Legionnaire: Five Years in the French Foreign Legion Mass Market Paperback – May 30, 2006

Simon Murray has written an unflinching tale of his experience in the demanding adventure of soldiering in the French Legion. It is personable, accessible and real. I served for 4 decades in the U.S. Army. All over the globe and with many native forces. This book seems authentic and compelling at that level for me. I especially enjoyed his detailed discussions of all his training and his comrades and commanders. There is tremendous depth here. The war and fighting in Algeria is conveyed matter of factually and with a focus on the simple day to day grind. I recommend this book to students of the soldiers life and also to those who wish a healthy dose of humanity accompany their warfighting. Soldier of the Legion, his experience is shared beautifully.

The story of Simon Murray's odessy in the French Foreign Legion is in itself a coherent commentary on the experience of transforming the new, young recruit from romantic dreamer into a hardened killing machine, directable by Military superiors to obey without question.That he has described a process that can be recognized by members or veterans of any elite fighting unit is indicative of the honesty he imparts on the tale. That he grew to the rank of senior Corporal and trainer of elite para Legionnaires, left the Legion and suceeded in life to become one of Britains current , formost business leaders without the Oxford or Cambridge or British Officer's credentials says much of the character that can be forged by the dangerous and sobering experience for a worthy young man. Many he served with came to less lofty ends or broke under the pressures of the constant danger and harrassment of the superior Officers and NCOs.It is also noteworthy in that the famous mutiny of the 1st Parachute Regiment of the Legion over DeGaul's abandonment of Algeria and it's non Arab, French population occurs during his time in Algeria. Serving in the 2nd Parachute Regiment they are uncertain of the orders of their superior officers upon learning of the actions of the 1st. Very tense as the Legion IS their country and there lies the allegiance of most. It is a worthwhile use of your time if you are a fan of adventure of a non fiction type or an ex military man who served in elite forces himself. (Marine Recon, Green Beret, Seal, Ranger).

I was recommended to this book by a colleague, who had an interest in the Foreign Legion. Even though some of the book is historically dated, the personal insights are compelling to read. I've even loaned the book out to someone who has a curiosity about the Legion and the historical time frame of the story.

You think your life is hard? Read about what Simon Murray went through, voluntarily! It's a great story and I personally found it inspirational.A young, wealthy Englishman foregoes the privileges of his birth to serve voluntarily in the Legion.He is tested physically and mentally to the limits of human endurance but prevails, completing his five years of service honorably, and becomes an effective and accomplished Legionnaire.After reading this, it's hard to feel sorry for yourself about anything! I highly recommend.

One of the best memoirs I've read in a long time. Mr. Murray, at the age of 20, joined the legion in 1960. France was holding on to Algeria by a thread and, shortly after joining the 2e REP, Mr. Murray found himself there. Talk about a brutally tough existence. Mile after mile of forced marches and limited resources. All this and near psychopathic NCO's doling out discipline via emotional and physical abuse. No wonder the legion Para's have such a tough reputation.Mr. Murray relays his resolve to us through his diary which was with him all the time. Obviously a very tough individual he never caved once to the brutality doled out by the legion NCO's for the slightest infringement of the rules. Towards the end of his mandatory five, Murray attended corporal school for a further four months of sadistic treatment and he finished on top. Such inner strength.The legion has changed somewhat with time but its mysticism and intrigue remain.A short epilogue brings us to Mr. Murray's sixtieth year and he relays a few reunions and chance encounters with his compatriots from his service days. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and was let down when it ended. Excellent.

Gripping insight of the elite French Foreign Legion by a young British mercenary describing primitive living conditions, rigorous training, brutal punishments, nationalistic cliques, risky deployments, hazardous patrols. Absorbing details achieve potent simpatico.

This is one of the most inspiring and entertaining books I have read. It follows the daily life , struggles , strains ,hardships and elite training of a volunteer English national Simon Murray in the French Foreign Legion. It is written in diary form . It begins in 1960 when he volunteers in the service of the Legion at the Chateau Vincennes, Paris, a place I visited in 2010. He passed the screening and was sent to train ,first in France then Algeria. Murray's five years can be summed up as constantly training and strife which built him physically and mentality , overcoming each hurdle becoming one of the best among the finest. He trained to be a private in the force, then the para regiment, followed by non commissioned officer preparation, finally demolition , guerrilla and survival . Each step was exhausting and brutal involving intense competition , fights with fellow Legionnaires. He saw combat in Algeria and was witness to the famous coup against De Gaulle in 1961. Towards the end he served faithfully and with honor, with the true esprit de corps. When I finished reading this book , it was like leaving an old friend. I highly recommend it.

This tale highlights the importance of spending time in the service when one is young. Murray has crafted a truly compelling tale.

I have seen Murray in an interview and my expectations for the book were fulfilled. Good read. It won't take long to read it all, but it is interesting.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this well written book.

Bra information

Un récit d une rare intensité sur la legion vue de l intérieur dans une époque compliquée. On sent dans l ecriture de ce grand homme une certaine finesse d esprit. Simon Murray a été décoré pendant ses années a la legion et aussi apres, puisqu il a reçu la Legion d Honneur.

Simon Murray, ein erfolgreicher Manager weltweit führender Unternehmen, begann seine Karriere in unorthodoxer Weise, als Soldat in der Fremdenlegion.Die ungeheueren Strapazen der Ausbildung in Algerien und der dazu nötige Durchhaltewillen, war sicherlich ein charakterprägendes Ereignis, welches ihm auf seinem späteren Lebensweg zugute kam.Als gebildeter Younster aus gutem Haus, entsprach er so gar nicht dem Bild eines hartgesottenen Legionärs, umso schwerer war es sich in der Gruppe seiner Kameraden durchzusetzen und gar deren Respekt zu erlagen. Ein sicherlich ebenfalls prägendes Element.Der Gang durch die fünf Jahre Dienstzeit, mit ihrer Brutalität in der Ausbildung, sowie im späteren Kriegseinsatz gegen die Befreiunsfront Algeriens, rufen Erschütterung und Bewunderung gleichermaßen hervor. Die Qualen von Hitze und Kälte, Narungsmangel und Erschöfpung, sowie Todesnähe sind hautnah spürbar.Diametral gegensätzlich dazu steht die Sinnlosigkeit des Kampfes für eine Kolonialmacht, welche letztlich, nach Jahren des Leids und vergossenen Blutes, das Land in die Unabhängigkeit entläßt.Diese Frage stellte sich auch der Autor und einige seiner Kameraden lösten die sich stellende Sinnfrage durch Desertion. Trotz wechselnder Gefühlsregungen erfüllte Murray den Treuepakt und vollendete seine Dienstzeit.Das Werk ist in Form eines Tagebuchs verfaßt und schildert die Ereignisse in fesselnder Erzählweise, die es dem Leser kaum ermöglicht das Buch beiseite zu legen. Die vordergründige Spannung der Erzählung läßt aber auch einen Blick auf das Gefühlsleben und den sich prägenden Charakter des Autors zu. Die Frage der Pflichterfüllung im Gegensatz zur Sinnlosigkeit eines aussichtslosen Krieges.