They were distinguished by their traditional jelleba hooded coats that came in a variety of stripes.
Their most famous campaign was in Italy where they used their mountaineer skills to break the Cassino line, the key victory resulting in the capture of Rome.
They also built up a reputation for rapine but the stories lost nothing in the telling.
Weapons varied with time and place but Springfield rifles and other American gear was employed along with original French 1940 equipment.