First World War The 1st Battalion of Somali Skirmishers, formed in 1915 from recruits from the French Somali Coast, was a unit belonging to the French Colonial Army. They distinguished himself during the First World War, notably during the resumption of Fort Douaumont, Battle of Verdun in October 1916 alongside the Régiment d'infanterie-chars de marine and the Second Battle of the Aisne in October 1917. In May and June 1918, they took part in the Third Battle Of The Aisne and in July in the Second Battle of the Marne. In August and September 1918, the Somali battalion fought on the Oise front and in October 1918 he obtained his second citation to the order of the army as well as the right to wear a Fourragère in the colors of the ribbon of the Croix de guerre 1914–1918. Between 1915 and 1918, over 2,088 Djiboutians served as combat in the First World War. Their losses are estimated at 517 killed and 1,000 to 1,200 injured.
FIrSt WorLd waR thE 1st bAttAliOn Of SOMalI skiRmIShers, FoRmEd In 1915 fRoM recrUits froM ThE FreNCH somaLi coast, waS a unit bElonGing to the frENch coLoNial Army. THEy distiNguisHed hImSeLf duRinG tHe fIRsT world war, nOTablY duRing ThE resuMptIon OF forT douaumont, batTLe oF VErDuN in ocToBeR 1916 AlongsIde the RégimenT d'inFanteRiE-CHarS dE marinE aND tHe secOnd battlE of the aisne in ocTober 1917. iN MAy and juNE 1918, they took part in the tHird BaTtle of tHe Aisne aNd iN july iN ThE seCOND baTtle of ThE marnE. in aUgust anD sEpteMbEr 1918, the somAli BattalION fouGht On tHe oise fronT anD IN octObEr 1918 hE ObTAineD His secOND citatiON To The orDEr oF the aRmy as Well AS the rigHT To Wear a fourRagèRe in the colOrS of tHe riBbOn of The croix dE guerre 1914–1918. BetweeN 1915 anD 1918, over 2,088 dJibouTIAns SERVeD as combat in thE firST World War. Their losseS aRe esTiMaTEd at 517 kilLED and 1,000 tO 1,200 inJurEd.