Insigne de la Légion Etrangère

[dedehansen]

Salut mes amis,

I didn´t even know that I had this one, I think it is Légion Etrangère.

But which unit is this ?

Every help appreciated.

 

Regards
Andreas

[Bernhard H.Holst]

Hello Andreas.

The main color scheme is certainly French Foreign Legion colors green/red as is the 7 flames grenade.

The toothed wheel points to  transportation as does the blue color used. The dragon pictured points to Vietnam/ Indochina where during the French phase of the Indochina War ( 1945 to 1954 ) the Legion had numerous support units such as wheeled and tracked vehicle repair, transportation-, ferry- and engineering units. The unit abbreviation 2 C.R.  does not ring a bell. Perhaps 2. Compagnie de Reparation?

Bernhard H. Holst

 

[dedehansen]

Thanks Bernhard for pointing out the period. Unfortunately I don´t

have further informations.

KR

Andreas

[aubagne98]

Hi,

 

according to Szecsko´s book, page 361, it is the 2e cie de réparation de la Legion Etrangere CRLE, later the 2e cie. moyenne de réparation de la Legion Etrangere CMRLE.

Created in 1949 out of the 64th cie de rép., which was created in 1945 in Mascara. The time of the Cie ended 1955, sorry I just do nit have the word for "aufgelöst".

watch this http://more-majorum.de/einheiten/materiel/2crle/index.html

 

Greetings

Michael

[Hugh]

Hello Andreas.

The main color scheme is certainly French Foreign Legion colors green/red as is the 7 flames grenade.

The toothed wheel points to  transportation as does the blue color used. The dragon pictured points to Vietnam/ Indochina where during the French phase of the Indochina War ( 1945 to 1954 ) the Legion had numerous support units such as wheeled and tracked vehicle repair, transportation-, ferry- and engineering units. The unit abbreviation 2 C.R.  does not ring a bell. Perhaps 2. Compagnie de Reparation?

Bernhard H. Holst

 

I know less than nothing about the Legion except for what I learn from Bernhard and others on this forum, but I do wonder about the dragon.  Perhaps it is really an alligator, symbol of amphibious forces in the USA and other countries.  Was this unit part of an amphibious force?  

[Bernhard H.Holst]

Hello Michael and Hugh.

First a thank you to Michael to resolve the matter of the unit insignia. This unit as well as all other support units I had mentioned above were dissolved in 1955 and 1956 at the latest. This caused a "glut"  in N.C.O.'s which all had to be placed somewhere and contributed to a slowdown in the advancement of lower ranks ( including this writer's promotion after successfully participating in a selection/training course for future N.C.O.'s ).

Hugh, in regards to the dragon vs. Alligator:

a good number of regimental and other formation's unit insignia of the French Foreign Legion while on active service in Vietnam incorporated a dragon as did the old order of the Dragon of Annam medal of which I posted a sample on this forum sometime ago. While Alligator was the commonly used name for the L.V.T. in use by I have not seen it in any unit insignia except some few, very few Escadron crest not generally in wear. They were tolerated more than any official sanction given. In my unit First ( after 100 hours of operation) and Second Echelon ( after 1,000 hrs of operation) maintenance and repairs were done by our mechanical personnel. If heavy components ( transm. engine or such ) failed upon removal they were shipped to an appropriate  repair outfit. We had no dedicated repair outfit which belonged or was attached to our Amphibious Group.

Thanks for your interest in the matter.

Bernhard H. Holst

Edited July 18, 2015 by Bernhard H.Holst

[dedehansen]

 

Thank´s for the determing of the badge Michael.

Very apprechiated.

Kind regards

Andreas

[No one]

Dear Gentlemen,

 

Created on December 1, 1945 in Mascara, the 64th repair company of the Foreign Legion landed in Indochina in February 1946. Stationed in Nha Trang, it became, from August 1, 1949, 2nd Repair Company of the Foreign Legion (2° C.R.L.E.*). It participated in the missions assigned to the Legion of Material in South Annam, in a polygon passing through Saigon, Nha Trang and Plei Ku. On April 1, 1951, it changed its name and became the 2nd Medium Repair Company of the Foreign Legion (2° C.M.R.L.E.**). In 1954, it was split into two parts: a detachment responsible for auto, armament, artillery and maintenance and the security of Hue; a mobile operational repair detachment in Nha Trang. While repairing equipment, the company participates in numerous security operations and very often its specialists become fighters. Regrouped in Saigon in August 1955, the 2° C.M.R.L.E. was repatriated to North Africa where it was dissolved in December 1955.

 

*2° Compagnie de Réparation de la Légion Etrangère 

**2° Compagnie Moyenne de Réparation de la Légion Etrangère

 

The dragon symbolizes the location, here Indochina.

 

Mascara is in Algeria / Oranie

 

 

 

Nha Trang in Indochina Annnan:

 

 

Yours sincerely,

No one