A PHOTOGRPAHIC STORY OF THE FRENCH FOREIGN LEGION Photographed And Edited By Captain Hiland D. Holt, Lieutenant Ned Modica, Capl-Chef Andre Rosenberg Private John P. Babiar 2624 Signal Service Regiment
np (Sidi Bel Abbes?), (1942-1943). Hardcover. Fair. Item #21-0944
Sixty-three black and white photographs, oblong 10 x 8", light brown boards/leather spine and corners, pictorial front board, two page history of the Legion and eight pages listing the contents of sections, all pages mimeographed (one side only). Covers warped, scattered staining (minor), leather scuffed/scraped, edgeworn (esp. corners), photos/pages curled, small abrasion in the margin of title page, occasional light creasing, light soiling and toning else very good condition. No title on cover or spine. The 2624th Signal Service Regiment was based in 1942 in Oran, Algeria and a few hundred miles away, also in Algeria, was the home base of the French Foreign Legion, 1st Foreign Regiment. The 1st Foreign Regiment was originally formed in 1885 and lasted until 1942 and finally ceased to exist in June of 1943. We have not been able to establish the direct link between the two regiments, maybe the senior officers? Lieutenant Ned Modica was an Army photographer (main photographer for the book?) and was quoted in Ernie Pyle's book "This Is Your War." The cover photograph shows a French Foreign Legion soldier standing guard in front of "La Legion A Ses Morts". Inside there is a brief history of the Legion and then various aspects of the unit. In labeled sections "Guard Mount", "The Band", "Memorial Monument To The Dead" (La Legion A Ses Morts), "Colonel Albert Vias", the current and soon to be last commanding officer, "Barracks", "Pay Line", "Roll Call" and "Workshops" in which a soon to be retiring Legionnaire gets prepared to return to civilian life by working at a trade he had before enlistment. Of special interest are the several photos of the French Foreign Legion Museum ie. memories/souvenirs of past conflicts: Indochine, Italie, World War I; memorials, weapons, artwork showing their battles. Also shown here (and in other photographs) are members of the U.S. Army. Most likely the collaborators of this album. How many copies of the album exist? Maybe one for Colonel Vias and one each for the photographers/editors? Regardless, original French Foreign Legion photographs are SCARCE, even more so in an album.
Price: $2,500.00