French Foreign Legion 1st Mounted Saharan Company pocket badge

On November 1, 1940, the Automobile Company of the 1st Foreign Infantry Regiment (1er REI) became an autonomous unit, designated as the Mounted Saharan Company of the Legion (French: Compagnie Saharienne Portée de la Légion (CSPL)). The company first garrisoned at Tabelbala then Aïn Sefra from March 1944.

On March 15, 1946, the company formed two new companies being the 1st Mounted Saharan Company of the Legion (1reCSPL) and the 2nd Mounted Saharan Company of the Legion (2eCSPL). The 1st Mounted Saharan Company of the Legion (1re CSPL) garrisoned at Fort-Flatters in 1955 then at Ksar El Hirane in 1960. On January 1, 1961, the 1st Mounted Saharan Company of the Legion (French: 1re Compagnie Saharienne Portée de la Légion, 1re CSPL) became the 1st Mounted Saharan Squadron of the Foreign Legion (French: 1er Escadron Saharien Porté de la Légion Etrangère, 1er ESPLE).