HOW IT ALL BEGAN
On the 10th of June 1983, I found myself in Paris asking a Gendarme how to go about joining 'The French Foreign
Legion'.He advised me to go home, but I was intent on going ahead.o He told me that I would find a recruiting poster in every main railway station in Paris so I went to the Gare du Nord and sure enough, there was a giant poster advertising an exciting new life in the Legion. o At the age of 38 it was quite a step tp take and I didn't know if I would beccepted at that age. o All my life I had been going from one adventure to another, most enjoyable, some disasterous, but nothing on this scale. o I have always striven to be the best at whatever I do but suffered from two handicaps. o The second of which was a direct result of the first.
When I was at school, dyslexia was unheard of. o I was marked down, put down as being slow, almost backward in some of my teachers minds. o I knew from an early age that this was not the case and I was determined that I would make the most of what I could do well. o I knew, even if everyone else didn't, that I had a good brain and that I could learn to compensate for my handicap. o I also discovered that I had an exceptional eye for detail and could apply logic to tackle the problems I faced.
My second handicap was lack of confidence caused by being told regularly "Don't be stupid, you can't do that". o This was to have a profound effect on me for many years. o My parents blocked any ambitions I may have had because they thought that I would fail and cause them embarrassment.
To further my skills I enrolled at The Glasgow School of Art for evening classes, five nights a week. o I studied graphic and interior design and continued my studies for five years. o I have only praise for the quality of my teachers and of the courses. o I tried to vary my career by moving from advertising into exhibition stand design, packaging, then back into advertising. o The reaction of my parents to my progress did not change. o Each promotion brought the habitual response, "Don't be stupid, you can't do that".
This is a brief insite into my background and I hope that you will want to continue to reading my story.
Fighting with The French Foreign Legion is an honest attempt at explaining what led me to taking the monumental step of becoming a Legionnaire at the tender age of thirty eight. o It takes you through the strict selection process where the chances of making it are only one in fifty.
Every successful volunteer has to follow the same arduous path, endure the same physical pain while being pushed to their limit and beyond.
You will accompany me through my voyage of discovery. o Join me in the ceremony 'La Remise de la Kepi' when I actually become a Legionnaire.
After basic training and having chosen to join the Second Parachute Regiment (2eme Regiment Etranger de Parachutists) based in Corsica, you will accompany me through parachute training, my commando course and everyday life in the Regiment.
Explore the joys of Saharian Africa and southwards into the heart of the tropical rain forets of The republic of Central Africa to meet the Pigmys. o You will visit places that no tourist has ever been to. o Face the reality of real warfare, the excitement of battle and the realization that everything is not as clear cut as it first seems.
This is also a story of suffering on a huge scale and how the unique multi-national, multi-cultural composition of The French Foreign Legion plays an important role in the ever increasing demands of UN peace keeping missions.
This is a very brief insight into my story which is in the process of being published by Pen & Sword Books Ltd. 0 We hope to have it ready for sale by June 2009, but I will keep you informed as to the exact date via these pages.
Pen & Sword Books Ltd specialize in the publication military subjects. If you would like to visit their website please follow this link