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#1 |
Arms Historian
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Route 66
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In the study of North African edged weapons of the 19th-20th c. the spectrum of tribal arms varies and can in some cases be placed along with the presence and activity of the French colonial contingents, especially the French Foreign Legion.
I recall approaching this topic several years ago, and as might be expected, I was highly influenced by the novel "Beau Geste" by P.C.Wren (1924) and the numerous films made from the book. As an arms historian, I was interested in the types of weapons used by the Legion in its various conflicts. While the Legion of course used rifles of variously forms depending on locations and period. While the rifle was of course important, the Legionnaires bayonet was a prized possession, and in the case of "Beau Geste", the particular type bayonet in use in the presumed period of the novel, was the M1886 Lebel rifle epee bayonet. This form bayonet became key in the 1939 remake of the "Beau Geste" films, in the most important scene in the arrival at the fort where it seemed abandoned. At the parapets however, there were dead Legionnaires all propped up as if alive, and the commandant dead with one of these epee bayonets sticking out of his chest. These bayonets were affectionately called by the Legionnaires "Rosalie", as noted, prized to each man. Although the period of "Beau Geste" is in the years before WWI, probably 1910-14, the novel itself was based by material from other works which described events and the issues of life in the Foreign Legion in earlier years. This bayonet form had a 'starring role' in the drama of the film, but the elements of the novel were comprised from events, places and situations from many instances of earlier years. For example, the fort itself in the film, called Fort Zinderneuf, was fictional, and probably the name came from the city of Zinder, in the Air region of Niger, a prevalently Tuareg occupied area. In the film, the tribesmen who plagued the Legionnaires were Tuareg. Most Legion activity was to the north, in Algeria, and far to the north there was Kabylia, where the Kabyle tribes of the Berber confederation were their primary adversaries. To the west were Berber tribes of Morocco. While not heavily present in Morocco, the French did enter and occupy the border city of OUJDA in 1844 and in 1859. What comes to mind here, is there was probably one of the first Foreign Legion stories, "Under Two Flags", written by a British female author who used the pen name.......OUIDA. It does not seem that anybody ever associated her pen name with the city in Morocco , which coincidentally was a notably associated city in history of the Foreign Legion in the Sahara. The idea of this thread is to look into the Foreign Legion, and the weapons notably familiar that they would have seen. These weapon forms are traditional, probably mid 19th into early 20th century. first picture is a M1886 French Ledbel epee bayonet. With nickel hilt and the sword guard this is pre 1914, after that brass and no guard. the frame from the 1939 film "Beau Geste" with 'Rosalie' clearly seen. the novel.......P.C. Wren was often thought to have been in the Foreign Legion, but that has never been proven. the set for the movie, Fort Zinderneuf. the weapons: Top, a Taureg takouba Next, a Kabyle flyssa, northern Algeria then a Manding sword, primarily Mali, but moved in degree in accord with trade routes, controlled by the Manding. bottom the Rosalie M1886 Lebel rifle epee bayonet, with rarely accompanying leather frog holding steel bayonet case. Regarding OUIDA, the sensational lady author of what seems one of the first Foreign Legion books. By 1890, a popular novelty 'game' was the talking board, using a planchette to guide ones hand to letters on the board and at a seance. The medium asked by what name should this be called. ......the name spelled out O-U-I-J-A . Apparently visible to her was a locket with likeness of Ouida, the author, and her name below. The medium was Helen Peters Nosworthy, who was married to Elijah Bond, who partnered with Charles Kennard in 1891 and patented the OUIJA board. Last edited by Jim McDougall; Yesterday at 10:01 PM. |
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#2 |
Arms Historian
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Route 66
Posts: 10,570
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First: a takouba form with slightly curved SE blade, probably European so
falling into the takouba spectrum as 'aljuinar' (=curved) Moroccan sboula. Interestingly these often have been found using French bayonet blades, not of epee type but earlier sword types. Moroccan sa'if (nimcha) |
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