Французские охотники Африки: История и боевой путь

Military unit type of France

The Chasseurs d'Afrique were a light cavalry corps of chasseurs in the French Armée d'Afrique (Army of Africa). First raised in 1831 from regular French cavalry posted to Algeria, they numbered five regiments by World War II. For most of their history they were recruited from either French volunteers or French settlers in North Africa doing their military service. As such they were the mounted equivalent of the French Zouave infantry. 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.

First raised in 1831, shortly after the French occupation of Algiers, the Chasseurs d'Afrique (Chass. d'Af. in common vernacular) were created through transfers from the chasseurs à cheval, other metropolitan cavalry regiments and some infantry units. Initially about 40 members of each squadron were locally recruited indigenous horsemen. Two additional regiments were created in 1832 and 1833 respectively, while the Arab and Berber troopers were transferred to the newly organised Spahis in 1836. In addition to numerous campaigns in North Africa, these colorful regiments also served in the Crimean War, Second Italian War of Independence, Franco Prussian War, Indochina, France's invasion of Mexico, Dahomey (1892), Madagascar (1895) and both world wars. The 1st and 4th Regiments of Chass. d'Af. distinguished themselves by securing the flank of Lord Cardigan during the ill fated Charge of the Light Brigade. On this and other occasions they used their characteristic African tactic of advancing rapidly in open order, 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. The regimental flag was subsequently decorated with the Cross of the Legion of Honour, the first French cavalry regiment to receive this distinction. 5 May remains the annual day of celebration for the modern Chass. d'Af. All four of the regiments then in existence participated in the Franco Prussian War of 1870, with only depot squadrons remaining in Algeria. They suffered heavy casualties in a series of charges at the Battle of Sedan. 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.

At the outbreak of World War I in 1914, six regiments of Chasseurs d'Afrique were in existence. 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. Seven regiments of Chasseurs d'Afrique (including three regiments de marche or active service units created for a particular campaign) were transferred to France between 1914 and 1918. Four squadrons were present during the Gallipoli campaign with the Corps expéditionnaire d'Orient, the unit being renamed as the 8th provisional regiment of Chasseurs d'Afrique on 29 July 1915. Two squadrons of the 1er and 4e RCA ended the war in the Middle East fighting against the Turks as part of the 5th Light Horse Brigade, while the 5e RCA detached squadrons to serve in the Balkans.

The Chasseurs d'Afrique were until 1914 clothed in light blue tunics tucked into a red sash and red breeches. Their normal headdress was the taconnet—a light blue and red shako, similar in shape to that worn by the equivalent light cavalry regiments (hussars and chasseurs à cheval) of the metropolitan army, but worn with a white or light khaki cover. Prior to 1873 the casquette d'Afrique had been worn. The traditional fez and sash were worn off duty or when in barracks until World War II. The light blue tunics had yellow facings and reportedly earned the Chasseurs d'Afrique the nickname of "Blue Butchers" amongst some of their opponents. From 1915, as was the case with other units of the Armée d'Afrique, a more practical khaki uniform was adopted for service. 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. The modern armoured regiment had by 2014 reintroduced the historic red sash and fez for parade. More commonly worn is the light blue and red kepi of the French cavalry.

The name was also applied to the first all African American regiment formed by the United States Army in New Orleans in 1862.

Gazette des Uniformes, Juillet août 2005. R. Huré. L'Armée d'Afrique 1830–1962. Paris: Charles Lavauzelle, 1977.

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