March 2010 April 2010 May 2010 June 2010 July 2010
August 2010
September 2010 October 2010
November 2010
December 2010
January 2011
February 2011 March 2011 April 2011 May 2011 June 2011 July 2011 August 2011 September 2011 October 2011 November 2011 December 2011 January 2012 February 2012 March 2012 April 2012 May 2012 June 2012 July 2012 August 2012 September 2012 October 2012 November 2012 December 2012 January 2013 February 2013 March 2013 April 2013 May 2013 June 2013 July 2013 August 2013 September 2013 October 2013 November 2013 December 2013 January 2014 February 2014 March 2014 April 2014 May 2014 June 2014 July 2014 August 2014 September 2014 October 2014 November 2014 December 2014 January 2015 February 2015 March 2015 April 2015 May 2015 June 2015 July 2015 August 2015 September 2015 October 2015 November 2015 December 2015 January 2016 February 2016 March 2016 April 2016 May 2016 June 2016 July 2016 August 2016 September 2016 October 2016 November 2016 December 2016 January 2017 February 2017 March 2017 April 2017 May 2017 June 2017 July 2017 August 2017 September 2017 October 2017 November 2017 December 2017 January 2018 February 2018 March 2018 April 2018 May 2018 June 2018 July 2018 August 2018 September 2018 October 2018 November 2018 December 2018 January 2019 February 2019 March 2019 April 2019 May 2019 June 2019 July 2019 August 2019 September 2019 October 2019 November 2019 December 2019 January 2020 February 2020 March 2020 April 2020 May 2020 June 2020 July 2020 August 2020 September 2020 October 2020 November 2020 December 2020 January 2021 February 2021 March 2021 April 2021 May 2021 June 2021 July 2021 August 2021 September 2021 October 2021 November 2021 December 2021 January 2022 February 2022 March 2022 April 2022 May 2022 June 2022 July 2022 August 2022 September 2022 October 2022 November 2022 December 2022 January 2023 February 2023 March 2023 April 2023 May 2023 June 2023 July 2023 August 2023 September 2023 October 2023 November 2023 December 2023 January 2024 February 2024 March 2024
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28
29
30
31
News Every Day |

With the French Foreign Legion in Algeria: A Soldier’s Tale From Long Ago

The French Foreign Legion these days is more exclusive than it used to be. If there is an Interpol notice against you, for example, you won’t get through the gate. A century ago, however, a man who wanted to escape his past and assume a new identity could disappear into the ranks of “Légion Étrangère” – as long as he made the grade. Thanks to one of our readers, who sent us an account from long ago, we have a glimpse of those wilder days, as told by an Englishman whose search for adventure brought more trouble than he expected. We’ll call the recruit Soldat. Here’s a brief excerpt of what he encountered, and how in 1895 he survived deserting the Légion Étrangère.

Soldat’s Story

I had tried in vain to join the English Army. I was refused owing to my being rather short-sighted, but as I was determined to be a soldier at all costs I prevailed upon my friend, O’Rourke, to enlist with me in the French Foreign Legion.

We enlisted at St. Malo in 1895. I utterly failed to pass the eye-sight test, but was accepted all the same. We were shipped to Oran, from where we proceeded to the depôt at Saïda. Three days at the depôt were quite sufficient to damp our military ardour, and together with an Englishman named Hides, who had formerly been a fisherman, we determined to desert.

READ MORE about an OSS officer and Hollywood heartthrob who served in the Foreign Legion

Taking food with us, we left camp after “Last Post” had been sounded. We struck into the mountains, steering our way north by the Pole star. After rough climbing and many falls in the dark amongst the hills, we eventually found our way barred by a dense forest. We therefore halted, made up a fire, using branches as fuel, and all three went to sleep within the circle of the genial warmth; for the nights are often very cold in Algeria, in striking contrast to the burning heat of the day.

Subscribe to the Soldier of Fortune Newsletter

Enter your email below to receive exclusive content from Soldier of Fortune right in your inbox.

In starting on that eventful journey we had each supplied ourselves with a thick cudgel to aid us in our tramp. Our idea was to travel only by night, as we feared being seen by the Arabs, who usually put French deserters to death with horrible tortures. 

We aimed to reach the sea-coast of Oran, capture a fisherman’s boat, and then sail out into the Mediterranean on the off-chance of being picked up by a passing steamer. It was a desperate scheme, but the only one we could devise.

We were awakened by the cold, the fire having gone out. Our teeth chattered uncomfortably, and we thereupon decided to walk on till daybreak, when, after surveying our position, we took another nap. We remained in this second encampment until dusk had again fallen, and then resumed our march, always following the direction of the North star. 

A Legionnaire in the 1850’s

Before daybreak our passage was barred by a river, so we called a halt, lighted a fire, and once more sought oblivion in slumber.

I awoke before my comrades and tried to rouse them, but only received grunts in reply. A little rough treatment, however, speedily woke them, whereupon I seriously warned them of the dangers we incurred by loitering in so exposed a spot. 

Hardly had I uttered the words when, on looking up the river, we were startled to see two Arabs approaching us rapidly. They came on yelling wildly, and were soon joined by others. I promptly sprang into the river and dashed towards the other side, followed by my companions.

Despite our obvious danger I could not help laughing, because all the other two seemed to care about was the fear of wetting our small stock of bread, which O’Rourke carried in a haversack. 

Finally we succeeded in clambering up the slippery bank; but, being completely worn out with fatigue, could go no farther, our wet clothes being an additional impediment.

I suggested that as we were likely to be caught and murdered, and were, furthermore, very hungry, we had better eat our bread. This we accordingly did as fast as we could.

During this time the Arabs remained on their side of the river, being evidently under the impression that we had some trap laid for them; for when I pulled out my sodden handkerchief and waved it as a flag of truce they evidently thought it was a revolver, as they scattered right and left. 

Eventually we managed to make friendly signs. They plucked up their courage, and came across the river in single file. 

They seized us, and took us to their encampment. The women and children turned out to see us. We were made to sit down. A guard was put behind each of us, while the remainder of their group squatted down in a ring around us, evidently to deliberate upon our fate.

Illustration from 1914

The prospects of coming to an untimely end did not make me forget the pangs of hunger – only whetted by the saturated bread – and I quickly made them understand that we were both hungry and thirsty. After a time they gave us some buckwheat cakes and sour goat’s milk, which was decidedly welcome but very unpalatable.

The palaver being ended, we were told to get up. A few of the Arabs, armed with pistols and knives, escorted us about two miles from the encampment. 

Now, thought I, we are going to be dispatched. But the Arabs disagreed among themselves, and appeared to me to be hesitating between shooting us there and then or taking us to Mascara, the nearest military station, where they would have received twenty-five francs for each of us from the military authorities. 

Eventually one came up to me and, pointing towards the north, told me to go.

I could scarcely believe my ears, but quickly stepped out a couple of yards, although expecting to be shot down instantly. 

My comrades speedily followed my example. And, as the Arabs did not threaten us, we moved away another few yards, but with fear and trembling. Nothing serious happened, however, and we finally set off at a good pace, shouting our thanks to these very exceptional locals. 

Whether they understood our expressions of gratitude is doubtful, but that they were, as I say, exceptional, is undisputed; for we were afterwards informed that it is very rarely indeed that soldiers meet with any mercy at the hands of the Arabs.

Москва

«Жалею, что ругала его». Близкие простились с инвалидом, убитым в «Крокусе»

Top 5 Websites to Watch FREE Movies - TV Shows (No Sign up!)

Top 10 Emmanuelle Seigner Movies

I was diagnosed with cancer aged 39… you are never too rich, too famous or too young, says Dr Philippa Kaye

The 10 Intense New Action Movies on Netflix That Left Me on the Edge of My Seat!

Ria.city






Read also

Patriots Reportedly Will Be Represented At Michael Penix Jr. Pro Day

Thunder Can't Cool Off Hot Rockets, Lose in Overtime

From hope to crisis: Senegal’s victory and Togo’s setback

News, articles, comments, with a minute-by-minute update, now on Today24.pro

News Every Day

The 10 Intense New Action Movies on Netflix That Left Me on the Edge of My Seat!

Today24.pro — latest news 24/7. You can add your news instantly now — here


News Every Day

Top 5 Websites to Watch FREE Movies - TV Shows (No Sign up!)



Sports today


Новости тенниса
WTA

Азаренко вышла в полуфинал турнира WTA-1000 в Майами



Спорт в России и мире
Москва

В хоккейном ЦСКА сменился главный тренер



All sports news today





Sports in Russia today

Москва

Трехкратный обладатель Кубка Гагарина уволил тренера и назначил нового


Новости России

Game News

Пробный запуск God Wars: Cross Worlds — idle-RPG с богами и путешествиями во времени


Russian.city


ATP

Хачанов победил Черундоло и пробился в 1/8 финала турнира ATP в Майами


Губернаторы России
Внуково

Shot: рейс Turkish Airlines вернулся во Внуково из-за криков и танцев пассажира


Шапки женские на Wildberries — скидки от 398 руб. (на новые оттенки)

Астролог Кляйн назвала знаки зодиака, которые могут разбогатеть в апреле

Шапки женские вязаные на Wildberries, 2024 — новый цвет от 392 руб. (модель 466)

Московские ветеринары называли самые популярные виды домашних животных


Фёдор Шаляпин: гений с непростым характером

Ритуальный агент Борис Свистунов: комплексная поддержка в организации похоронных услуг в Санкт-Петербурге и Ленинградской области

Композитор, певец Юрий Лоза: «В обществе перестали пестовать авторитет интеллектуального труда»

Скульптура Сергея Рахманинова украсит музыкальную школу в Кисловодске


Теннисистка Касаткина отреагировала на высказывания Винер о россиянах

Азаренко вышла в полуфинал турнира WTA-1000 в Майами

Битые корты: Медведев и Александрова вышли в четвертьфинал Miami Open

«Бомж» Дарья передает всем привет»: Касаткина ответила на слова Винер



Эксперты КА «Главный Советник» приняли участие в форуме «Тренды и антитренды корпоративного видео сегодня»

Заказать недорогой ремонт кухонной мебели в районе в Москве и Московской области

В России назвали топ самых благополучных регионов по итогам 2023 года

Выпуск ЦФА на платформе «Атомайз» поможет снизить нагрузку на экологию


Удалось спасти: Москва не потеряла в больницах ни одного человека после теракта, сообщил Собянин

Шапки женские вязаные на Wildberries, 2024 — новый цвет от 392 руб. (модель 466)

«Отрешенность от РФ»: адвокат объяснил молчание Пугачевой о теракте в «Крокусе»

Умер пермский художник, нарисовавший президента Путина с мячом


Брянский краеведческий музей показал очередной редкий экспонат

РКК собрал на помощь пострадавшим в «Крокусе» более 1,2 миллиарда рублей

В Самарской области пройдет «Неделя креативного бизнеса»

Эмин Агаларов назвал факторы, определяющие восстановление «Крокуса»



Путин в России и мире






Персональные новости Russian.city
Linkin Park

Умники, Linkin Park, поэты. 13 идей, куда сходить на этой неделе в Барнауле



News Every Day

Top 10 Love Affair Movies of the 2000s and 2010s




Friends of Today24

Музыкальные новости

Персональные новости