3e Zouves & Foch

[David Filsell]

This weekend I have been fortunate enough to buy a print of General Foch from an engraving by E Eshirer (?) at an antique fair which the dealer did not realise had been signed in ink by Ferdinand Foch. It cost £15.00 so has to be my bargain of the year.

The inscription reads "Au 3e Zouaves mon souvenir" and is signed "F Foch". I have compared the signature with that on a photograph of a presentation map in James Marshall-Cornwall's book "Foch" and have no doubts that it is genuine.

Can any of the experts out there provide an outline of 3rd Zouaves Great War service and advise if Foch had any particular interest/involvement with the regiment. Further was in common practice for Foch to make such presentations?

Any help much appreciated

[tintin1689]

Foch was not a member of any Army of Africa Regiment

The 3rd Zouaves was formed in 1852 when each of the three battalions of the 1st ( and sole) Zouaves (dating back to 1830) was made into a regiment as part of a general expansion in the Army of Africa. It was disbanded in 1962 when the independence of Algeria meant that it no longer had a recruiting area. The 4th Zouaves were raised in 1854 as Zouaves of the Imperial Guard. Higher numbered Zouave Regiments were raised in the world wars.

The home of the 3rd Zouaves was Constantine.

Zouave battalions are very hard to follow through the Great War.

During the late 19th Century the Zouave Regiments were expanded to five battalions each. 4 Bns in North Africa and one in France. 5th of the 3rd were at Lyons. Zouave reservists living in France formed a sixth battalion numbered 11th. The mobilisation scheme would be that one battalion would cross to Europe immediately, the reservists would be recalled and with the 5th Bn form a Regiment. The remaining three battalions would cross as a complete Regiment. 8 Regiments of Zouaves would be created, 2 Complete Zouave Divisions. This scheme sought to avoid the chaos of 1870 when Zouave reservists had to cross to Africa to join their units only to cross back again to the mobilisation station.

History, however, was to drive a coach and horses through this scheme. From 1907 France was involved in a substantial campaign in Morrocco.This involved, by July 1914, 9 out of 23 battalions.

3rd formed 3rd bis, as planned, but the other regiments did n't.New Zouave Regiments were created from available Regular and Reserve battalions.

Both Regiments served continuosly on the Western Front.

1914 - 900 3rd killed at Charleroi

1915 - 40 Officers and 1,800 Zouaves killed or wounded in the Champagne

1916 - 24/2 - 3rd Bis Zouaves wiped out at Verdun

Zouave units did not join the mutinies of 1917. 1919 to 1920 return to North Africa from occupation duties.

Zouaves served in Gallipoli, Bulgaria, Indo-China, North Africa and South Russia in Zouave Regiments, independent battalions of reservists and Mixed African Regiments with battalions of Algerian Tiralleurs

No.1 Company, 1st battalion, 1st Zouaves survive as an infantry demonstration unit in the Ardennes

[David Filsell]

Tintin

Very many thanks. Clearly this is an area on which there is little knowledge amongst forum users. So, I am particularly grateful for your reply. Very many thanks.

David