"Patriam servando victoriam tullit"
The 1st Marine Infantry Regiment is a French regiment heir to the Heir of the "compagnies franches de la mer" created in 1622 by Richelieu, the 1st RIMa was created by royal decree in 1822 within the navy. Became 1st colonial infantry regiment in 1900 when the colonial infantry was created within the Ministry of War, it took the name RIMa in 1958, when the colonial infantry became again marine infantry.
He is heir to the traditions of the 1st Division of Free France and the Pacific Battalion which covered itself with glory in Tobruk and Bir Hakeim.
Garrisons and commanding officers
Established in Granville and Dinan from 1963 to 1978, then in Granville and Saint-Lô, he was part of the 9th Brigade then 9th DIMa then 9th BLBMa. Since 1984, the regiment has been stationed in Angoulême.
Features
The two most famous battles of the regiment are obviously Bazeilles and Bir Hakeim. The regiment also participated in battles of great historical importance:the capture of Son Tay, Puebla, the fort of Bomarsund.
Its flag bears the following fourteen inscriptions which recall the glorious campaigns in which it was engaged:BOMARSUND 1854, FORTS DU PEI-HO 1860, KI-HOA 1861, PUEBLA 1863, BAZEILLES 1870, SONTAY 1883, LA MARNE 1914, CHAMPAGNE 1915, DOBROPOLJE 1918, TOBROUK 1941, BIR-HAKEIM 1942, GARIGLIANO 1944, BELFORT 1944, AUTHION 1945.
Decorations
* Legion of Honor;
* Croix de guerre 14-18 with 2 palms (fourragère in the colors of the Croix de guerre 14-18);
* War Cross 39-45 with 1 palm;
The regiment's current motto is "Patriam servando victoriam tullit", which means "By serving the fatherland he won the victory - which is also the motto of the Order of Liberation. Its former motto is they don't know where fate leads them, only death stops them