This is a very rare and fascinating account of life as a modern day Legionnaire. The author describes how, with no French language ability, he approached recruiters for the French Foreign Legion in Paris and the demanding selection process that followed. When he was accepted, he and other prospective legionnaires were sent to Southern France to begin the harsh recruit training course. The mix of different nationalities and backgrounds among his fellows was enormous. New members are traditionally allowed to change their identities - the author chose to alter his age becoming 28 not 38! Elite paratrooper training followed in Corsica before the author earned his 'wings'.The FFL is never far from the front line and we read of challenging active service in former French colonies in Africa as well as during the First Gulf War, evicting Saddam Hussein from Kuwait and operations in Bosnia and Sarajevo.This is a completely authentic book that lifts the veil of mystery and myth and reveals much about the realities of service in the Foreign Legion. The author is not given to exaggeration - there is no need for it. A gripping read.
Fighting For The French Foreign Legion
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15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Entertaining!,
By Toe Tag (Florida) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: FIGHTING FOR THE FRENCH FOREIGN LEGION: Memoirs of a Scottish Legionnaire (Hardcover)
If this particular Legion book sounds familiar it's because the author once had a fascinating web page that acted as summery of this particularly fine book. I found the web page to be endlessly fascinating and this book is an expansion.
The book starts with the author at the bottom edge of life. Needing something to devote himself to he managed to join the French Foreign Legion at a time in life when most people are starting to think about slowing down a bit. Ironically, it turns out not only did he excelled, but may have found his true calling in life as a paratrooper. He tells fascinating stories of tours of duty in Africa, wild adventures, in a Beau Geste environment. But it continues to get more interesting as he finds himself attached to CRAP in an intelligence capacity. The book. This is where things become very interesting with deployments to the middle-east as well as one of the most brutal of regions of modern Europe. You're jaw will drop when you read about his Yugoslavian experience. One of the things I liked most about this particular book was the fact the author not only had a great experience in the Legion but shows that the Legion is a profoundly important part of extending international good will. From supporting young democracies, to defending the oppressed, to feeding the hungry, the Legion isn't afraid to go where others fear to tread. The book is a well written, easy read that can be read in about a week. However, you'll end up thinking about it for far longer than just that brief period of time. In fact, I may have to reread this one in a few months just for fun. If you enjoyed this book then you might also want to read Diary of a Legionnaire, My life in the French Foreign Legion, by Gareth Carnis, The Making of a Legionnaire: My life in the French Foreign Legion by Bill Parris and The naked Soldier, A true Story of the French Foreign Legion by Tony Sloane.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Tales of the Long Service Legionnaire,
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This review is from: FIGHTING FOR THE FRENCH FOREIGN LEGION: Memoirs of a Scottish Legionnaire (Hardcover)
It seems that every few years, an ex-legionnaire from the UK writes a memoir of his service in the French Foreign Legion. Invariably, they always seem to end up the elite parachute regiment and follow a remarkably similar path through the Legion. These stories begin with a psychological crisis which leads the young man into the Legion. Next, the recruit goes through a brutal training regimen and finally ends up with the prized white kepi. The stories always end with a catharsis and a new self-awareness that comes from examining the Legion experience.
Alex Lochrie's "Fighting for the French Foreign Legion" departs from this well worn path. First and foremost, Lochrie is a long service Legionnaire who joins up in his late thirties. Lochrie has his psychological crisis like all the other memoirists but due to his age, his character is already pretty much formed. Unlike other Legion writers, Lochrie does not really open up. We learn about his experiences as a long service Legion NCO but the inner man remains a mystery throughout the book. There is no catharsis and little self insight. What makes "Fighting for the French Foreign Legion" interesting is the perspective of a man who is willing to dedicate fifteen years of his life to the Legion. Afterall, it is the long service NCO who makes up the backbone of any military organization. The other highlite of the book is Lochrie's description fo the time he spent in Sarajevo during its long siege. This is an historical event that most readers will have remembered and it is interesting to see the Legion in the role of peacekeepers. "Fighting in teh French Foregin Legion" will be of interest to people like me who like to keep up with the Legion through memoirs. However, it is not one of the "classic" French Foreign Legion memoirs. If you are new to the genre there are much better books by Simon Murray, Christian Jennings and Tony Sloane.
6 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fighting for The French Foreign Leigon, Memories of Scottish Legionnaire.,
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This review is from: FIGHTING FOR THE FRENCH FOREIGN LEGION: Memoirs of a Scottish Legionnaire (Hardcover)
I enjoyed the book very, very much. It is excellant. Just what I was secretly looking for about the modern day French Foreign Legion. Written by a fine man, soldier, and legionnaire. (I wish I could have served with such a man) My own military service was with the U.S. Marine Corps during the Viet-Nam experience. (Two tours and two different military occupational specialities) Thus, I have related to his many experiences. His service and written memoirs referencing his experiences were welcomed by all military professonal people I am sure. My personal compliment to the author would be that he would be a fine U.S. Marine. He did a fine work with his book. Too bad there are not more out there just like him. It is also a compliment to a fine, professionl and largley misunderstood military organization that is still needed very much to this day. France appreciates (And the civilizatied world) the "Legion Entrangere" as much today as it ever did. Merci, Legion Entrangere/French Foreign Legion. Legio Patria Nostra.
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