Marching with the Devil: Legends, Glory and Lies in the French Foreign Legion

Hachette Military Collection

by David Mason

David Mason graduated from the Australian National University with a law degree and an honours degree. Like those around him, he could easily have settled for a life of share portfolios, good suits, new cars and big houses. But David wanted more ? he wanted a challenge, an adventure, something beyond the ordinary that would test him physically and mentally. He looked around to see what he could do. Working in an open-cut mine . . . done that. Running a marathon . . . hmm, not hard enough. Climbing Everest . . . maybe? Joining the French Foreign Legion . . . perfect! MARCHING WITH THE DEVIL is the gripping true story of what happened when an Australian lawyer left his comfortable existence and joined the legendary French Foreign Legion. He stayed for five years and served time in the elite Parachute Regiments. With the motto `March or Die?, the legion has a history of pain, grief and glory. David Mason takes us behind the myth to reveal exactly what happens: the adventure, the danger, the drinking, the fighting and the lies that sustain the legend.

Genres: War, Nonfiction, Autobiography, Biography

412 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 27, 2011

About the author

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Reviews

[Arthur Rowlands · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, I finished this book last week and it's still resonating with me. There is something about it - maybe the mood - that has gotten under my skin. Sure, there are plenty of books about the French Foreign Legion but none that are like this. Others I have read are a more like a journalist's approach. That is - I went there and I did this and saw that.

Mason's book is a whole lot more. It is really a reflection on what it is like to be there. It's a lot more than the facts - it's about how he feels. Yes, it is dark in places. But what gets me as a former soldier is that he captures the "feeling" of being a soldier, of removal from the world in which you are a citizen, to one (the Legion) in which you have become a subject and subject to the capricious forces of Non-Coms who rule every part of your life.

OK, Mason is smart and he is not all that happy with what he sees around him. But, to give his credit, he does have courage and he does not give up. And another thing, Mason can write. The description and how he felt about the baby named Abdou "at the quiet, dark end" of the nursery, left to die of AIDS left me with tears in my eyes.

Bottom line is that if you are thinking about joining any army – and particularly the French Foreign Legion, you should read this book. There are a lot of “Legion books” out there, but this one is, for me, the best. It’s got feeling, guts and hope.

[Gary Daly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Excellent read. A five year page turner providing those of us who at one time or another may have considered joining the French Foreign Legion. It takes certain personality types and in my case (I did not join but only considered the FFL) a naive but adventurous worldview. Instead I joined the Australian Army in 1989 and served 4 years including a short term of duty in Iraq 1991. Mason, joined the FFL in 1988 and when I read his story I vividly recalled how I felt about the need to ‘do’ something more with my life. From his story I get the idea that Mason at the very least was a confident, strong a somewhat tough dude. He managed to successfully overcome the rite of passage, he took no shit! In that he could bash the fuck out of the lunatics and sadists he came into contact with during his five year FFL contract. The Australian Army of 1989-1993 was not as masochistic or as sadistic as the FFL, however the machismo and brutality of men in the lines (barracks) was a daily challenge soldiers faced. The amount of violence, bashing and sadistic behaviour in Mason’s FFL was not that different from the Australian Army, other than a soldier’s democratic and civil protection in most cases of violence. I’m not sure how the FFL or the Australian Army culture is now after more than 25 years (I can’t see the culture changing much). War and active duty require soldiers with the ability to fight and kill and maim be it a designated enemy or amongst the troops themselves. I served in Iraq in 1991, it was intense and violent, however Mason points out that much of the madness and violence occurs between the soldiers/troops trapped in the boring, banal and intense nothingness of the peacetime military. Great book, interesting and thought provoking read.

[Jonathan · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of my guilty pleasures is reading French Foreign Legion memoirs from those men who have marched with the storied institution as I never will. These memoirs range from the phenomenal, such as Simon Murray's "Legionnaire," to the abysmal like Jamie Salazar's "Legion of the Lost." Most languish in the lower middle of these extremes and sadly "Marching with the Devil" is no different. David Mason is a talented writer, and unlike some memoirs (such as the aforementioned Salazar) I do believe everything he wrote actually happened. But there's the rub, not much happened which would really necessitate an entire memoir. Mason set out to write a raw and true account of what life in the FFL is really like, with all of the mystery, legend, and romance stripped away. All very commendable until you realize this is just a long gripe session from a legionnaire disappointed that his dreams of Beau Geste turned out to be just that. Dreams. Mason seems to have deluded himself into believing the modern (or even the past) Legion is viewed as anything more than an expendable military asset France can use to maintain a shadow empire in Africa without upsetting the citizenry from prolonged overseas adventures. I don't begrudge him his gripes, his experience and frustrations certainly warranted them, I just don't think they're worth a whole book. Perhaps weaving his experience with the FFL into a greater biography of his life would have worked better. By the brief mentions he makes in the postscript and acknowledgments he's had incredible experiences as an outdoorsman and later in Iraq/Afghanistan. Why he just zeroed in on the FFL is puzzling.
Also, his self-righteous tone and air of superiority wears thin by the end. Constantly hearing how he would have done things differently and more efficiently, or how much better the British are at everything quickly grows old. Mason has a strong distaste for the French (leaving the reader puzzled why then he had such a strong desire to serve in their military) and loathes Eastern Europeans, Poles in particular. You can count on one hand the positive mentions he makes of any Frenchman. Zero for those legionnaires coming out of the collapsing Soviet empire whose motivations and experiences are vastly different than his own. He also goes out of his way to praise himself, several times, for not beating any prostitutes in Djibouti and not getting an STD for his steadfast use of condoms. Uh, good work?
Overall this is a middling memoir of one mans time in the FFL. Mason is a talented writer and brutally honest about his time under contract. However the combination of making the reader really feel the boredom he felt, while simultaneously singing his own attributes above all others makes this more of a slog than enjoyable.

[Nick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Disappointing, but also brutally honest.
This book really does a good job at dispelling the myth of La Légion while not reeking of resentment.
This Aussie's story goes day to day about his experiences and the monotony and madness present in this reclusive fighting force.

Incompetence, corruption, abuse, and a lack of responsibility plague the ranks of the military force largely comprised of hungry rejects from around the world. The ideals of Fraternite et honneur, are simply illusions, with men sticking to their relative ethnic "mobs" for self protection and friendship, and mobilizing "Je m'en fou" (I don't give a fuck) within the ranks. A reason I think for this decline of the ranks, is the lack of any sort of real war going on, and also the lack of professional emigrees into the Légion who seek more than just a pension and hot meal (Author was in the Légion in the early 90s).

Although the Légion seems disappointing, it is nonetheless a challenge for dangerous and adventurous men, and the author says "Je ne regrette rien" (I regret nothing). Although it was not the romantic drama he envisioned, he learned much about the depths of human nature, and his own capacity and endurance.

In the future, I think, when a flux of new legionnaires and competent officiers flood the ranks once more (like post ww2) the Legion will reach greater heights. The recent data of a massive pool of volunteers over the last few years is also a very good sign. That even though the Légion in the last 30 years has degraded, there is chance for reversal as new young idealists and war-seekers in our sphere may congregate in exile and adventure in the future.

We still dream. I still dream. This book has not swayed me from the Allure. Love and challenge must be pursued, no matter their uncertainties.

[eryk · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting, straight-forward account of one Australian's experience in the Légion étrangère. He served in France and Djibouti during the late 1980s and early 1990s, a time portrayed in other autobiographies of former légionnaires as one of the low-periods in the modern history of the Legion, characterized by indifferent officers, screaming, hysterical corporals, pointlessly brutal physical discipline, poor training, low morale, drunkenness, licentiousness, STDs, desertions and the only real war they fought was man against man, a life poor, nasty and brutish (Hobbes). Not a life of quiet desperation, but of violent desperation, young men desperate for some kind of validation never granted.

When asked by an officer, at the end of his 5-year contract, if he had enjoyed his time in the Légion étrangère, Mr. Mason simply answers, "Non!", having found himself, by his own choice, in a situation where he had to fight various temptations, including desertion, without ever really having been given the chance to prove himself as a soldier. Instead of fighting for France, he had to fight to hold on to his humanity. He might have lost a few battles, but in the end he won the war. That is the only war left for any of us to fight in this day and age, both men and women, but especially young men.

[AJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Most definitely a good read.

Dave is always good with a tale too. I met Dave back in the 80's when posted to an ARES unit in Canberra, when he was an ARES Corporal in the Sydney Uni Regt.

How authentic is it - who knows?

Dave's recollections would seem to be somewhat different to another Aussie who served in FFL - a Brisbane man called Brian Smith, who deserted after 2 years and later in life went back and was given full amnesty. Brian deserted 2 years into his 5 years, because his dad was dying. Brian speaks highly of his time in FFL Brian was also became an ARES officer serving in Infantry, like Dave.

For me, 40+ years Army from 1977- ARA and ARES and I have good and mixed experiences - served with some great people and have no regrets. It was most definitely alot tougher back in the 1970s and especially as an OR, we had such a large number of Vietnam vets serving, Malaya-Borneo vets plus Korean vets and hard to believe a few WW2 vets at least until 1982. All good when ECN 343. I found such solid types excellent during my rapid promotions through the ranks before going through OCS.

Having said all that, I take Dave's account at face value and recommend his book. Well done mate.

[C.MOSLEY · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best ever book on the legion

One of the best books I have read on the legion, its a page Turner . Well done David Mason

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book, certainly an eye opener for anyone rash enough to think about of joining.

[Peter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fabulous book to read, highly recommend

[Leonie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Biography, True Story, Memoir, Warfare & Defence, Land Forces & Warfare, Irregular or Guerrilla Forces & Warfare, Military History


'In 1894 a French Foreign Legion General said, "Legionnaires, vous etes faits pour mourir, je vous envoie la ou on meurt." Legionnaires, you are made for dying, I will send you where you can die. When I was in my mid-teens and first read those words they were powerful and confronting. I read them as a challenge and an invitation. The words, and the feelings they evoked, remained with me until I was ready. On 20 May 1988, I enlisted in the French Foreign Legion.'

Based on his diaries, this is a frank account of how Mason came first in basic training, trained other Legionnaires, went to Africa, did sniper, commando and medic's training and took part in two operations, both in the Republic of Djibouti where a civil war nearly crippled the nation. It tells of his daily life in the Legion, in the training regiment, in Africa and with the Legion's Parachute Regiment. But more than this: David's gripping account reveals his disillusionment, frustration and disappointments, and how the Legion today is not what it seems.



Moved along at a good pace.

[Abby Green · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed this although it was a little hard to keep up with all the different members of the hierarchy etc. It was a compelling account of life as a Legionnaire and a study into why one might want to join the Foreign Legion. By the end though, the author was disillusioned and paints quite a bleak picture of life in the Legion and maintains that it's very different to the Legion of the myths and legends. You have to wonder how much of this bias is his own negativity for whatever reasons, or how much is accurate?
I read this for research and it would make me want to read more for a more balanced viewpoint.

[John Davies · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting insight to what it means to join and serve in the Legion. An Aussie lawyer looking for an extreme adventure decided the Legion was what he was looking for. His story is interesting and at the same time, disappointing, as he shows life in the Legion isn't all it's cracked up to be. They may be elite troops, but from reading this book, it sounds like the standards are slipping, and unless you are French, you'd be better off avoiding joining.

[Peter Stuart · Rating 4 out of 5]

The realization of one mans dream and the reality of what he found in an iconic organization. Australian perspective on the ffl. Well worth a read.

[J.D · Rating 3 out of 5]

Memoir on hating life.