Operation ORYX (Somalia) de la 13 DBLE insigne
13 DBLE Operation ORYX badges.
Operation Oryx was a French humanitarian military operation carried out in Somalia in 1992 to support the UN peacekeeping force there. The first legionnaires to arrive in Somalia were the 3e Cie 2e REP who arrived in Mogadishu on the 9th December. On the 25th December 400 legionnaires from the 13 DBLE arrived from Djibouti under the command of Colonel Perez. The unit formed Bravo battalion and was composed of a Command and support unit, 3rd Company, a light support company (CEA) which was created for the mission and combat and works company.
The badge was created in April 1993 and made by J Balme Saumur with 600 numbered examples and 100 silver numbered examples for officers and NCOs.
Thanks to Andi Mitchell for the information