The French Army had already raised four regiments of indigenous cavalry in both Algeria and Tunisia during the 19th century, and extended the designation of "spahis" to the Moroccan mounted units recruited after 1908.

The regiment was awarded 3 additional citations plus a fourragere in the colors of the Croix de guerre des théâtres d'opérations extérieures.

On July 1, 1940, Captain Paul Jourdier, who commanded the 1st Squadron of the 1st Moroccan Spahi Regiment, decided to defect from the Vichy-led Army of the Levant and join the British forces in Palestine.

[2] The 1st RSM at this stage in the war was still a mounted cavalry unit, consisting of mostly North African Muslim troopers under French officers.

Reinforced by detached units that had separately crossed the border between Lebanon and Palestine, plus volunteers from London, the squadron undertook mounted operations in Eretria.

Other squadrons were created, forming first one then two army corps reconnaissance groups (GRCA), commanded by Jourider and Robert de Kersauson.

It subsequently participated in the advance to Tunisia, initially as part of the British Eighth Army, then in 1943 in the FFF commanded by Général Philippe Leclerc de Hauteclocque.

As a reconnaissance regiment of the 2nd Armored Division, the 1st RMSM participated in the Western Europe campaign of 1944-45, suffering heavy losses in both France and Germany.

The 1st Marching Moroccan Spahi Regiment (1er RMSM) was awarded the distinction of Compagnon de la Libération by decree of August 7, 1945 and cited twice at the orders of the armed forces.

Reportedly during a cabinet meeting, one of General Charles de Gaulle's ministers urged that the 1st RSM be retained in service because of its distinguished role in the Free French Forces during World War II.

[5] The most decorated unit of the modern Cavalry and Armoured Arm of the French Army, the regiment carries 14 battle honors on its colors.

As mounted cavalry the North African personnel of the regiment wore high turbans, red jackets, wide blue-grey trousers and a white burnous (cloak).

A dark blue over-cloak with hood was worn over the burnous, to distinguish the Moroccan spahis from their red-cloaked Algerian and Tunisian counterparts.

After mechanization, features such as the double burnous/cloak and red sash of the historical Spahi uniform were retained and are still worn by the modern regiment on parade.