Portal:Military history of France/Selected unit/10

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The Chasseurs d'Afrique (literally "Hunters of Africa" although "African Light Horse" would be an alternative translation) were a light cavalry corps in the French Armée d'Afrique (Army of Africa). First raised in the 1830s from regular French cavalry posted to Algeria, they numbered 5 regiments by World War II. For most of their history they were recruited from either French volunteers or French settlers in North African doing their military service. As such they were the mounted equivalent of the French Zouave infantry. The other major cavalry element in the Armee d' Afrique were the Spahis - recruited from the indigenous peoples of Algeria, Tunisia and Morocco with mostly French officers.

The Chasseurs d'Afrique were until 1914 clothed in light blue tunics tucked into a red sash and red breeches. Their normal headdress was the same light blue shako as the equivalent light cavalry regiments (hussars and chasseurs à cheval) of the metropolitan army but worn with a white or light khaki cover. Red fezs were worn off duty or when in barracks. The light blue tunics had yellow facings and reportedly earned them the nickname of "Blue Butchers" amongst some of their opponents. (More...)