laststandonzombieisland

Three representational Legionaries

 

Caporal, Regiment de Légion du Proche Orient, Syria, c. 1930

    The lightweight linen drill uniform illustrated here, worn with puttees to the knee, was issued gradually during the inter-war years and was worn both in the field and in barracks. For parade purposes white leather or canvas belts, pouches and harness were worn over the blue sash. The tunic was usually worn next to the skin and open at the neck, and white scarves were common. The double green chevron above the buttoned cuff is the insignia of a caporal. Note that the low, crushed-looking képi with a semi-bleached cover is still worn. This is the type of uniform worn by famous American legionnaire Bennett Doty of Biloxi MS

Légionnaire de première classe, Algeria, 1939

    The most striking point about this figure is the appearance in this year of the stiffened cylindrical képi with a true white cover- the first appearance of the képi blanc which has become the trade mark of the Legion. The khaki greatcoat carried since the end of the First World War is worn, with a green grenade badge on the lapels. Under it is worn the linen uniform. The leather equipment has not changed, and a white scarf is worn, knotted in the characteristic fashion. The red chevron on the left arm is a long-service and good-conduct distinction, the single green chevron on both cuffs, the mark of rank. (A trivial but intriguing point: this figure was prepared from a photograph of 1939, and a picture published in 1969 showing a Legion paratrooper in Tchad, includes a white scarf knotted in exactly this fashion- obviously a minor Legion tradition.)

Adjutant-chef, R.M.L.E., France, 1915

    The realities of trench warfare necessitated the rapid abandonment of the colorful but impractical French infantry uniform, which was replaced by the horizon-blue uniform among regular infantry and by a khaki uniform of similar cut among colonial troops. The Legion was issued with the latter, but there was a transitional period when horizon blue was worn. The Adrian helmet was standard issue. The senior warrant officer illustrated here bears a single rank stripe above the cuffs of his coat, and five red long-service and good-conduct chevrons on the left upper arm. The belt, crossbelt, leggings and revolver holster are all worn exactly as with officers’ uniform, and the gold grenade badges woven diagonally on each side of the tunic collar are also characteristic of warrant and commissioned officers alike. The embossed grenade on the front of the helmet bears no relationship to the Legion insignia; it was worn on all French Army helmets.

(Michael Roffe)