1885- Conquest of Indochina:
The 3rd squadron of the 1st spahis, as well as the 5/2nd spahis and the 1/3rd spahis reinforced by a squadron of the 1st regiment of African hunters, take the title of "Tonkin Cavalry Marching Regiment", placed under the orders of squadron leader O'Connor, and participate in the operations of the conquest until 1889.
The inscription:
"EXTREME-ORIENT, 1884-19885"
will be added to the standard. 1892- Dahomey Campaign:
Only a few elements detached from the 1st and 3rd Spahis participated in this campaign to reinforce the squadron of Senegalese Spahis with cadres: Squadron Leader Villiers and his orderly, Captains Fits-James and Cremieu-Foa, Lieutenants Legrand and Basset, 26 French non-commissioned officers, brigadiers, trumpeters and Spahis and a veterinarian. The whole is integrated into the Dodds column.
September 19: Battle of Dobga, at the Tchué ford.
October 4 to 6: The column is attacked by 10,000 Dahomeans. Two days of furious fighting at the end of which the attackers abandon the field.
October 14: Violent battle at the Koto source.
November 4: Storming of the city of Kano.
November 17: Capture of Abomey, capital of King Benhanzin.
BRIEF HISTORY of the 1st Algerian Spahis Regiment
(By Claude Girard)