New AUSTRALIAN FFL book

[bosun burger]

Just found a new book by an australian author ...MARCHING WITH THE DEVIL legends, glory &lies int the french foreign legion BY DAVID MASON ..wait for it yep 2 REP 1988-1992
will let you know in a week or ntwo after i've read it


Oh if your interested ISBN 9780733626326

[mike9]

Just found a new book by an australian author ...MARCHING WITH THE DEVIL legends, glory &lies int the french foreign legion BY DAVID MASON ..wait for it yep 2 REP 1988-1992
will let you know in a week or ntwo after i've read it


Oh if your interested ISBN 9780733626326

Isn't 1988-1992 a period of 4 years?

[Murph]

Who is this bloke?
I remember around that time Oz O.... in 3CIE. We had Marc R...in 2CIE but he was always too pissed to put two sentences together on paper. I seem to remember a tall lanky bloke who I think was an occa, memory is fading me..need beer:D

[Kronenberg]

Who is this bloke?
I remember around that time Oz O.... in 3CIE. We had Marc R...in 2CIE but he was always too pissed to put two sentences together on paper. I seem to remember a tall lanky bloke who I think was an occa, memory is fading me..need beer:D

"Tall lanky bloke" may have made good Murph. Here's what I found:

'In 1894 a French Foreign Legion General said, Legionnaires, vous etes faits pour mourir, je vous envoie la ou on meurt. Legionnaires, you are made for dying, I will send you where you can die. When I was in my mid-teens and first read those words they were powerful and confronting. I read them as a challenge and an invitation. The words, and the feelings they evoked, remained with me until I was ready.
On 20 May 1988, I enlisted in the French Foreign Legion.'Based on his diaries, this is a frank account of how Mason came first in basic training, trained other Legionnaires, went to Africa, did sniper, commando and medic s training and took part in two operations, both in the Republic of Djibouti where a civil war nearly crippled the nation.
It tells of his daily life in the Legion, in the training regiment, in Africa and with the Legion s Parachute Regiment. But more than this: David s gripping account reveals his disillusionment, frustration and disappointments, and how the Legion today is not what it seems.

Author Biography: Mason has been a part owner of an opal mine, worked on a cattle station and on a prawn trawler. He is also a barrister of the High Court of Australia and a major in the Australian Army Reserve Legal Corps. He is currently working in Iraq working as an advisor with the Iraqi Minister of Interior on the rule of law.

NOTE: David's gripping account reveals his disillusionment, frustration and disappointments, and how the Legion today is not what it seems

Mason trained other Legionnaires, went to Africa, did sniper, commando and medics training and took part in two operations. Now - that IS unusual in Djibouti isn't it ?

Now who is going to throw the first stone at this Oz superhero I wonder? Hummmm.. let me think about this...$35.00 a copy ????.....

[corvee de chotte]

Flash may know of him ,not that many aussies,remember one in 3cie,an advisor with the iraqi minister of interior on the rule of law ,thats a new one to me

[Kronenberg]

Flash may know of him ,not that many aussies,remember one in 3cie,an advisor with the iraqi minister of interior on the rule of law ,thats a new one to me

I agree Corvee. Just about Flash's time... Hummm... this should be interesting. Can't wait...

[flash010]

mason was the lanky aussi that gave us our injections before jabuti good guy :cool:

[voltigeur]

I have a book on my web site from a Belgian Ancien. link= FFL INFO-General Info He had a publication in Dutch, but did not (yet) have to money to publish it in the English language version. There are a couple of items that do not ring true, but overall it seems to be accurate.

[Digger]

[QUOTE=Kronenberg;116321]"Tall lanky bloke" may have made good Murph. Here's what I found:

'In 1894 a French Foreign Legion General said, Legionnaires, vous etes faits pour mourir, je vous envoie la ou on meurt. Legionnaires, you are made for dying, I will send you where you can die. When I was in my mid-teens and first read those words they were powerful and confronting. I read them as a challenge and an invitation. The words, and the feelings they evoked, remained with me until I was ready.
On 20 May 1988, I enlisted in the French Foreign Legion.'Based on his diaries, this is a frank account of how Mason came first in basic training, trained other Legionnaires, went to Africa, did sniper, commando and medic s training and took part in two operations, both in the Republic of Djibouti where a civil war nearly crippled the nation.
It tells of his daily life in the Legion, in the training regiment, in Africa and with the Legion s Parachute Regiment. But more than this: David s gripping account reveals his disillusionment, frustration and disappointments, and how the Legion today is not what it seems.

Author Biography: Mason has been a part owner of an opal mine, worked on a cattle station and on a prawn trawler. He is also a barrister of the High Court of Australia and a major in the Australian Army Reserve Legal Corps. He is currently working in Iraq working as an advisor with the Iraqi Minister of Interior on the rule of law.


(That's the quote, now from Digger) -


Just how old is this bloke to have done all this in his lifetime, plus find time to serve five years (the usual enlistment period I understand). To qualify in law (let alone qualify as a 'barrister' will take you considerably more than that) and to qualify to the High Court requires many more years of being in good repute with your legal peers. I would regard the bona fide of this author with great suspicion. However, it's possible his literary agent has gilded the lily for dramatic effect.

Digger

[Hroflr Grimm]

A [/QUOTE] located right before your bit will clean up your formatting issues. :)

And a literary agent gilding a lily? They do that?!? lol

[flash010]

masion did do the camando stage and sniper stage and medic masion at the time was not much younger than me.

he had a mad scar on his face and was the guy who got me off the drop zone when i busted my leg.
he was one of the best guys you could meet and by no means a walter mitty.
he was a well respected part of the mafia in calvi.
and would give you his last frank if you were stuck

[RMD]

I would regard the bona fide of this author with great suspicion. However, it's possible his literary agent has gilded the lily for dramatic effect.

Hey, come on Digger mate, don't be such a sceptic. He might be watching. ;)

[flash010]

suspect all you want he is bona fide

[RMD]

Flash mate, don't think I doubt the man for a second. Maybe a poor choice of words in my last post. I hesitated to mention that I've recently spoken to the man. Not sure how he'd feel that I'm mentioning it now on here, so I'll say no more. Great respect for him.

[flash010]

was not your words m8 was diggers

you spoke to mason feck nice one if you talk again tell him flash from 2eme coy,s asking for him

[mulgarat]

Been a while since I posted here.
I picked up Masons book today and look forward to reading it. The book is meant to be based on Masons diaries while serving between 1988-1993. I'm wondering how 20yrs has affected his view of his 5 years. In 1999 there was an article in Defender Magazine written by Mason. His account of service in the Legion and particularly being in Djibouti during the civil crisis is summarized. In short Mason makes no bones about his disgust of the Legion and his disillusionment. At the time he was seeking a publisher for a book "Love on the Rocks" : Exposing the Myth of Competence in the Legion or something like that. Looks like he finally found a publisher.
Won't make any more comments here except that I respect Mason for doing 5 years and seeing his time in the REP. While Brendan Jennings (Mouthfull of Rocks) was a self loathing loser, Mason was a law graduate from ANU and a major in the Army Reserve. Mason was also not the first one to fit into that category. The current Secretary of the AALE in Brisbane was also a graduate of ANU and a Major in the Reserves. He served in the 1970's with the REP before deserting after 3 years. He was so guilt ridden that 16 years after deserting he left a great job and a young family in Australia and presented himself in Aubagne requesting his honor back by being allowed to complete his contract. Things had changed and the amnesty of 1980 was explained to him and he was given a handshake and seen out the gates. The good secretary has never written an explosive book about it and quietly serves the Legion through his unpaid efforts with the amicale. Which of the two walked away with a sense of what the Legion is about? Which of the two kept their honneur and fidelity?
As I said, not read Masons book yet and are looking forward to it. Mason served 5 years and has a right to tell his story. I spent $24.00 to read it and have the right to critique it. What wannabees must understand though is that this is another book written about the period of the Legion which spanned the 80's and early nineties. The Legion has changed significantly since the end of the cold war and has adapted to the 21st century.
Johno

[flash010]

i thought it was chritian jennings that wrot a mouth full o cocks o well
masion i found to be a good guy any thing he says in his book witch i am still trying to get will be his opinion and one he is intiteld to

[corvee de chotte]

christian jennings ,i knew him in calvi he was in 3cie ,deserted at Arta of all the places to desert ,he gave himself up a couple of days later,then wrote a crappy book .

[flash010]

i read the book what a load o crap should have been called a mouth full o shite lol

[SeanG]

It is merde

[mulgarat]

Stand corrected - Christian Jennings.
Got confused with another Australian named Brendan Jenkins. He appeared on 60 minutes in 1989 showing off photos of a busted up face after constant disagreements with a Cpls fist. Jenkins deserted from Castelnaudary and called the Legion " a bunch of rabid dogs on leashes". First advice I got from a friendly Yugo CplChef at the recruitment centre in Bayonne was to "keep my eyes and ears open and my mouth shut and most important don't think". That was 1985 and it was probably the best advice I ever got!
Everyone has a stroy to tell. "The Naked Soldier" (Tony Sloane) was one of the most honest accounts I have read. The author finishes his story by stating that his story is his own and every man has a unique experience that is wholly there own. Jennings and Mason had their own. Since the 19th century and as long as the Legion exists there will be books written by those that love it and loath it.

[flash010]

true there will be books on the legion some good some bad tony sloanes and masions are worth the read masion co,s i know him to be a good guy and a good soldier.
did not know sloane but what i read of his book it was ok #

[mulgarat]

Straight up and I wlll be frank - I am about to throw this book out of the window after 40 pages but resisting the temptation, hoping it changes. So far I have jotted half a page of notes about inconsistencies in his story. If this ends up being 400 pages of whining about the banality of the Legion and the scores of violent homosexuals and drunks that make up its rank I'll be writing to Hatchett Press for my money back.
Mason strikes me as the bloke who joined to write the book. He is a Jennings with a university degree. His opening line is a lie. Mason did not wait 20 years to write this book, he published excerpts of the book in 1999 and was at the time looking for a publisher but no one wanted a book titled "Love on the Rocks: exposing the myth of the Legion".
If you want to read a good book full of honest account and a lot of self reflection read Sloane. He was 18 when he joined a slight lad of probably no more than 60kg (one of Masons targets for Legion homosexual predators for sure). Sloane doesnt have to prove shit, you read his story and think "you tough little ****er!".
Hey this is my initial thoughts on the book. Any ancien here proud of their time is going to be miffed with Mason because its been spiced up and he's crossed the line. I have always been a silent critic of aspect of the Legion but like being born into a broken and troubled family I keep most of the truth to myself and the truth ain't that bad. Mason focusses on the negatives which means he is a negative person or just trying to sell copy.
I won't even score this book but I will publish a review when I'm done.

[flash010]

thats pish you cant compear masion to jennings masion did his time jennings was a fag and a dick that did the wire
masion was a legionnaire and a fecking good one he saved lifes out on the dz
if it was not for him id have been crippled.
as i said before masion is intiteld to his opinion he earned that right

[bosun burger]

" Isn't 1988-1992 a period of 4 years? "






Ummmm yes it is ...what can i say I'm just a lowly gunnery sailor LOL......

[mike9]

" Isn't 1988-1992 a period of 4 years? "

Ummmm yes it is ...what can i say I'm just a lowly gunnery sailor LOL......

WTF? I reckon your mouth is quicker than your brain. I just wanted to ask if the guy had fulfilled his five year contract, because if he had only served four years he would probably be a deserter.

[Samtoo]

"The current Secretary of the AALE in Brisbane was also a graduate of ANU and a Major in the Reserves. He served in the 1970's with the REP before deserting after 3 years. He was so guilt ridden that 16 years after deserting he left a great job and a young family in Australia and presented himself in Aubagne requesting his honor back by being allowed to complete his contract. Things had changed and the amnesty of 1980 was explained to him and he was given a handshake and seen out the gates. The good secretary has never written an explosive book about it and quietly serves the Legion through his unpaid efforts with the amicale. Which of the two walked away with a sense of what the Legion is about? Which of the two kept their honneur and fidelity?"

WHATTHE****!!!???? The current Secretary of the AALE in Brisbane Australia is a deserter????!!!!!! Someone please tell me I am insane or something got lost in the translation from Australian into English.

[mulgarat]

Flash, not comparing the two as individuals. Both wrote books. One was a gross exaggeration by a deserter, the other is very likley a gross exaggeration by a person whose overall summary is that he wasted 5 productive years of his life and told the world.

[bosun burger]

WTF? I reckon your mouth is quicker than your brain. I just wanted to ask if the guy had fulfilled his five year contract, because if he had only served four years he would probably be a deserter.

LOL all good mate .....( i'll just change the foot in my mouth hahahahaaha) my maths was off by a year ...i belive that he is a deserter...but did do his first 5years ....having not finished the book as of yet i'm not totaly sure ???
I'm sure one of the fellas can set us straight on this ...before i finish the book

[flash010]

:mad:i got to the rep in 89/90 i left for tihiti in late 93 and masion was there before me so work that out for feck sakes read the posts i told you that must have been the time he jioned the gastapo,
any legionnaire of that time will tell you masion did his time if not more

[mulgarat]

Late 1993? That would have put you in Mururoa in 1995 with all the excitement.

Por tes bonnes souvenirs:

[Only registered and activated users can see links]

[flash010]

that link you sent was a load of pish the secound green peace trawler was not ramed and there was not tests at that time
only the mec tests no nuk war head.
i did have photo,s of the assult on the ship and no one was beaten ether
the hatch,s were burned off and the trawler was escorted in to the atoll after debreifing they were sent to papete and then faa air port then home.
the trawler was sent to the bottom of the atoll.
o and the legion had feck all to do with the attack at auckland harbour that was the french marin comando,s
any one says diffrint is a fecking lieing toe rag.

[homercleese]

thats pish you cant compear masion to jennings masion did his time jennings was a fag and a dick that did the wire
masion was a legionnaire and a fecking good one he saved lifes out on the dz
if it was not for him id have been crippled.
as i said before masion is intiteld to his opinion he earned that right

Flash, what did he do on the DZ? Can you talk about it? understand if not, but you get f**k all in life without asking for it, so apologies if me asking offends.

[homercleese]

ps all, here's a link to the book on amazon, bit fookin pricey isnt it!!!33 POUNDS!

[Only registered and activated users can see links]

and a review

[Only registered and activated users can see links]

[Murph]

o and the legion had feck all to do with the attack at auckland harbour that was the french marin comando,s
any one says diffrint is a fecking lieing toe rag.

The Lt who left some of his kit on the beach in NZ ended up I/C ordinaire in Calvi just before I left

[flash010]

he was a medic in calvi when we got a bad jump i busted my self up badly and the medicine chef a col was in the fence with his leg up his back and his arm hanging badly dislocated the was guys in the road on the beach and one on the roof of the ccs.
the transall did a low pass over the dz and some of us went for a ride till we undid one of the straps he ran about like a loony getting every one in to the infemire.

he did not go out all weekend looking after his mates.
i know plenty who would have said my shifts over am off to the bar but not masion.
thats all i am saying you dont diss a guy who stays with you when your fecked.
there were shit loads of guys dissolusiond in the legion for ether looking for the old story book romantic,
legion it never existed.
or like some of the guys when a shite bag of a chef du corps said the rep was not ready for the gulf war.
theres many things that can pissss you off in the legion .
BUT REMEMBER YOU WHEN LOOKING FOR US WE DONT LOOK FOR YOU

[Samtoo]

or like some of the guys when a shite bag of a chef du corps said the rep was not ready for the gulf war.


That is the first I ever heard of the sort. Why weren't they ready? I don't need to remind anyone of which Legion unit participated in that war.....or even which regiment LED the attack......do I????

[flash010]

it was a tit of a guy called gostress he was about to retire and did not fancy the reg running about the gulf.
so he told paris we were not ready for the gulf.
some of us got attached to the regiment that went but most ended up in jail as we bananed big style.
my mate wee joe amd ford shat on the chef du corps car and got caught.
28 days jail.
the fecking c?nt paraded them at the flag pole every officer who walked passed them shook there hand thats how much the twat was hated.
he came in to our bar were we had a portrait of every chef du corp his had beened binned.
he asked the sarg why his photo was not on the wall he was told it was for the col,s we respected.
he just turned and walked out.
you had to be there to know how much the twat was hated

[Stoeng]

That is the first I ever heard of the sort. Why weren't they ready? I don't need to remind anyone of which Legion unit participated in that war.....or even which regiment LED the attack......do I????

Before the war everybody believed that it would be a total massacre and there where no military units hungering to take our place as the leading regiment inn to Iraq.
We had more bodybags than any of the regiments and even two chaplains with also an endless stream of high ranking officers (with millions of journalist hovering around them) coming to make speeches and tapping on our shoulders telling us how important our mission was.

The MIGHTY !!!! 1er REGIMENT ETRANGER de CAVALERIE moved swiftly inn, cleaned up, and finished the job in 5 days!!!!

Yeahhhhhh!!!!!

[Samtoo]

it was a tit of a guy called gostress he was about to retire and did not fancy the reg running about the gulf.
so he told paris we were not ready for the gulf.


I don't know Flash....something just doesn't seem right to me. I thought the role of the REP was in-fact to BE ready to face any conflict?? Maybe there was a scheduling conflict with the regiment's defiler at the mairie HAHAHAHAHA!!! Or maybe Paris just wanted to send its best??? When you look back, the commanding generals did send in the REC as fodder; the resistance was over-estimated and casualties were expected to be high.

[Kronenberg]

I don't know Flash....something just doesn't seem right to me. I thought the role of the REP was in-fact to BE ready to face any conflict?? Maybe there was a scheduling conflict with the regiment's defiler at the mairie HAHAHAHAHA!!! Or maybe Paris just wanted to send its best??? When you look back, the commanding generals did send in the REC as fodder; the resistance was over-estimated and casualties were expected to be high.

That's just plain fcuking nasty Samtoo - but very, very funny :-)

[flash010]

let sam have his moment he dont get much lol.
feck all to do with paris our chef du corps was a shitbag kapis off to the rec they did us proud.
and sam we were all canon fodder mate lol
am not going to joke on this post the guys who fought and died were worth more than a cheap laff

[mulgarat]

Flash,
Yea I remember all that and got into some arguments when it was going on. Media hype about the testing etc. A lot of people here thought it was still surface and air blasts happening on populated atolls.

This line in the article is good:

"Mathew Whiting, 36, is lately of the French Foreign Legion; for that matter, he is lately also of the British army, the Spanish Foreign Legion and the University of Hertfordshire, where he studies literature"

Spanish Legion? Did'nt they stop taking non-spanish speaking foreigners in 1977 after the pull out from Spanish Sahara. For a 36 yr old he'd certianly been around the block!

[corvee de chotte]

After 1987 it stopped accepting foreigners altogether and changed its name to the Spanish Legion.

[mulgarat]

Thanks mate,
Thought it was earlier than that. But merde alors Whitting was also in the SAS!

[Only registered and activated users can see links]

Almost took the island single handed.

[flash010]

i know two ex sas and no way would the have a tatoo that size its like saying to the taliban shoot me looks fishy but i dont know just dont look like a sas guy

[flash010]

1877if memoury serves there was only two atolls used for tests and mourua was the only one when i was there feck i miss the place :(

[flash010]

18781879

this is some i found

[skydiver1206]

I just read the book and I simply can not believe it ... by him the legions is the company of akoholic and gays; totally non-military formations!my experience it is so far from that and I can not believe that was once like that!!!

[Peter Lyderik]

Book Review – Marching with the Devil by David Mason
Nov 6, 2010 Susan Whelan

Marching with the Devil by David Mason - Hachette AustraliaThis interesting memoir of an Australian lawyer who joined the French Foreign Legion explores the fact and myth behind the Legionnaire legend.

From 1988 to 1993, Australian lawyer David Mason served with the French Foreign Legion. In Marching with the Devil (Hachette, 2010), Mason shares the story of his experiences as part of this elite fighting force.

Marching with the Devil
When David Mason graduated from with a law degree, he was reluctant to drift into a comfortable, routine lifestyle. With a desire to test his mental and physical endurance, he decided to join the French Foreign Legion. The Legion’s reputation for intensive training, fighting and discipline seemed to fulfil all the requirements for Mason to push himself to the limits of his abilities and beyond.

Marching with the Devil shares Mason’s experiences during his five years of service with the French Foreign Legion. Through his training, advancement through the ranks and time serving with the Legion’s elite Parachute Regiment, Mason describes the physical and mental challenges that constantly bombard recruits, legionnaires and officers.

Mason’s account reveals two sides to the French Foreign Legion legend. His descriptions of the physical demands of the training and stories from Legion history support the image of the French Foreign Legion as an institution of finely honed military men who value honour, loyalty and physical endurance.

In contrast, Mason’s reports of bullying, petty theft, sexual excesses, inconsistencies within the chain of command, and lack of discipline undermine the impression of the French Foreign Legion as an elite, highly disciplined fighting force. Mason’s account describes an organization that has little in common with the legend it represents and his disillusionment and frustration are clearly conveyed through his writing.

Mason’s thoughtful analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of the French Foreign Legion protocols, structure and purpose add a depth to Marching with the Devil that takes it beyond a mere documentary-style account of his experiences, offering readers an interesting analysis of the Legion’s role in the modern global military environment.

The French Foreign Legion
Formed in 1831, the French Foreign Legion is a professional fighting unit shrouded in myth and legend. With new recruits of any nationality able to enlist with the elite French military group under an assumed name, the Legion has been romanticised in film and literature as a refuge for those looking to escape difficult circumstances or forge a new identity.

The accepted image of the Legion is largely based on reports of vigorous enforcement of strict physical discipline and training regimes, an image supported by documentaries such as Bear Grylls’ Escape to the Legion.

David Mason
A lawyer with the Australian Department of Defence and a Major in the Australian Army Legal Corps, David Mason has served tours as a civilian adviser in Bougainville and three times in Iraq.

Following his experiences in the French Foreign Legion, Mason has continued to challenge himself through his continued service with the Australian military and in private endeavours. In 1998 accompanied by three camels, Mason walked across Australia from east to west at the widest points, a feat which included the first recorded solo east-west crossing of the Simpson Desert. The expedition earned Mason the Gold Medal of the Australian Geographic Society and assisted in raising $1 million for the Fred Hollows Foundation.

Life in the French Foreign Legion
Marching with the Devil offers a thoughtful look at the modern French Foreign Legion. David Mason’s experiences describe a fighting force that seems to be struggling to maintain its fabled levels of discipline and integrity. Despite this, there are elements of the Legion legend and ethos that did provide the mental and physical challenge Mason was seeking when he initially enlisted.

This frank, personal account of time in the Legion would appeal to anyone with an interest in military history and elite fighting units, as well as those with an interest in accounts of extreme personal challenges.

Review copy details:

Marching with the Devil (ISBN: 978-0-7336-2632-6, 380 pages)

[Peter Lyderik]

Haven't seen the book yet, so would like to know the following. Where did he serve with 2 REP, or was his regimntal service all the time in Corsica?

[skydiver1206]

no his regimental service wasn't all the time in Corsica; 1992-1993 hi was on the 2 company

[Peter Lyderik]

A short summery from one who has read the book, would be nice. Thanks.

[flash010]

he was in 2eme cie but atached to the infermery he was a pretty good medic to

[Chas]

Flash,
When in the far east (CP) on i.e.d. duty I served with a twat of an MP with a bloody great SAS tat on his arm.
He was never in the Reg and we gave him almighty stick.
SBS/ SAS would never be so daft even if they had other tats

[flash010]

i meet an old boy at a mates party we were sitting across from each other he suddenly ask if i enjoyed the legion i asked him how the hell did he know i was in the legion he said i had the staire lol
i then remembered i had a short sleeved shirt on and my tat was showing he then showed me his a small winged dagger on his inside arm with the sas motto he then said and now were at this lovly party and that was that.
no war storys no bragging

[mulgarat]

A short summery from one who has read the book, would be nice. Thanks.

Peter,
A couple of reviews on the book by some Aussies. There are a few over here that a pretty pissed with Mason. Not so much for the book which is bad enough. There was a two page spread in the Sydney Herald where he had a photo of himself in Djibouti and another one of him in his Australian Army Pogues Uniform with the French Para Wings. The article basically ridicules the Legion and all in it. Hopeless drunks, worthless soldiers, murderers of whores and paedophiles etc etc. Trying to get a scan sent over so I can post here.
Take care.
[Only registered and activated users can see links]

[mulgarat]

Peter,
A couple of reviews on the book by some Aussies. There are a few over here that a pretty pissed with Mason. Not so much for the book which is bad enough. There was a two page spread in the Sydney Herald where he had a photo of himself in Djibouti and another one of him in his Australian Army Pogues Uniform with the French Para Wings. The article basically ridicules the Legion and all in it. Hopeless drunks, worthless soldiers, murderers of whores and paedophiles etc etc. Trying to get a scan sent over so I can post here.
Take care.
[Only registered and activated users can see links]

I'll rephrase that:
"Hopeless drunks, worthless soldiers, paedophiles and murderers of whores etc etc"

Bloody english tenses and syntax "Eats shoots and leaves", nothing wrong with murdering paedophiles in my book.

[mulgarat]

i meet an old boy at a mates party we were sitting across from each other he suddenly ask if i enjoyed the legion i asked him how the hell did he know i was in the legion he said i had the staire lol
i then remembered i had a short sleeved shirt on and my tat was showing he then showed me his a small winged dagger on his inside arm with the sas motto he then said and now were at this lovly party and that was that.
no war storys no bragging

Hahahaha - when I got back to Australia and got work on the mines some of the lads who worked underground on the drills thought was mad and called us "Pierre with the stare". Never complained cos some of the birds would come up and ask "Is your name Pierre?". Good times.

[Chas]

Flash,
Some 'orifices' went in for a small cdo.dagger tat high up on the inner thigh.
With my sword I did not need a second weapon ! I remain full of BS and tatless.

[flash010]

as i said its his opinion and his right to say what he thought good or bad

[okidoki]

Thanks mate,
Thought it was earlier than that. But merde alors Whitting was also in the SAS!

[Only registered and activated users can see links]

Almost took the island single handed.
Wittings nom Legion was winters he was 4cie rep before being shipped out to 5rmp in 82 for a major bannane i dont remember the sas tat. I thought he was previous to the rep in the green jackets or a county reg. i was monitor ca and can confirm he could handle a kayak.i heard he was WAIT FOR IT!! writing a book about the tests and how the Legion would have to rebuild the road in shorts while people in protective suits monitored them with meters.this,looks like he had an axe to grind.I remember him as a bannanier but an ok feller he was from up north but not a scouser or geordie.

[scum of the earth]

on youtube in some legion vids i always see people (ex legionnaires ) commenting how bad the legion is, how all you do is corvée ,etc, theres heaps of these guys on youtube. its only normal fora guy to write a book about the real legion, i dont think many of the people who have a simple concept of what the legion is know what corvee is or how legionnaires live

i might get this book if i can

[mulgarat]

Now available on iTunes for audio download. A little over the cost of a six pack. Not bad if you're a lazy ****er.

[Only registered and activated users can see links]

P.S. This link is for the Australian iTunes store.

Here you go RMD, this is a little treat for you - I had Mason pegged all wrong. Anyone that does an interview for Penthouse is OK in my book:
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[Sarajevo1992]

[QUOTE=skydiver1206;121076] by him the legions is the company of akoholic and gays; QUOTE]

in my book drinking every day doesn't mean you are an alcoholic. having had a a few moths of showering among rep members never experienced gay activities, Au contraire.
how can you trust someone to wath your back when het is watching your arse. gays in the legion never make it (alive)

[Martin Scott]

suspect all you want he is bona fide
Hes a bro even though hes a reptile. Flash says so good enough for me

[flash010]

guys you gotta admit there were some piss heads and i seen two poofs both cooks get caught but they were booted as soon as they were caught i personly have great memorys of calvi and the legion.
if i had wrote a book some might say it was sugar coated its only one guys thoughts

[Samtoo]

guys you gotta admit there were some piss heads and i seen two poofs both cooks get caught but they were booted as soon as they were caught i personly have great memorys of calvi and the legion.
if i had wrote a book some might say it was sugar coated its only one guys thoughts

Piss-heads aplenty, the Legion was a hard life. Queers? I knew of one in the REC, a young Englishman who joined the Legion in the early 80's. There had to have been more than one, someone was ******* him, but I didnt know them. The English mafia wasnt having it and told him to desert or something bad will happen to him. The situation kind of simmered with the mafia for a while then it boiled over and something bad did happen. In rapport the capitaine asked why and the Englishman explained the fag was dishonouring Britain and the British people. The capitaine accepted that as a valid reason and the incident was forgotten. Not sugar-coated, just glossed over to show how times have changed. Martin claims to know the gay dude......I dont know about that.

[scum of the earth]

Havent read the book and dont know his story but in the penthouse interview they mention the leadership is shit. What do you guys think about this? It doesnt bother me and i can understand why, i know it's not flawless (but effective nonetheless which is what counts), but from this i now see why the legion can be harder when youre ex-military.

Just my thoughts, what are yours on this ?

[mulgarat]

Havent read the book and dont know his story but in the penthouse interview they mention the leadership is shit. What do you guys think about this? It doesnt bother me and i can understand why, i know it's not flawless (but effective nonetheless which is what counts), but from this i now see why the legion can be harder when youre ex-military.

Just my thoughts, what are yours on this ?

Will attempt a reply.
You get good and bad leaders in all organisations. Good leaders work for the team, bad leaders work for no one but themselves and generally cover their deficencies by blaming their subordinates. A good leader acknowledges his mistakes, learns from his team and takes one for the team if required. I seen equally good leaders in the ADF as I did in the Legion. I saw some really bad ones in both too. Good leaders I'll follow through hell, poor leaders on the other hand just can't respect or follow. Truth is, I can name as many NCO's and Officer in the Legion I would follow through hell as those who deserved a scorpion slipped in their bivvie bag (it happened).
Being in the ADF was also hard after being in the Legion. The softness and touchy feely approach and immaturity of some recruits at Kapooka was plain embarrassing. The training in Kapooka was good at the technical level, don't get me wrong they made me feel real good and positive about myself. The sense of urgency, the discomfort and the constant harrassement, hunger, mind numbing bullshit and fatigue you got in Castel was missing. It was a holiday. Did'nt even get it that bad at Singleton on Inf IET either, except feeling the 35 years catch up on route marches. These are the things that recruits need to get used to because its part and parcel of going to war. Why is it that 20 years later can still name all the pieces of a FAMAS and dismantle it in my mind while the F88 Steyr now seems foreign and obscure 5 yrs since picking one up? I know the words of atleast 10 legion songs but can't even fully recite Advance Australia Fair? Go figure, must be Legion training.

[flash010]

lol i just read all the posts again and i missed one by malgarat whore killers lol
i know of two legionnaires who were killed by whores never other way round one was stabed to death in ville
the othere was sliped a drug in his beer and took a bad reaction.
we heard a lot of storys from guys with lots more time in than us as will you but remember its your time now so make some memorys of your own

[mulgarat]

lol i just read all the posts again and i missed one by malgarat whore killers lol
i know of two legionnaires who were killed by whores never other way round one was stabed to death in ville
the othere was sliped a drug in his beer and took a bad reaction.
we heard a lot of storys from guys with lots more time in than us as will you but remember its your time now so make some memorys of your own

Only time I ever saw Legionnaires retreat from a fight was in the Fleche Rouge. One of the Nayas got shoved and told to "**** off" by one of the lads and he hit her after she tossed a drink in his face and the next thing it was on. The whores grabbed those evil looking curved blades made for deknackering men and started up that wailing-howling noise and came after us. We needed no invitations and beat a hasty retreat out the door using thrown bar stools and tables as cover. Was'nt even 4pm for chrissakes. Still an epitaph on your grave stone reading "deknackered and hacked to death by naya pute" would not have looked good.

[Martin Scott]

In Reply to Sam/ Yeah I know about the incident, the indivual concerned no sorry bro your wrong ano that one.

[flash010]

nayas in jabut knew better we told them rob or injure a legionnaire and we burn your shack with you in it so we had a good tour with not much trouble lol

[Jefferson'86]

Only time I ever saw Legionnaires retreat from a fight was in the Fleche Rouge. One of the Nayas got shoved and told to "**** off" by one of the lads and he hit her after she tossed a drink in his face and the next thing it was on. The whores grabbed those evil looking curved blades made for deknackering men and started up that wailing-howling noise and came after us. We needed no invitations and beat a hasty retreat out the door using thrown bar stools and tables as cover. Was'nt even 4pm for chrissakes. Still an epitaph on your grave stone reading "deknackered and hacked to death by naya pute" would not have looked good.

We never retreated but we chose once to "attack in another direction" once while using a list of off limits premises as an itnerary. We had a bit of an encounter with several dozen boo boos after Parky disassembled one of them for pushing a cassette in his face. We dropped a fair few of them but they kept coming. I remember seeing one Powells had done and he looked like a broken shop maniquin. arms and legs all bent wrong.....well upvucked!

we ended up being lifted by the civi Prevost police and brought before and elder French woman Judge.
She let us go and we went on the piss with you and the 3cie lads at Gabode Pouf.

[mulgarat]

We never retreated but we chose once to "attack in another direction" once while using a list of off limits premises as an itnerary. We had a bit of an encounter with several dozen boo boos after Parky disassembled one of them for pushing a cassette in his face. We dropped a fair few of them but they kept coming. I remember seeing one Powells had done and he looked like a broken shop maniquin. arms and legs all bent wrong.....well upvucked!

we ended up being lifted by the civi Prevost police and brought before and elder French woman Judge.
She let us go and we went on the piss with you and the 3cie lads at Gabode Pouf.

Thats where that famous line came from: "No your honor, I never hit anyone. That man there kept striking my fist with his face!"

[mulgarat]

May'be someone can help us with this, cos I'm confused.
Mason was in Operation Godoria in Djibouti around 1991. In this interview the implication is that he took out a "rebel" with his FRF1. Wasn't aware that the Legion was engaged in any capacity other than humanitarian work, weapon destruction and observers at the time. Comments?
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JENNY BROCKIE: So quite the opposite of this, you know - kind of attraction to danger or, you know, in dangerous situations. I think some people are attracted to danger. Some people, surely who join the French Foreign Legion are.

DAVID MASON: Lots of young men are attracted to danger. They look for it and think about it in different ways. Can I go back for a moment to one particular point that resonates entirely with me? That's the personal things that remain with you. Because there are images in my mind of looking down a telescopic sight at a man, and I remember his face - black hair, dark eyes and a big gap in his white teeth. And I'll remember that till the day I die. And those kind of personal things, far more than seeing lots of dead people, for example, remain and resonate with me.

JENNY BROCKIE: I should actually ask you - did you kill that man?



DAVID MASON: That is a matter for me and a matter for my conscience, entirely.

[Jackbrew]

First Regt in Iraq? Ummm... 2 REI! Was actually in Iraq before the REC ;-)

Lets be realistic here... of Fcking COURSE the REP was not ready for the Gulf. What were they going to do? Hire Camels?

Parachutes are fine, but limit you a bit.... For Operation Baumier In Zaire, just after the Gulf... 2 REI went again....

Then the REP realised their pretty canopys had done nothing other than decorate the sky since 1978... and if they wanted back in the game.... they needed to have a VAB or two.... otherwise they were like the eunach at an orgy.

I would imagine we can wait till 2020 before anyone needs a parachute on the battlefield again..... if ever...

Best
Chris ;-)

[Surfguy]

Ummm... 2 REI? Was actually over before the REC ;-)

Lets be realistic here... of Fcking COURSE the REP was not ready for the Gulf. What were they going to do? Hire Camels?

Parachutes are fine, but limit you a bit.... For Operation Baumier In Zaire, just after the Gulf... 2 REI went again....

Then the REP realised their pretty canopys had done nothing other than decorate the sky since 1978... and if they wanted back in the game.... they needed to have a VAB or two.... otherwise they were like the eunach at an orgy.

I would imagine we can wait till 2020 before anyone needs a parachute on the battlefield again..... if ever...

Best
Chris ;-)

From what I read a lot of strategists are of the same mind.