french short lived company volunteers bush war numbering men peak unique history exclusively unit existed november company 1st battalion served counter tours operation hurricane today bush war augmented ranks foreign volunteers accepted regular regiments pay conditions service locals foreign recruits enlisted launched overseas recruitment programme required successful applicants speak good english army attempted alleviate strain troops late recruiting french speakers formed designated company regiment regiment independent companies unit company men mixture french foreign young trouble start integrating forces unsettled respective ranks given attempt raise morale create strong corps army issued backed french allowed raise flag france alongside morning apparently impression signed highly paid mercenaries french returned home bush trip unhappy received money regular soldier operations performance generally par involved successful actions february early march oppressive treatment black villagers encountered unpopular operational area quickly deemed experiment failure following series disasters company second tour including friendly fire incidents fatalities disbanded forces led members later month executed coup état french south african governmental support background following dispute british government terms granting independence predominantly white minority government self governing colony led declared independence november britain united_nations refused recognise imposed economic sanctions country prominent communist backed black nationalist groups african people union respective guerrilla armies called second goal government introducing black majority rule bush war result beginning earnest december attacked farms near centenary country north east launched operation hurricane response fought strongly reducing number active country december period october november killed nationalist fighters previous years combined south african security forces respected insurgents ignored helped nationalists win ground operating times number training abroad local men included foreign volunteers integrated regular units salary conditions service foreigners served commando battalion glamorous international reputation initiated major overseas recruitment drive targeting potential volunteers europe oceania americas requiring successful applicants speak good english campaign bearing considerable fruit largest intake included foreign volunteers enlisting men overseas increase foreigners forces remained stretched low manpower formation training idea unit came french national business interests connections proposed major general second command visiting france relayed idea general staff salisbury decided late form french battalion alleviate strain regular units officer french extraction warned superiors strongly scheme ultimately sent france start project way stopped switzerland gave final approval operation budget resolved recruit mainly paris bernard entered france renewed old connections french military academy saint recruitment carried french operating apartment central paris advertisements placed newspapers offered job future abroad minimum age non commissioned officers preferred body men eventually assembled varied widely terms age background experience based largely foreign average age french speaking veterans assortment african middle eastern conflicts spanning previous decades successfully applied past service prove necessity men accepted military experience spoke english basic level signed man instructed travel switzerland appropriate swiftly south african embassy early november french recruits flew south african liner salisbury waiting men leaders major officer crack 11th shock parachute regiment officer president guard major non commissioned officer 2nd parachute regiment beneath captain black officer regular unit second command colonel infamous french soldier fortune nicknamed dog war according anonymous veteran unit comprised recently discharged servicemen french forces having trouble adapting civilian life didn know jump parachute obey orders explained liked kind thing said members political far right joined kill blacks criminals hoping escape attention french police signed years french speaking unit placed regiment independent company independent company sought forge strong corps new recruits end extended sentimental example morale rose informed insignia backed french similar vein request permission raise flag france alongside outside headquarters morning approved french speaking men army attached unit act assist coordination tactical instruction virtue upbringing spoke english french native like level company numbered men assigned headquarters near salisbury barracks home organised manner standard independent company exception exclusively personnel spirits high unit brief training period men enjoyed playing sports observing country scenery experiencing night life nearby capital adequately trained receiving basic medical examination days fitness training explanation proper conduct bush expressed surprise instructed paint stripes camouflage green weapons combat boots fashion having heard practice morale came week volunteers issued ranks eyes french speaking soldiers ranks assigned appeared chosen random superiors reflect actual respective levels training ability experience men considered overlooked began problems discipline attitude company soldiers strongly commanders high standards presentation dress little meet service bush trip company deployed barracks late november sent kilometres north east salisbury days bush operation hurricane army operational area covered north east guerrilla activity passed major incident camp tribal trust lands near kilometres north east capital kilometres border insurgents area belonged company men stationed advised team intelligence officers sticks men gunner sent bush periods weeks equipped radio communicate base task action seek means patrolling operating observation listening posts group insurgents spotted stick leader report positions alert army request available arrive engage stick field handle situation men sent sticks mixed problems soon arose proper language barrier sent prominently flying french flag issue language resolved remained discretion paramount observe enemy movements effectively men found difficulty maintaining mistakes revealing presence investigations local marked tension soon arose local black population soldiers ignorance english difficult discussions place according units came contact french soldiers took frustration villagers excessive force attempted police station received report man young dense act according history indicated received instruction black people regarded terrorists quickly deemed french experiment failure reassigned late november small settlement east minor police station number patrols embark reduced company vehicles ambushed january resulting men injured fatally week later truck surprised bush road resulting death casualties company brought bush days later rest salisbury strike day rest periods company men belgian owned centre city corner causeway road seriously received salary having apparently wages month french surprised find basic monthly pay actually regular soldier upset paid dollars country international isolation easily exchanged foreign expecting veteran unit admitted tax exempt wage came special unit supplement money live comfortably salisbury time pay dispute split unit thirds went strike saying return action army wages paid foreign currency steps remain permanently buying cars having wives join salisbury army detained strike willing army refused extra pay special treatment saying policy engage mercenaries men repatriated france request considered disbanding unit altogether convinced superiors remaining men loyal eager continue serving second bush trip dissolution starting february spent half week major army base company acquitted time number badly injured motor accident returned camp manned guarded group coloured indian soldiers february spotted group seven local called men arrived killed seven including carrying detailed documents day observed entering time took long arrive french company took large contact march fighting alongside insurgents killed contact loss soon sticks led deputy intelligence officer began sending regular night patrols following months disaster locally based forces stick fired causing injury hit killing members french company died ambush insurgents friendly fire incident april resulted fatality occasions bush trip area frozen regular army units confined camps scouts operated morale bringing unit close collapse officers worked company longer placed detention barracks unit formally dissolved personnel retained army returned units legacy supported french south african governments logistical assistance forces led took coup état power years earlier subsequently key location operations providing convenient end user certificate clandestine shipments weapons equipment bound spite south_africa arms boycott received war similar fashion men civilians foreign executed april despite late plea french authorities having found guilty murdering café owner minister issued statement execution murder unrelated earlier service mercenaries time smith regime
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