If you need a reference work about the Legions history and campaigns, then this would be useful. Campaigns are often described in minute detail, almost platoon by platoon, naming officer replacements, and routes taken, village by village. It has a lot of detail far too much in fact. There is also the simple fact that the Legion is actually not as special or mythical as many think it is. The Legion has a secretive ethos the silence helps to maintain the myth. A bit like the British SAS, there is a plethora of works purporting to be informed and accurate, but most are either imagined memoirs, or largely fictional boy's own stuff. Surprisingly, it is quite difficult to find authoritative books about the legion. The legion was created for a number of reasons, but for good or ill, it has been used over the years to do a lot of work where France was unable or unwilling to use regular forces. Although this image is partly true, the reality was different for most foreign legionnaires. Think Beau Geste (or even Carry on, Follow that Camel!).

A dogged soldier, almost certainly running away from his past, in a dark uniform, kepi on his head, linen curtain hanging down over his neck at the back, marching through the deserts of North Africa. Mention the Foreign Legion to most people, and an image will flash into their mind.

From its beginnings, it has been shadowy taking recruits from virtually anywhere, although some of the wilder legends are probably just that legends. Over the years, it has worked hard to remain secretive and closed to the outside world. The French Foreign Legion is one of those organisations that has achieved almost mythical status.

The french foreign legion douglas boyd