The 2nd Foreign Cavalry Regiment () was a

cavalry Historically, cavalry (from the French word ''cavalerie'', itself derived from ''cheval'' meaning "horse") are groups of soldiers or warriors who Horses in warfare, fight mounted on horseback. Until the 20th century, cavalry were the most mob ...

regiment A regiment is a military unit. Its role and size varies markedly, depending on the country, military service, service, or administrative corps, specialisation. In Middle Ages, Medieval Europe, the term "regiment" denoted any large body of l ...

of the Foreign Legion in the

French Army The French Army, officially known as the Land Army (, , ), is the principal Army, land warfare force of France, and the largest component of the French Armed Forces; it is responsible to the Government of France, alongside the French Navy, Fren ...

. the regiment was dissolved twice, in 1946 and 1962; the regimental colors have been entrusted to the Foreign Legion Detachment in Mayotte since 1984. __TOC__

History

Pre-World War II

The 2nd Foreign Cavalry Regiment (2^e R.E.C) was created in July 1939 from the squadron groups of

Morocco Morocco, officially the Kingdom of Morocco, is a country in the Maghreb region of North Africa. It has coastlines on the Mediterranean Sea to the north and the Atlantic Ocean to the west, and has land borders with Algeria to Algeria–Morocc ...

which had been formed from the

1st Foreign Cavalry Regiment The 1st Foreign Cavalry Regiment () is the only cavalry regiment of the Foreign Legion in the French Army. It is one of two armoured cavalry regiments of the 6th Light Armoured Brigade. The regiment has been stationed at Camp Carpiagne near ...

.
Official Website of the Foreign Legion Detachment in Mayotte, the D.L.M.E today

World War II

At the outbreak of

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

, the 2nd Foreign Cavalry Regiment was stationed in

and part of it were quickly attached to the 97th Reconnaissance Group of the Infantry Division, 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. Following the armistice, the regiment was dissolved on November 15, 1940, and the regimental colours were entrusted to the honor guard of the

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

in the

Far East The Far East is the geographical region that encompasses the easternmost portion of the Asian continent, including North Asia, North, East Asia, East and Southeast Asia. South Asia is sometimes also included in the definition of the term. In mod ...

North Africa and Algerian War

Following the Paris accords in 1954 and the departure for

Indochina Mainland Southeast Asia (historically known as Indochina and the Indochinese Peninsula) is the continental portion of Southeast Asia. It lies east of the Indian subcontinent and south of Mainland China and is bordered by the Indian Ocean to th ...

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. In January 1962, the 2nd Foreign Cavalry Regiment made way on Biskra, but was dissolved again following the Evian accords. In 5 years of campaigning in

Algeria Algeria, officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of North Africa. It is bordered to Algeria–Tunisia border, the northeast by Tunisia; to Algeria–Libya border, the east by Libya; to Alger ...

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

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.

Traditions

Insignias

File:Insigne de béret du DLEM.JPG, Beret Insignia of the D.L.E.M File:2e REC.jpg, Regimental Insignia of the

2nd Foreign Cavalry Regiment The 2nd Foreign Cavalry Regiment () was a cavalry regiment of the French Foreign Legion, 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 Detachme ...

, 2^e R.E.C File:Dlem.jpg, Foreign Legion Detachment in Mayotte, D.L.E.M

Regimental Colours

Regimental Colours of the

were entrusted to the Foreign Legion Detachment in Mayotte in 1984.

Decorations

Decorations of the

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: * Camerone 1863 * AFN 1952–1962

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

References

* * *

External links

2e REC
– History & images of the 2e REC {{Authority control Cavalry regiments of France Regiments of the French Foreign Legion Regiments of France in World War II Military units and formations established in 1939 Military units and formations disestablished in 1946 Military units and formations established in 1946 Military units and formations disestablished in 1962