Chasseurs d'Afrique

First raised in 1831[1] from regular French cavalry posted to Algeria, they numbered five regiments by World War II.

The other major cavalry element in the Armee d'Afrique were the Spahis—recruited from the indigenous peoples of Algeria, Tunisia, and Morocco with mostly French officers.

in common vernacular) were created through transfers from the chasseurs à cheval, other metropolitan cavalry regiments and some infantry units.

[5] On this and other occasions they used their characteristic African tactic of advancing rapidly in open order,[6] in contrast to the rigid lines of the Light Brigade.

On 5 May 1863 the 1st Chasseurs d'Afrique distinguished itself in a clash with Mexican lancers during the Battle of San Pablo del Monte.

[9] Drawing on reservists and volunteers it was possible to reconstitue three provisional regiments, two of which continued to fight on as part of the new Republican armies.

The 1er and 2e RCA had detached squadrons on active service in eastern Morocco while the four remaining regiments were on garrison duty in Algeria and Tunisia.

[11] Four squadrons were present during the Gallipoli campaign with the Corps Expéditionnaire d'Orient, the unit being renamed as the 8th Marching Regiment of Chasseurs d'Afrique on 29 July 1915.

[14] The dissolution dates for the individual regiments were: Algerian independence brought an end to the corps through a series of disbandments and transfers between 1962 and 1964, after over a century of service.

[21][22] The khaki uniforms worn by the Chasseurs d'Afrique from 1915 onwards were distinguished by dark blue collar patches with yellow braiding and regimental numbers.