Demi-Brigade of the Foreign Legion in Indochina

The Demi-Brigade of the Foreign Legion, (French: Demi-brigade de Légion étrangère) existed briefly in Indochina while regrouping the ensemble of the Battalion Forming Corps (French: « bataillon formant corps », BFC) issued from the 1st Foreign Infantry Regiment 1^er REI. The Demi-Brigade would become on 1 September 1930 the 5th Foreign Infantry Regiment (French: 5^e Régiment étranger d’infanterie).

Creation and different nominations

2 August 1930: formation of the Demi-Brigade of the Foreign Legion;
On 1 September 1930 : change in designation from Demi-Brigade to 5th Foreign Infantry Regiment (5^e REI).

History, garrisons, campaigns and battles

On 1 September 1930 the BFC of the 1st Foreign Infantry Regiment 1^er REI and the 1st battalion of the 1^er REI newly arrived in the Far East allowed the constitution of four battalions of the 5th Foreign Infantry Regiment 5^e REI:

The 4^e BFC became the I/5^e REI : 1st battalion of the 5^e REI
The 7^e BFC became the II/5^e REI: 2nd battalion of the 5^e REI
The 9^e BFC became the III/5^e REI : 3rd battalion of the 5^e REI
The 1st battalion of the 1^er REI became the IIII/ 5^e REI : 4th battalion of the 5^e REI

Nevertheless, the BFC (Battalion Forming Corps) (French: « bataillon formant corps ») remained until 1 April 1931.

Traditions

Regimental Commanders

Demi-Brigade of the Foreign Legion in Indochina (2 to 31 August 1930).
- 1930 : Lieutenant-colonel Debas Jean.
9^e BFC of the 1^er REI
- 1926: Chef de bataillon Prieur.
- 1927: Chef de bataillon Maire.
- 1929: Chef de bataillon Lorillard
7^e BFC of the 1^er REI
- 1927 - 1929: Chef de bataillon Boutry
- 1929 - 1930: Chef de bataillon Kratzert
4^e BFC of the 1^er REI
- 1930: Chef de bataillon Lambert.

References

Bibliographies: