Paul Gardy was Général de brigade of the French Army and Commandant of the Foreign Legion in 1951 and 1958. Military career Saint-Cyrien of the 108th promotion ("du Souvenir" - "of Memory" promotion), sous-lieutenant Gardy, graduated Saint-Cyr in 1923, passed a year of application at Saumur, then joined the 8th Hussards Regiment (). Promoted to lieutenant, he was designated for the Levant in September 1925 and was assigned at his request, to the 4th squadron of the 1st Foreign Cavalry Regiment 1er REC, with whom he took part to the columns of Hermon (). He distinguished himself notably during mounting the defensive of the citadel of Rashaya. Wounded twice, he was cited at the orders of the armed forces and evacuated. Assigned temporarily at the 12th Cuirassiers Regiment (), he returned in 1926 to the 1st squadron of the 1st Foreign Cavalry Regiment 1e REC, in the region of Euphrate. With his unit, he was sent to Bou Denib in Morocco in 1927, then to Sousse in Tunisia in August 1928. In June 1929, lieutenant Gardy passed to the 3rd squadron with whom he redeployed to Morocco, Rich circle (). He was later detached to the 37th Aviation Regiment (), at the squadron of Ouarzazate, with whom he operated in Central Atlas, Sagho and Draa. he obtained two citations and was made a chevalier of the Légion d'honneur. In 1931, he was assigned to the 1st African Chasseur Regiment (), then to the 3rd Hussards. In 1932–1933, he pursued the course of an instructor lieutenant at Saumur, then joined the 1st Foreign Cavalry Regiment 1er REC at Sousse in October 1933, where he assumed the command of the 1st squadron. Captain in October 1934, he left the 1st Foreign Cavalry Regiment 1er REC in 1938 to join the war school () after a short passage at the 2nd Mounted Dragoon Battalion (). He took part in the campaign of 1939–1940 at the general staff headquarters of the 20th Infantry Division (), where he received a citation in June 1940. He joined quickly North Africa where he was assigned to the 4th Tunisian Saphis Regiment (). Chef d'escadron in June 1941, he commanded the second squadron group of this regiment and took part to the campaign in Tunisia where he was cited at the orders of the armed forces. He was then designated as chief of the bureau of the 1re