British Foreign Policy 1815-65

The Chasseurs d'Afrique (Hunters of Africa) were a light cavalry raised in 1830s from regular French cavalry. They were recruited from either French volunteers or from French settlers in North Africa. By 1939, there were 12 regiments of Chasseurs. They wore blue uniforms, earning themselves the nickname "Blue Butchers"

In addition to the Crimean War, the Chasseurs served in the Franco-Prussian War (1870-71), Indo-China, numerous campaigns in North Africa, France's invasion of Mexico and both World Wars.

The Chasseurs won their greatest fame by securing the flank of Lord Cardigan during the ill-fated Charge of the Light Brigade.

The Chasseurs were disbanded in 1962 with the coming of Algerian independence fro France. This terminated over a century of service.

I am grateful to Ian Henderson for correcting some basic errors of fact in this short piece.

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