Colonial Troops : Marsouins and Bigors Colonial Troops : Marsouins and Bigors
There is also the Marine Gunners. We call them "Bigors". Where's that name from ?
Generally, we think that sailor used to call their comrades like that the day they left the service aboard to be in charge of batteries in harbors. So, stuck to their rocks, Marine Artillery men became like "Bigorneaux" or winkles. Somme others have a different explanation based on the order "Bigue dehors !", preceding the under deck guns positioning and firing.
Marsouins and Bigors are to-day part of the Marine-Corps, which role evolved a lot since overseas colonies independence process. Some time ago, in Indochina or Algeria, and yesterday, Chad, Lebanon, an to-day Cambodia,
ex-Yugoslavia, French Marines carry on to fight and die "to give Long Live to France".
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- French Marine Corps Traditions -
It has been officially adopted as regular Insignia in the 19th century, under the pressure of Marsouins and Bigors, who were prizing it so much and who persuade the High Commandment to make it as regular Corps badge. . .
 | . FMC is the only one to have is its own pattern in the French Army. You can find it on books about FMC, military vehicles in overseas area or in operation theatres where FMC is engaged. |
The KepiIt is handed to young enlisted men during a ceremony. It is worn by Officers when no other head-gear is prescripted. It wears the anchor, sign of the Corps. It must be respected. Its colors is dark-blue (and not black)
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(°) "Blue Division" - Why blue ? Because, being attached to the Admiralty all personel were was wearing a blue uniform (Navy) and those depending on the War Office were wearing more colored uniforms.
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- OFFICIAL STORY OF THE BAZEILLES BATTLE - To take part in battles, Marsouins and Bigors are for the first time in their history gathered in a unique Division, the Marine Division, also called the Blue Division.
Under Gen. Vassoigne commandment, this Division is composed of two Brigades:
First Brigade, Gen.
Reboul, made of the 1st Marine Regiment from Cherbourg and the 4th Marine Regiment from Toulon;
Second Brigade Gen. Martin des Pallières, made of the 2nd Marine Regiment from Brest and the 3rd Marine Regiment from Rochefort. The 1st Marine Artillery Regiment from Lorient backing up with 3 batteries
The Blue Division is part of the 11th Army Corps assigned to the Mac Mahon's Army. Gathered in the Chalons Camp, the Division, during the second part of August, will attempt to make a junction with the Bazaine Army besieged in Metz.
The August 30th, after six days of exhausting marches forward and retreats, one of our Army Corps was caught out in Beaumont, the 1st Brigade, Gen. Reboul, must intervene to extricate this Army Corps. The operation was a success.
The day after, August 31, around mid-day, it is the second brigade which is ordered to take Bazeilles just occupied by the ennemy.
Gen. Martin des Pallières moves his troop. The ennemy is pushed back, but its superiority in men and artillery means, allows him, by multiplying assaults, to gain ground again. Fighting is harsh, losses are high on both sides; Gen Martin des Paillieres is wounded and the village in on fire.
Around 4 o'clock in the afternoon, ours are only holding the nothern edge of the village. When, Brigade Gen. Reboul kept until now in reserve, is engaged and, before night, Bazeilles is completely taken up again, and always by furious fights.
We organise for the night. Only one sentinel detachement, under the command of Major Lambert, Deputy Head of the Division Headquarter, will keep the place. Major Lambert, gessing that the ennemy, strongly reinforced during the night, will come in force, sets a trap.
When, September 1st at dawn, Bavarians begin to enter the village, they guessed that it has been abandoned during the night. A vigorous counter-attack, lead by 150 Marsouins, surprises them and make them retreat. We are again, and for the third time, controlling Bazeilles.
When suddlendly, the unexpected happens. Gen. Ducrot, who just replace Mac Mahon who was wounded, wants to muster his army and sends the orders to leave Bazeilles.
What the enemy never achived, the discipline did : Bazeilles is abandoned. But Gen. De Wimpfen, with in his hands a letter from the H.Q., claims the command and order that the place must be reinvested.
We must take Bazeilles again, now occupied by Bavarians. Gen. De Vassoigne doesn't hesitate and his Division takes the village for the Fourth time, in spite of a vigourous enemy defense.
The 1st Bavarian Army Corps, reinforced by an extra division, and backed-up by a huge artillery, attacks again with a combination of encircling maneuvers while in the village fires are spreading.
Fighting at one against ten, Marsouins, in spite of a heavy shelling, fires burning and choking them, defend inch by inch every street, every house, every ruin. They lose ground very slowly and they got a heavy toll of the enemy. But their losses are also heavy, and worse, ammunitions are starting to get short.
Gen. de Vassoigne, always very calm, considers his mission as accomplished, and that Marines have reached the extreme limit of duty and that he was no right to leave such a troop, able to serve in the future, to be massacred. Around noon, he orders the retreat.
Nevertheless, Gen. De Wimpfen wants to make a break-through to the east. To do so, around 16:00, he asks for Gen. de Vassoigne, and both, sword in hand are leading the Division remaining.
Balan is almost totally taken, when an order from the Emperor, says to lay down arms. The Blue Division lost 2,655 men, but the enemy more than the double.
