BIGGLES FOREIGN LEGIONNAIRE
Book First Published on 23rd September 1954 - 190 pages
This story was first published, in ten parts, as BIGGLES JOINS
THE LEGION in Junior Mirror issues 1 to 10, dated 1st September
1954 to 3rd November 1954
The serialisation rights to this book were also sold to the
‘Liverpool Daily Post’ but I have no information as to any publication
dates. If anybody knows then please E-MAIL ME
First edition dust jacket showing original price of 7 shillings
and 6 pence
CHAPTERS
Click on any chapter for a summary of the events in that chapter or
see the general story summary below
I – BIGGLES STARTLES THE CHIEF
VI – “EVERYTHING HAS BEEN ARRANGED?”
XII – THE VALLEY OF THE TARTARS
XIII – A CASTLE WITHOUT A NAME
When Biggles' opposite number and
old friend in the French Surete, Marcel Brissac, joins the French Foreign
Legion, Biggles is intrigued as to why. After thinking it through, Biggles
concludes that Marcel is onto an international gang with a financial interest
in war. Various Countries are at war with each other and when there is a chance
of peace, an incident usually occurs to thwart the peace process. The
international gang is behind such incidents. The only lead is the knowledge
that the gang encourages French Foreign Legionnaires to desert and join them.
Biggles and Ginger join Marcel in the Legion, and find he is under suspicion.
Eventually, Biggles and Ginger are approached to desert due to their flying
experience. The first attempt goes wrong but eventually they do desert and so
follow a trail that they hope will lead them to the people in charge. The trail
leads to the Valley of the Tartars, where a secret squadron is carrying out
acts of aggression. Here they discover the gang's latest recruit is a certain
Erich Von Stalhein. With the help of a lone madman waging a one-man war against
the gang and a surprise attack by Kurds, Biggles foils their plans. Air
Commodore Raymond gets to meet Von Stalhein for the first time. The dust cover
depicts Biggles in the Legion uniform.
Click here to see the story illustrations from this book
Biggles Foreign Legionnaire
Publication Details - published by Hodder and Stoughton
Frontispiece
Click on the above to see it in more detail
The original artwork opposite page 156 in this book was once in
my private collection
Cover of the French edition (most appropriate!) – Biggles dans la
Legion – Biggles in the Legion