Today we would like to share another guest post from Sue Shilstone, one of our island representatives based in La Balagne, about the fun day she had with the French Foreign Legion!
I have always found the concept of the French Foreign Legion rather romantic and therefore decided to make an effort this year to attend ‘Kermesse’ which is a festival held every year on 30th April and 1st May to commemorate the Battle of Cameroon which took place in 1863.
The army base, here is Calvi, is Camp Raffalli, home to the 2nd Parachutists Regiment. There are only two occasions a year when the Camp opens its doors to strangers – and this is one of them.
The Legionnaires are a familiar sight around Calvi, either in their combats and green berets or in their immaculate, knife-edge creased shirts and trousers, sporting their Kepis. The ironing of these beige-coloured shirts is a work of art (I have often stood behind one in the supermarket and just gazed at it in awe) which, according to Legion contacts, is something that is painstakingly mastered when you join up.
Camp Raffalli was founded in 1948. There are currently 1160 soldiers (some women among them) forming 9 Companies. They also have a base up at Vergio, near Monte Cinto, and the GR20 forms part of their grueling training.
The Camp is immaculately maintained – the gardens would rival Kew! Over these 2 days a variety of activities were available for children, all combat-related. There were parachute jumping displays, gymnastics and the possibility to take a ride in a tank or a combat jeep. The Museum was open, and we were even allowed access to their shop where you could buy everything from a Kepi to a full camouflage outfit. It was interesting to see that they even have their own Post Office there.
above: Sue imagines life in the Foreign Legion and tries on their Kepi, their green beret but not the full camouflage gear! Personally I think the beret rather suits her.
Throughout the day there really was the most wonderful air of carnival and conviviality. I spotted a trio of monks from the Couvent de St Francois at Corbabra – the Camp has, of course, its own Padre. I once attended a wedding between a Legionnaire and an English girl who lives here which was officiated over by the Cam’s Padre. He attended the evening reception and turned out to be a mean little mover – his “le roc” was a sight to behold.
For many years there has been talk of closing the base here in Calvi as transport logistics to get the soldiers on and off the island are far from ideal; but they are still here.
Throughout July and August the Legion opens a small museum in Calvi Citadel which gives an insight into their life.
So next time you visit Corsica, if you see men falling from the sky, the island isn’t being invaded and neither is it the making of a video for the latest version of ‘It’s raining men’! It’s the boys of the Parachute Regiment of the French Foreign Legion dropping in!
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