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I boarded a plane at the Calgary International Airport in mid-January 1980, bound for Paris with a notion in my head about joining the French Foreign Legion. I had no idea of how or where to join up, and my French language skills were limited to a few simple words ( and a rousing rendition of "Frere Jacques" which I had learned as a schoolboy ). I did however have the foresight to write down the French translation of Foreign Legion on a slip of paper and tuck it into my pocket before I left Canada. I climbed into a Paris taxi on the morning of January 18, 1980 and handed the driver that same small slip of paper. And thus, the next five years of my life were determined by those two simple words: "Legion Etrangere" This page contains just a brief look at Castelnaudary and the 4eme R.E., where my Legion career began with basic training in February 1980. I went back again in 1982 to do my C.M.E. ( the Legion's Corporal Course ) after my first two year tour of duty had ended in Djibouti. To be honest, neither stay at "Castel" was particularly pleasant, so it's just as well that I don't have too many photographs on this page to remind me. Having said that, the time spent in Castelnaudary was part of my Legion experience, so good or bad it's still worth a mention. |
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Left: Early January 1980 - the hair and beard were soon to go. (Above): The stamp from my passport showing my arrival date in Paris - January 17, 1980. I joined the French Foreign Legion the next day. (Right): After a shave and a haircut at Fort de Nogent. |
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One of the Legion's recruiting posters at the time I joined. I was soon to discover the "Soleil Brulante d'Afrique" for myself. |
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Fort de Nogent, Paris - The Foreign Legion "Centre de Recruitment" where I enlisted on January 18, 1980. |
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Above: The Foreign Legion Identification Card I carried with me for five years. My real name, date of birth, and place of birth had all been changed. I had become Legionnaire Roy Porter of Lachine, Quebec. (Below): My French Social Security card, bearing my Legion "nom de guerre" |
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Map of the South of France and location of Castelnaudary.* |
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Town of Castelnaudary and "Grande Bassin" |
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View of Castelnaudary from the air. |
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The old bridge that divides the town. |
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Path along the canal system that runs through the "Castel". We jogged these paths almost every morning during basic training. |
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Left: "Grenade a Sept Flammes" - Beret insignia 4eme R.E. (Above): 1ere CIE/4eme R.E. insignia. (Right): Regimental insignia 4eme Regiment Etranger. |
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Above: Review by the Company Commander - 2eme Section/1ere CIE/4eme R.E. (Below): Graduation Day - the only good day of basic training. |
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Graduation Day from my Corporal's Course (C.M.E.) Finally..a little respect! |
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Left: My new Corporal's stripes. (Above) Inset from larger photo. (Right): Insignia "Certificate Militaire Elementaire" |
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Above and below: Souvenirs of the 5th Annual 4eme R.E./Castelnaudary Semi-marathon. I finished the 21 kilometres in 1 hour and 38 minutes. This year the 27th annual race was held - I'm starting to feel old. |
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