Page 95 - The Bugle 2018

Cameróne Day with the 2nd Regt of the
French Foreign Legion
The opportunity to experience Cameróne Day even picked up a bugle and sounded rouse and
(a celebration of the anniversary of the Battle of Cameróne) was my first trip to France, which started off great until I realised we had brought the weather with us! I had previously worked with the French Foreign Legion in Estonia on Operation CABRIT, and quickly realised their hospitality was second to none. Upon arriving, we were taken to a local restaurant for the evening where we tried different French dishes which were all paid for. By the end of the night I felt like a wine tasting expert!
Day two of the trip was the preparation for Cameróne Day, held annually on 30 May – the Legion’s version of Salamanca Day. The evening started with a vigil in Nîmes cathedral which was followed by an outdoor regimental dinner for the entire unit. A barbeque was produced to feed the entire battalion and their visitors. This got everyone into the spirit of Cameróne. Throughout this barbeque they would pause as someone began to sing one of their regimental songs, it only took seconds for everyone to pick up the tune and join in. Before you knew it, there was a battalion plus singing, which was an emotional demonstration of their pride, honour and culture.
Cameróne Day itself started at 0600 with the Officers and NCOs waking up the Legionnaires with a shot of coffee and strong rum - just the way any Rifleman would like to be woken! We all got stuck in to serving them breakfast in bed, ensuring their ‘gun fire’ was topped up and then doing block jobs – Lance Corporal Yaseen (Fire Support Company)
a few other calls which went down a treat. That morning, in tribute to the soldiers that have fallen in the French Foreign Legion and at Cameróne we participated in a memorial parade which included an inspection from the Mayor and a 3-star General. Standing in the hot sun while listening to speeches and orders in French was hard work – especially when the gun fire began to wear off!
Overall France was an amazing experience where I gained a true understanding of the Foreign Legion. Interacting with multiple nations in different fields of the army made me realise how similar our Armies can be. I learnt a great deal of history and culture of France itself which I’m glad to have taken part in. I hope that 5 RIFLES can maintain the strong links that were established with the Devonshire Regiment, strengthened through a shared tour of Estonia, and that future Riflemen will have the privilege of visiting their barracks in Nîmes – although we certainly owe the Legion a visit to England so we can repay their hospitality first!
Rifleman Tingle, D Company
THERE WAS A BATTALION PLUS SINGING, WHICH WAS AN EMOTIONAL DEMONSTRATION OF THEIR PRIDE, HONOUR AND CULTURE
D Coy representatives at Cameróne Day
THE RIFLES
FIFTH BATTALION 101