France Help Identify French Foreign Legion Medals

[Chris Boonzaier]

I think an understanding of the time/Place is needed... there must have been a big confusion there during the war... were other soldiers simply (Colonial etc), the remains of other units... simply under Legion command?

I imagine the reality on the ground made for circumstances we can barely imagine today.

The uniform in the initial photo is probably pieced together from waht was availible at the time.

[camerone54]

In my collection, I have a photo and document grouping of a german, that served a long time, beginning from the 1930´s. He also served in the 5° REI in WW2, marched to China and returned with the "Bataillon de marche/5° REI" in 1946.

One of the photos is a studio portrait, shot in Meknes 1937. It is clearly visible that he wears a uniform with collar patches of the 2° Reg. de Tirailleurs Marocains, although I doubt that he ever did serve in that regiment.

I never understood why. I assumed, that in certain photo studios in these times, uniforms were kept for customers to wear on photos...?

There is also a portrait of the same legionnaire, probably made in the late 1940´s. Like Henri Victor Jouve, he wears a very uncommon uniform.

Edited June 6, 2012 by camerone54

[RobG]

Hello everyone!

Thanks again for the additional insight and information. I personally just learned of my great uncle, so I can't clarify any of the information. I'll chat with my aunt about the additional comments and hopefully clear up the confusion.