1st Marine Infantry Regiment
The 1st Marine Infantry Regiment () is a French regiment heir of the colonial infantry. The regiment is one of the « quatre vieux » regiments of the Troupes de Marine, with the 2nd Marine Infantry Regiment 2 RIMa, the 3rd Marine Infantry Regiment 3 RIMa, as well the 4th Marine Infantry Regiment 4 RIMa (dissolved in 1998). Along with the 1st Marine Artillery Regiment 1 RAMa and the 2nd Marine Artillery Regiment 2 RAMa, the 1st Marine formed the Blue Division. The 1 RIMa is a light armoured unit, since 1986, alike with the régiment d'infanterie-chars de  marine RICM. Creating and different nominations. Heir to the Compagnie Ordinaire de la Mer created in 1622 by Richelieu, the 1 RIMa was created by a Royal Decree in 1822 at the corps of the French Naval Ministry (). This regiment was part of the « Quatre Grands » of the marine infantry which held garrison in the military ports ready to embark : the « Grand Un », le « Grand Deux », the « Grand Trois » and the « Grand Quatre ». Designated as the 1st Colonial Infantry Regiment 1 RIC in 1900 at the creation of the colonial infantry at the corps of the Ministry of War (), the  regiment was redesignated as RIMa in 1958, when the colonial infantry was redesignated as marine infantry. The evolution nomination of the corps: The regiment is heir to the 1st Free French Division and the battalion of the Pacific which combat engaged at Bir Hakeim. The Marine Infantry and Pacific Battalion () was issued from the merger, in July 1942, of the 1st Marine Infantry Battalion () and the Pacific Battalion (). History. 1815 to 1848. In 1846, elements of the 1 RIMa were at Tahiti. The regiment was present in the battle of Fatahua (inscribed on the regimental colors of the 2 RIMa ) of December 17, 1846 (3rd Company, Captain Masset). On August 17, 1870, the 1st Marching Marine Infantry Regiment was part of the Armée de Châlons (1870) () of Marshal de MacMahon. 1870 to 1914. During the Paris Commune in 1871, the regiment participated with the Armée Versaillaise. In 1914, at the eve of the great war: the 2, 3, 7 and 1 RIC, were part of the 1st brigade under the orders of général Montignault, the 3rd colonial infantry division under the orders of général Raffanel. World War I. Attachments. The 3 DIC : Generals Raffanel, Leblond, Goulet (1914), Gadel (1915), Puypéroux  (1916–1918). Engaged in the same sectors as the 2nd Colonial Infantry Division 2 DIC (4, 8, 24 R.I.C), to the first battle of Champagne (Ville-sur-Tourbe) and the second battle of Champaign (Ville-sur-Tourbe and Massiges). In 1916, in the first Battle of the Somme: Becquincourt, Dompierre, Assevilliers, Flaucourt, Belloy-en-Santerre (juillet), Villers-Carbonnel, Barlaux (end of July). February 1916 – November 1918 : 17th Colonial Infantry Division, 17 D.I.C In 1917, to second battle of Aisne: Bois de Mortier, Mont de Singes (April–May). In 1918, at the fourth battle of Champagne: Montagne de Reims; the second battle  of the Marne (July–September), to the battle of Serre (October). World War II. Mobilization of coloniales troupes in 1939–1940. On May 10, 1940, the 1st Colonial Infantry Regiment was under the command of colonel Fauchon and part of the 3rd Colonial Infantry Division which reinforced the sector of Montmédy. The 3rd Colonial Division, général Falvy, consisted of the 1st, 21, 23 R.I.C and 3 and 203 R.A.C. The 3rd Colonial Division disappeared. The division immediately engaged the theatre, in the sector of Sun-sur-Meuse, Stenay, Martincourt, Aviot, Breux north of Verdun, at the level of cote 304 and  Mort Homme, lieu of harsh combats in 1916–1917, where combats concentrated. On June 14, the 1 and 23 RIC were engaged in the ravine which separated cote 304 from Mort Homme. At 0630, the cote was crowned, despite a relentless resistance, the armoured contingents crossed the bridge of Bethoncout in direction of Esnes. The bridge was blown-up in the evening and redressed in the same night. The 1st company of the 1 RIC of captain Bertrand counter-attacked. At 17 hours, attacks were ceased. At 19 hours, the French Marines () gave their part to other engagements. Combats of free  France. The regiment was made compagnon de la Libération, June 28, 1945. 1945 to present. The regiment was found in A.F.N from 1952 to 1962. Garrisoned in several places, the regiment was part of the 9th Brigade, then 9 DIMa, then 9 BLBMa. The regiment was deployed to Lebanon at the corps of the Multinational Force in Lebanon in 1983, then United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon UNIFIL in 1984. In July 2009, the regiment joined the 3rd Mechanised Brigade which became designated in March 2014 as 3rd Light Armoured Brigade. The regiment has participated in all major operations of  the French Army (Lebanon, Bosnia, Kosovo, Chad, Côte d'Ivoire, Central African Republic, Afghanistan). In 2010 members of the regiment were deployed in Guadeloupe and Djibouti or in operations in Kosovo and Afghanistan. Traditions. The anniversary is celebrated for combats in Bazeilles, the village which was apprehended and abandoned four consecutive times under orders, respectively on August 31 and September 1, 1870. " In the Name of God, vive la coloniale !" The Marsouins and the Bigors have for Saint, God. This war calling concludes intimate ceremonies which part life in the regiments. Often also at origin as an act of grace to  Charles de Foucauld. Decorations. The regimental colors are decorated with: Fourragère: