2nd_Foreign_Cavalry_Regiment

2nd Foreign Cavalry Regiment

2nd Foreign Cavalry Regiment

Military unit

The 2nd Foreign Cavalry Regiment (French: 2e Régiment Étranger de Cavalerie, 2e REC) was a cavalry regiment of the Foreign Legion in the French Army. the regiment was dissolved twice, in 1946 and 1962; the regimental colors have been entrusted to the Foreign Legion Detachment in Mayotte since 1984.

Quick Facts 2nd Foreign Cavalry Regiment (2e Régiment Étranger de Cavalerie), Active ...

History

Pre-World War II

The 2nd Foreign Cavalry Regiment (2e R.E.C) was created in July 1939 on the substance of the squadron groups of Morocco issued from the 1st Foreign Cavalry Regiment 1er R.E.C).[1][2][3]

World War II

At the outbreak of World War II, the 2nd Foreign Cavalry Regiment was stationed in Morocco and part of it were quickly attached to the 97th Reconnaissance Group of the Infantry Division (G.R.D 97) (French: Groupement de reconnaissance divisionnaire 97 (GRD97)), which engaged in combat in France during the German spring offensive of 1940, and whose commander, Lieutenant-Colonel Boyer de Latour, was killed leading at the bois de Noroy on 9 July.[1] Following the armistice, the regiment was dissolved on November 15, 1940, and the regimental colours were entrusted to the honor guard of the 1st Foreign Cavalry Regiment.[1]

Indochina

The 2nd Foreign Cavalry Regiment was officially dissolved on June 1, 1946, at Sidi Bel Abbès, but was recreated that November, garrisoned at Oujda, where the regiment remained until 1956. The mission of the regiment was to instruct and train reinforcements destined for the 1st Foreign Cavalry Regiment in the Far East.[1]

North Africa and Algerian War

Following the Paris accords in 1954 and the departure for Indochina in 1955, the 2nd Foreign Cavalry Regiment participated to the securing of Moroccan territories, then from 1956 maintained order in Algeria, first in the sector of Laghouat, and from 1958 along the Tunisian border.[1] In January 1962, the 2nd Foreign Cavalry Regiment made way on Biskra, but was dissolved again following the Evian accords.[1][4]

In 5 years of campaigning in Algeria, the 2nd Foreign Cavalry Regiment eliminated more than 1022 rebels and captured 697 arms, including 30 machine guns.[1] The 2nd Squadron (2e Esc) was attached to the 1st Foreign Parachute Regiment when deployed to take part in the operations of the Suez Canal Crisis.[5]

Foreign Legion Detachment in Mayotte

In 1984, the Foreign Legion Detachment in Mayotte received the honor guard regimental colors of the 2nd Foreign Cavalry Regiment.[1]

Traditions

Insignias

Regimental Colours

Regimental Colours of the 2nd Foreign Cavalry Regiment were entrusted to the Foreign Legion Detachment in Mayotte in 1984.

Decorations

Decorations of the 2nd Foreign Cavalry Regiment with cited decorations of the Foreign Legion Detachment in Mayotte as of 1984.

Honours

Battle honours

As inscribed on the regimental colors of the 2nd Foreign Cavalry Regiment:

Regimental commanders

  • 1939–1940 Colonel Farine
  • 1940–1940 Chef d'escadrons Billon
  • 1946–1948 Lieutenant colonel Lennuyeux
  • 1948–1952 Lieutenant colonel de Chazelles
  • 1952–1953 Lieutenant colonel Berchet
  • 1953–1955 Lieutenant colonel Renucci
  • 1955–1957 Lieutenant colonel Legendre
  • 1957–1960 Lieutenant colonel Ogier de Baulny
  • 1960–1961 Lieutenant colonel de Coatgoureden
  • 1961–1962 Lieutenant colonel Baldini

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See also

References

  1. [1]
    Official Website of the Foreign Legion Detachment in Mayotte, the D.L.M.E today
  2. [2]
    Boyd, Douglas (2006). The French Foreign Legion. p. 233.
  3. [3]
    Windrow, Martin (1996). French Foreign Legion 1914-1945. p. 34.
  4. [4]
    Windrow, Martin (1996). French Foreign Legion Since 1945. p. 47.
  5. [5]
    Windrow, Martin (1996). French Foreign Legion Since 1945. p. 42.
  • Boyd, Douglas (2006). The French Foreign Legion. England: Sutton Publishing. ISBN 0-7509-3939-7.
  • Windrow, Martin (1996). French Foreign Legion 1914-1945. Oxford: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 1-85532-761-9.
  • Windrow, Martin (1996). French Foreign Legion Since 1945. Oxford: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 1-85532-621-3.
  • 2e REC – History & images of the 2e REC
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