The 1st Foreign Regiment (1er RE) is the oldest of the regiments of the Foreign Legion. He has been stationed in the Vienot district of Aubagne since 1962, when he arrived from Sidi Bel Abbès.
Created in 1841, it is the dean of the Legion regiments. Beyond this historical aspect, the 1er RE represents the major step in the journey of the legionnaire. He began his career there, at the selection and incorporation center (CSI), and completed his departure formalities there. If today it is a regiment with an essentially administrative vocation, it has not always been so.
Creation and different denominations
April 1, 1841:creation of the 1st Foreign Regiment
1859:it merges with the 2nd RE and becomes the Foreign Regiment.
1875 becomes Foreign Legion.
January 1, 1884 becomes 1st Foreign Regiment again.
History of garrisons, campaigns and battles
1815 to 1852
The 1st Foreign Regiment (1er RE) was created in Algeria on April 1, 1841 (from 3 legion battalions).
On January 1, 1849, the 1er RE, under the command of Colonel Émile Mellinet, was garrisoned in Oran, Algeria.
Second Empire
He first participated in the pacification of Algeria and then was sent to the Crimea (1853-1856) where he formed a brigade with his brother regiment, the 2nd RE, within the 6th division. It took part in the Battle of Alma and the siege of Sebastopol.
The regiment then took part in the Italian campaign in 1859, within the 2nd infantry division of the 2nd infantry corps. army (Mac Mahon), and distinguished himself during the Battle of Magenta. On his return to Algeria, he changed his name and became the Foreign Regiment.
1861-1867:expedition to Mexico. The regiment arrived in Mexico on March 25, 1863 and landed on the 26th in Veracruz. Its 3rd company covered itself with glory by sacrificing itself during the Battle of Camerone on April 30, 1863.
During the War of 1870-1871, the Legion was belatedly engaged. It was at the end of September 1870 that the regiment was integrated into the 15th corps (1st brigade, 2nd division) and was engaged towards Orléans in October and December 1870 then to Montbéliard in January 1871.
1871 to 1914
During the Paris Commune in 1871, the regiment participated with the Versailles army in the bloody week.
The regiment returned to Algeria in June 1871 (Mascara near Oran).
On January 1, 1885, the "Foreign Legion", the name given to the RE on March 13, 1875, split into two foreign regiments, each consisting of 4 battalions and a depot company.
During the Madagascar expedition in 1895-1896, he formed with the 2nd regiment a marching battalion which depended on the Algerian Regiment, of the African army under the orders of Colonel Oudri of the 2nd foreign regiment.
First World War
The regiment did not participate directly in the Great War. It administers and provides the personnel of four marching regiments which, at the end of the war, will form the Marching Regiment of the Foreign Legion.
Between the wars
Its mounted companies will participate in the Moroccan campaigns and in particular in the fight against Abd el krim al-Khattabi (Abdelkrim)
badge
This first insignia of the 1er REI (1950-1955) takes up the symbolism of the Foreign Legion with the seven-flame grenade and the colors green and red. The number of the regiment is indicated in the bomb while the globe recalls that of the monument to the dead of the Foreign Legion in Sidi Bel Abbès.
The current insignia of the 1er RE takes up the symbolism of the ribbon of the commemorative medal of the Mexican expedition created in 1863. This insignia was initially intended for the 3rd company of the 4th foreign regiment (1936). In 1950, it became the insignia of the GALE (autonomous group of the Foreign Legion) then finally in 1955 that of the 1er RE.
It is a white diamond on which appear the arms of Mexico (a black short-toed snake eagle holding a green snake in its claws) and a cross of Saint Andrew in the colors of the Legion and Mexico (green and red) .
This symbolism of Mexico would itself be inherited from an Aztec legend concerning the foundation of Tenochtitlan. The cross is also present on the Codex of Mendoza
Flag
The names of the following campaigns are inscribed in gold letters on the flag3:
Sevastopol 1855
Kabylie1857
Magenta 1859
Camerone1863
Far East 1884-1885
Dahomey-Morocco 1892-1907-1925
Madagascar 1895-1905
Orient 1915-1917
AFN 1952-19624
Singing
We are all volunteers
We marched merrily in time,
Despite the wind, despite the rain,
France's best soldiers,
are there in front of you here they are.
(Chorus)
We are all volunteers,
Guys of the 1st Foreigner,
Our motto is legendary,
Honor, fidelity-fidelity,
Let's march Legionnaires,
In the mud, in the burning sand,
Let us march with a light soul
And with a valiant heart,
Let us march Legionnaires.
Wherever the fight rages,
We see the 1st Stranger,
Example of heroism, courage,
To cover oneself with glorious laurels.
Let us keep in the depths of our souls,
The memory of our elders.
And for the seven-flame grenade,
Loyal ready to sacrifice everything.
Decorations
The regimental flag is decorated with:
the Cross of the Legion of Honor since April 28, 1906.
the Croix de guerre 1939-1945 with palm.
the Gold Medal of the City of Milan since March 9, 1909.
Cross with Sword of Merit of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta
Achievements of particular honor to the regiment
Siege of Sevastopol (1854)
Battle of Magenta (1859)
Battle of Camerone (1863)
Personalities who served in the regiment
Captain Danjou;
Peter I of Serbia;
Lord Kitchener of Khartoum;
Brigadier General Peppino Garibaldi with his 5 brothers , two of whom died fighting in the Argonne in 1915.
Eugene Jacques Bullard;
Siegfried Freytag, German flying ace;
The regiment today
Assignments
The main mission of the regiment is to support the command of the Foreign Legion which is in charge of the administrative management of the entire Legion, and the specificities attached to it.
Organization
The 1st foreign regiment is articulated in three companies of very variable manpower.
The CCSR, or regimental command and services company, brings together all the services contributing to the proper functioning of the daily life of the unit (kitchens, infirmary, mechanical workshops, pioneers, etc.).
The CSLE or Foreign Legion Services Company, has the services specific to the functioning of the Legion in general (division of human resources, security, history and heritage, communication, music of the Foreign Legion, etc. ).
The CAPLE or administrative company of the Foreign Legion deals more particularly with the reception of candidates for engagement, the selection, the administration of the personnel "hors corps" (severely ill, etc.). It also included the cross country team until 2012 before it disappeared in favor of a section of the sports club
The regiment has the particularity of having several locations:
the Foreign Legion Invalids Institution (IILE) in Puyloubier welcomes the old in a medical structure allowing them, for the most able-bodied, to continue to work;
the Accommodation and D Foreign Legion reception (CHALE) in La Ciotat, which provides accommodation for legionnaires on long-term leave with or without their families;
the Foreign Legion leave center in La Malmousque ( CPLEM) in Marseilles which welcomes leavers;
List of commanders of the 1st foreign regiment
1st Foreign Regiment of the Foreign Legion (1841-1856)
1841 Col de Mollenbeck
1842 Col Despinoy
1843 Col Mouret
1846 Col Mellinet
1850 Col Lesueur de Givry
1851 Col Bazaine
1854 Col Vienot mort in the field of honor
1855 Col Levy
1855 Col Martenot de Cordoue
1st Foreign Regiment (1856-1862)
1856 Col Meyer
1858 Col de Saint-André
1858 Col Granchette
1858 Col Brayer
1859 Col Martinez
Foreign Regiment (1862-1875)
1862 Col Butet
1862 Col Jeanningros
1865 Col Lavoignet
1865 Col d'Ornano
1866 Gen Jeanningros
1866 Col de Courcy
1866 Col Guilhem
1867 Col Deplanque
1870 Col de Curten
1870 Col Thierry
1871 Col Chaulan
1871 Col de Mallaret
Foreign Legion (1875-1884)
1875 Col de Mallaret
1881 Col de Negrier
1883 Col Grisot
1st foreign regiment (1885-1942)
1885 Col Grisot
1886 Col Wattringue
1890 Col Barberet
1891 Col Zeni
1895 Col de Villebois-Mareuil
1896 Col Bertrand
1900 Col Dautelle
1904 Col René Boutegourd
1907 Col Girardot
1910 Col Bavouzet
1913 Col Boyer
1914 Lt-Col Cosman
18/11/1914- 11/04/1915 Col Tahon
1915 Lt-Col Met
1916 Lt-Col Heliot
1918 Lt-Col Forey
1920 Col Boulet-Desbarreau
1925 Col Rollet
1931 Col Nicolas
1934 Col Maire
1934 Col Debas
1935 Col Azan
1939 Col Robert
1940 Col Flank
1940 Col Girard
1940 Col Bouty
1941 Col Lambert
1941 Col Barre
1942 Col Vias
1st foreign marching infantry regiment 1943
1943 Lt-Col Gentis
1st Foreign Infantry Regiment (recreated 1949 – 1955)
(1949 Col René Babonneau,?)
1946 Col Gaultier (ou 1949?)
1950 Col Pénicaut
1953 Col Thomas
1955 Col Raberin
1st foreign regiment (1955 - 2012 )
1956 Col Thomas
1959 Col Brothier
1961 Col Vaillant
1963 Col Vadot
1966 Col Chenel
1968 Col Fuhr
1970 Col Letestu
1972 Lcl Plantevin
1974 Col Riou
1976 Col Delsuc died in service
1976 Col Thibout
1978 Col Ameline
1980 Col Talbourdet
1982 Lcl Bénézit
1984 Col Cler
1986 Col Carles
1989 Col Bernier
1992 Col Cayrou
1994 Col Raymond
1996 Col Blevin
1998 Col Pierson
2000 Col Relave
2002 Col Guenin
2004 Lcl Xavie r Lantaires
2006 Col Jean-François Hackenbruch
2008 Col André Labat
2010 Col Alban des Courtils
2012 Lcl Damien de Besombes
2014 LCL Remy Rousseau