In 1972/3 we were sent on a Detachment/ Exercise with 14 Signal Regt, to The South of France, for 2 Month. ( After finishing Basic Training at 11 Sigs Catterick Camp, and awaiting Trade Training at Catterick Camp 8 Sigs. )
We stayed at A French Foreign Legion Camp up in the Mountains, at La Cavellire, but were flown down by Helicopter ( Training the Pilots ) most days, to the Sun kissed beach at ' Le Cap D' Agde ', right next door to a large Nudist Beach.
Many young female sunbathers, were entranced by the sight of Military Helicopters disgorging loads of Men ( Dressed in Shorts & Flip-Flops ), onto the Sand Dunes. And the Helicopters returning to Collect us in the evening, to ferry us back to the F.L camp in the Mountains for Tea/Supper.
We didn't actually stay in the buildings of the F.L camp, as we brought our own Tented Accommodation, ( which was an experience after dark, as we were infested with so many ' Fireflies ' in the tents, we were kept awake by the constant high pitched buzzing of them. But the glow from them was one of the most lovely sights I'd ever seen ! )
( The powdered Orange drink with added Bromide, in stainless steel Urns, will always stick in my memory ! )
We did drink in The Foreign Legion Bar some nights ( Very basic compared to British Army Camps ), before heading down to the local Village for a few bottles of wine & a meal ). The F.L Lads were a great bunch of blokes, and from the following Regiment.
The 1st Foreign Cavalry Regiment (French: 1er Régiment Étranger de Cavalerie, 1er REC) is the only cavalry regiment in theFrench Foreign Legion. As of 2009 it is the only armoured cavalry regiment of the 6th Light Armoured Brigade.[1] It has been stationed at Quartier Labouche in Orange, Vaucluse, France since it moved from Mers-el-Kébir, Algeria in October 1967.[2]
Their Foreign Legion Cap Badge
Location of ' Le Cap D' Agde ' in relation to ' Montpellier '