachuted on that monumental day...Legio Patria Nostra

Thank you mate. Non, je ne regrette rien!

 

[Rapace]

A “crash course” given at Kinshasa airport to the Repmen on the T10 US parachute, the day of (or the day before?) the Kolwezi jump. The 2e REP couldn’t bring from France their own equipment and had to use the one provided by the Zairian Army. The guy giving the demo is a Lt (as seen from the metallic stripes on his shoulder on the second picture) that was probably working as part of the French Military Advising Group in Zaire at that time.

Pictures posted on a FB page by an Ancien.

 

[mark wake]

A “crash course” given at Kinshasa airport to the Repmen on the T10 US parachute, the day of (or the day before?) the Kolwezi jump. The 2e REP couldn’t bring from France their own equipment and had to use the one provided by the Zairian Army. The guy giving the demo is a Lt (as seen from the metallic stripes on his shoulder on the second picture) that was probably working as part of the French Military Advising Group in Zaire at that time.

The lads in the photo are from 4th co. 1st/2/3rd companies were already on the ground! Therefore this would be the day after.

 

[Pink Floyd]

Drop zones

 

[Rapace]

The lads in the photo are from 4th co. 1st/2/3rd companies were already on the ground! Therefore this would be the day after.

Correct, pictures taken by an Ancien of 4e Cie. The training on the T10 chutes was done all at once, and at that time, the decision to delay the drop of 4e Cie hadn't yet been taken, so the picture was taken before the drop, not when the first wave had already hit the ground.

Drop Zone A is where the first wave was dropped on May 19 (1re, 2e and 3e Cies). Drop zone B is where the second wave (4e Cie, Recce platoon, and 81 mm mortars) was dropped on May 20.

 

[dusaboss]

Drop zones

What are Alpha, Bravo, Romeo, Tango etc? Teams or capture points or something else?