French Foreign Legion
Len Deighton, the novelist and film producer said in his introduction to John Robert Young's book on the French Foreign Legion: "In our far travelled, communication-sated permissive society, there are few remaining conversation stoppers. But any man who can say, “I served with the Legion” is guaranteed an audience. There is something intriguing about an enclosed society. It attracts our attention, arouses our curiosity and baffles by exclusion.” John Robert Young's book on the Legion is one of the finest and has been praised by reviewers worldwide. It has never been bettered and all these years later, it still has a wide audience.
1983 French Foreign legionnaire bugler from 2eme Regiment Etranger de Parachutistes (2e REP) in Camp Raffalli at Calvi, northern Corsica.
1983 French Foreign Legion recruit with 4er Regiment Etranger (4e RE) has his hair cut at Castelnaudary, southern France.
1983 Recruit in the French Foreign Legion parades with this personal equipment, known as "paquetage", at the Legion Headquarters in Aubagne, southern Provence, France.
1983 French Foreign Legion recruits with 4er Regiment Etranger (4e RE) on parade in the Quartier Lapasset at Castelnaudary, southern France.
1983 French Foreign Legion recruits with 4er Regiment Etranger (4e RE) eating in their mess hall at Castelnaudary, southern France.
1983 Under the keen eye of an adjutant-chef, French Foreign Legion recruits with 4er Regiment Etranger (4e RE) march round the parade ground in the Quartier Lapasset at Castelnaudary, southern France.
1983 A French Foreign Legion recruit with 4er Regiment Etranger (4e RE) stands to attention on the parade ground in the Quartier Lapasset at Castelnaudary, southern France.
1983 French Foreign Legion recruits with 4er Regiment Etranger (4e RE) stand to attention at the sunset ceremony of the Kepi Blanc, in the Quartier Lapasset at Castelnaudary, southern France.
1983 French Foreign legionnaires from 2eme Regiment Etranger de Parachutistes (2e REP) parade with a bugler at dawn in Camp Raffalli at Calvi, northern Corsica.
1983 French Foreign legionnaire, from the specialist Mountain Section of 2eme Regiment Etranger de Parachutistes (2e REP), abseiling in the high peaks of Corsica.
1983 French Foreign Legion para, from 2eme Regiment Etranger de Parachutistes (2e REP), struggles under rolls of barbed wire at the French Army's Commando Training School in Mont Louis, close to Andorra.
1983 French Foreign Legion para, from 2eme Regiment Etranger de Parachutistes (2e REP), aims a crossbow while training at the French Army's Commando Training School in Mont Louis, close to Andorra.
1983 French Foreign Legion para, from 2eme Regiment Etranger de Parachutistes (2e REP), struggles through ice in a river on the assault course at the French Army's Commando Training School in Mont Louis, close to Andorra.
1983 French Foreign Legionnaire paratroopers from 2eme Regiment Etranger de Parachutistes (2e REP) descend at dawn onto the Drop Zone at Camp Raffalli at Calvi, northern Corsica.
1983 French Foreign Legion paras from 2eme Regiment Etranger de Parachutistes (2e REP) parade at dawn at Camp Raffalli at Calvi, northern Corsica.
1983 AMX 10-RC armoured car commander, from the Reconnaissance Squadron of 13eme Demi-Brigade de Legion Etrangere (13e DBLE) of the French Foreign Legion, in the turret as a mechanised patrol crosses the desert near Weah, south of the Gulf of Tadjoura in Djibouti.
1983 A legionnaire from 3eme Regiment Etranger d'Infanterie (3e REI) of the French Foreign Legion, hauls himself across a fast flowing river in the jungle of French Guiana during a mission profonde - a 45 day deep penetration jungle patrol.
1983 Bearded French Foreign Legion pioneers, "pionniers", from 1er Regiment Etranger (1e RE) marching at Aubagne, southern France, during Camerone Day celebrations.
1983 French Foreign Legion recruits with 4eme Regiment Etranger (4e RE) on parade. 4e RE, the Legion's training regiment, in the Quartier Lapasset at Castelnaudary, southern France.
1983 Bearded French Foreign Legion pioneer, "pionnier", from 1er Regiment Etranger (1e RE) at Aubagne, southern France, during Camerone Day celebrations.
1983 French Foreign Legion para, from 2eme Regiment Etranger de Parachutistes (2e REP), aims his FAMAS 5.56mm rifle from the cover of a snow drift during a ski patrol at Montgenevre in the French Alps.
1983 French Foreign Legion paras, from 2eme Regiment Etranger de Parachutistes (2e REP), on a strenuous ski march at Montgenevre in the French Alps.
1983 The French Foreign Legion Headquarters in the Quartier Vienot, Aubagne, southern Provence, France.
1983 French Foreign Legion helicopter crew over Lake Assal in the Danakil Desert, in the middle of Djibouti.
1983 Legionnaires from 2eme Regiment Etranger de Parachutistes (2e REP) on Corsica preparing for a training parachute drop.
1983 Legionnaires from 2eme Regiment Etranger de Parachutistes (2e REP) on Corsica preparing for a training parachute drop, entering aircraft.
1983 French Foreign Legionnaires on patrol, battle to get their pirogue over the rapids on the River Oyopock, Guyana.
1983 A French Foreign Legion Officer prepares for the day early morning in a pirogue on the River Oyopock, Guyana.