2nd Foreign Cavalry Regiment

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

2nd Foreign Cavalry Regiment
(2e Régiment Étranger de Cavalerie)
Regimental Insignia of the 2 REC
ActiveJuly 1939 – January 1, 1946
November 1946 – January 1962
DisbandedThe Regiment
  • Regiment 1st dissolve, January 1, 1946
  • Regiment 2nd dissolve, January 1962

The Regimental Colors

Active: entrusted to the Foreign Legion Detachment in Mayotte (1984-Present)
Country France
AllegianceFrench Foreign Legion
Branch French Army
TypeForeign Cavalry
Nickname(s)Dauphin
Motto(s)Pericula Ludus
Dangers game - for the regiment; Danger is my Pleasure
ColorsGreen & Red
EngagementsWorld War II
First Indochina War
Algeria War
Suez Crisis
Battle honoursCamerone 1863
AFN 1952-1962
Regimental Colors of the Foreign Legion Detachment in Mayotte as of 1984
Each year, the French Foreign Legion commemorates and celebrates Camarón in its headquarters in Aubagne and Bastille Day military parade in Paris; featuring the Pionniers leading and opening the way.

History

2nd Foreign Cavalry Regiment since 1939

The 2nd Foreign Cavalry Regiment (2e R.E.C) was created on July 1939 on the substance of the squadron groups of Morocco issued from the 1st Foreign Cavalry Regiment 1er REC.[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 which the commander, Lieutenant-Colonel Boyer de Latour, was killed leading at the bois de Noroy the 9th of July of the same year.[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, however, the regiment was recreated in November of the same year, garrisoned at Oujda, where the regiment would remain 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, starting from 1956 to the missions of maintaining order in Algeria, first in the sector of Laghouat, then, starting from 1958, along the Tunisian border.[1] In January 1962, the 2nd Foreign Cavalry Regiment made way on Biskra before being 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, of which 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.

Battle honours

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

Regimental Commanders
Main articles: Foreign Legion Command and Honneur et Fidélité

2nd Foreign Cavalry Regiment
2e Régiment Etranger de Cavalerie (2ème R.E.C)

  • 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

See also

References
  1. Official Website of the Foreign Legion Detachment in Mayotte, the D.L.M.E today
  2. Boyd, Douglas (2006). The French Foreign Legion. p. 233.
  3. Windrow, Martin (1996). French Foreign Legion 1914-1945. p. 34.
  4. Windrow, Martin (1996). French Foreign Legion Since 1945. p. 47.
  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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