France - Fifth Republic: A French Foreign Legion group of three awards and the Regimental Badge to an unknown veteran of the 13th Demi-Brigade of Foreign Legion, who was with his unit when it fought in the Algerian War at some time between 1955 and 1962 when engaged against the ALN, the Nationalist Liberation Front of Algeria.
Group of 3: Combatant's Cross, with bronze assay and Paris mint cornucopia mark; Medal for Operations in North Africa, 1st version with ‘Algerie’’ bar, medal with Paris mint bronze assay mark; Medal for North Africa, with bronze assay and Paris mint cornucopia mark. All mounted for wear in a single row of three, and affixed to a standard Foreign Legion black cloth suspension with wearing pin on the reverse, all with original ribbons. Affixed to the ribbon is the Badge of the 13th Demi-Brigade of Foreign Legion, gilt bronze and enamels, with reverse bearing the Drago of Paris makers details in raised letters.
Condition: evidence of wear, overall about Good Very Fine.
The Combatant's Cross (French: "Croix du combattant") is a French decoration that recognises, as its name implies, those who fought in combat for France. Originally instituted in 1926, the law of December 9, 1974 extended the award of the Combatant's Cross to operations in North Africa between 1 January 1952 and July 2, 1962. More recently, a decree of January 12, 1994 opened le carte du combattant holder (hence of the Combatant's Cross) to those who participated in operations in Cambodia, Cameroon, Persian Gulf, Lebanon, Madagascar, the Suez Canal, Somalia, Chad, Yugoslavia, Zaire, and Iraq.
The Medal for Operations in North Africa, 1st version with ‘Algerie’’ bar (Médaille des Opérations en Afrique du Nord). The medal was instituted on 11 January 1958 and attributed to military personnel who served in North Africa during the ‘Troubles’ in the period 1952 to 1962 prior to the independence of Algeria, Tunisia and Morocco. The first model was inscribed on the reverse ‘Médaille Commemorative, Opérations Securité et Maintien de l’Ordre’; this example is of the second model. As with most French commemorative medals, service for more than 3 months in a regular formation was required for award.
The Medal for North Africa (Médaille d'Afrique du Nord). The medal was created on 29 April 1997 to meet this need and may be awarded to French nationals who saw 90 days’ continuous military service with a regular unit in Algeria (31 October 1954 to 2 July 1962), Morocco (31 June 1953 to 1 March 1956) or Tunisia (1 January 1952 to 19 March 1956) or were evacuated wounded or were placed at the disposition of the civil power. Those who served with the Foreign Legion may receive the award regardless of their nationality.
The 13th Demi-Brigade of Foreign Legion (French: 13e Demi-Brigade de Légion Étrangère, 13e DBLE) joined the Algerian War in 1955 and left in 1962.Engaged in the operations of maintaining order in Algeria, the regiment disembarked in Tunisia on 28 June 1955. Based in Guelma, the regiment radiated in Constantinois, North and South in the Nemencha. Hiding places were found but no combatants. Accordingly, the phase of "pacification" commenced. The 13th DBLE constructed or restored posts: Khsirane. The fight followed in the djebels, marked by hard combats. Zaouia, Bou Zakadane, Ouindj, djebel Seike. In July 1957, a combatant group of the ALN (Nationalist Liberation Front of Algeria) was destroyed. Leaving then Nemenchta, the 13th DBLE reduced to two battalions garrisoned at Aurès. Steep peaks were succeeded by wooded massifs. At the beginning of 1958, three combats against the ALN, obliged the latter to refuse to get in contact, and accordingly reacted by taking up violence on the civilian population. Nearly 800 families came, in the middle of the winter, and massed around the post of Bou Hamama. Accordingly, On 7 May 1958, the unit responded and combat engaged at Oued Kelaa with firm resolution. In October 1958, the 13th DBLE became an intervention regiment. The regiment was articulated into eight combat companies, including the mounted company, support company, employed at the exception, as companies of Fusiliers-Voltigeurs. Two tactical headquarter staff (EMT) mounted several companies on demand. In general, the first three were subordinated to FEMTI, the 4,5,6 to FEMT2, the CP and CA often in support of one or the other EMT. The composition number was 1778 men : 57 Officers, 249 Sous-Officiers and 1472 men. Such was put into effect for the officers due to a dozen of volunteers, out of which three were from the medical service, and lesser than a couple of dozens for the sous-officiers and the legionnaires. They had of a little harka, which was dissolved in June 1961. The mission of this itinerary unit covered all Algeria, in a series of operations: « Emeraude », « Dordogne », « Georgevie », « Isère ». From Kabylie to the Atlas Mountains, Algiers to the Challe Line (French: Ligne Challe) designated as « Barrage est » at the Tunisian frontiers, then in the Aurès, where on 10 February 1961, the unit placed out of combat some 49 combatants and recuperated some 29 arms. The unit made way back to the « Bec de Canard », on the « Barrage est », where operations, patrols and ambushes succeeded until the end of combats in March 1962. At the independence of Algeria, the regiment left 214 tombs.
