The Deserter- a Tale of the Foreign Legion
Wayne Turmel
The Foreign Legion has been celebrated in pop culture since the beginning of the 20th Century. While it has existed since the 1830s, it really burst into the consciousness of the English and American (and Canadian like me!) audiences with the publication of Beau Geste by PC Wren.
The story was so popular that it has been turned into movies at least 6 times, and authors like Theodore Roscoe flooded the pulp magazines with stories of heroic adventures in the Sahara. Certainly, it captivated me in my little British Columbia town. What’s not to like? Exotic settings. Troops of found family. A reputation for the Legion being a last chance at redemption for men whose past has caught up with them.
The truth, of course is less glamorous than the movies let on, but the Legion tropes are essentially true:
• When you join, you can (and most do) change your name. Who you were before you joined is irrelevant, and you are known by your anonymat. From this came the romantic tales of tortured aristocrats or wrongly accused men fleeing their pasts.
• We hear about men with no military experience “running away to join the Legion.” While that certainly happened, especially in times of war like Crimea or WW1, for the most part the legion was made up of experienced soldiers who had served in other armies. That made them a veteran, hard-bitten force and a tough fight for anyone.
• The Legion fought around the world in places as different as Algeria, Madagascar, Mexico and Vietnam. While they are still active today, primarily in sub-tropical Africa, when we think of the Foreign Legion, it’s the turn of the 20th century; Algeria and Morocco, blue coats, white kepis (that distinctive hat with the neck shade) and long rifles with bayonets.
The timing of The Deserter comes in 1908. It was a time of relative calm, but trouble was brewing. Native tribes, particularly the Tuaregs in the south and Berbers on the Moroccan border rose up from time to time. Behind the scenes, other nations were competing for African territory. In particular, Germany was trying to ingratiate themselves with the King of Morocco. They were actively encouraging Legionnaires to desert and hoped the Monarchy would appreciate their efforts to weaken the French colonial forces.
The Battle of Menhaba, outlined in the book, actually took place in the spring of 1908 and many of the commanding officers are named correctly. While it was considered a minor battle, it allowed me to show off a weapon that’s seldom spoken of: mules.
The movies will tell you that mounted forces rode splendid horses into battle. Actually, only officers rode horses. The men traveled by mule. These cantankerous, somewhat ugly animals drank less water, could carry more equipment or people, and their feet were suited for the stony desert ground. They might not have been glamorous or make for good cinema, but they got the job done, and contributed to the Legion moving across terrain unfamiliar to most Europeans.
In writing The Deserter, I’ve tried to hit on the tropes and details that made previous generations fall under the spell of writers like PC Wren, while acknowledging the realities of warfare, the psyches of wounded men, and the harsh realities of colonial aggression in a hostile land. Most important, I wrote it hoping people would enjoy a ripping story and complex, intriguing characters.
A Tale of the Foreign Legion
by Wayne Turmel
February 9th - 20th, 2026
Publication Date: January 15th, 2026
Publisher: Achis Press
Pages: 295
Genre: Historical Fiction / Historical Adventure
Algeria 1908.
Gil Vincente is a Boer War veteran, broken and adrift on the rough streets of Marseille. Desperate, he seeks discipline and renewed purpose in the unforgiving ranks of the French Foreign Legion. At first, he finds it, but not for long. When a treacherous soldier frames him for murder, it forces the new legionnaire to run for his life.
Now Gil must fight to clear his name while pursuing the real killer through the rugged Atlas Mountains. With the Legion on his heels and time running out, will he find justice or be forever branded a coward and deserter?
Praise for The Deserter:
'The Deserter evokes classic blood-and-sand adventures like Under Two Flags and Beau Geste. With meticulous research and compelling characters, Turmel has brought the desert saga back to thrilling life.'
~ Frank Thompson, author of The Compleate Beau Geste
'A two-fisted historical adventure that weaves visceral action, rugged landscapes, and raw emotional depth into a haunting tale of honor, betrayal, and the elusive hope of redemption.'
~ David Buzan, bestselling author of In the Lair of Legends
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Wayne Turmel
Wayne Turmel is a Canadian ex-pat now living and writing in Las Vegas. He’s the author of seven novels, the latest is The Deserter- a Tale of the Foreign Legion. His short stories have earned critical acclaim, including nominations for the prestigious Pushcart Prize. Turmel's longer works delve into the rich tapestries of history and the thrilling depths of urban fantasy, inviting readers into meticulously crafted worlds. At times humorous, sometimes dark but always with a careful eye for dialogue and detail. He lives with his wife, The Duchess, and Mad Max, most manly of poodles.
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