Louis Alexandre Esprit Gaston Brière de l'Isle was a French Army general who achieved distinction firstly as Governor of Senegal (1876–81), and then as general-in-chief of the Tonkin Expeditionary Corps during the Sino-French War.
General Briere de l'Isle, with the plaque of a Grand Officer of the Légion d'honneur on his chest.
Senegambia in 1881, at the end of Briere de l'Isle's tenure. Areas in pink are annexed to the French Empire, while much of the surrounding territory are French "protectorates".
General Brière de l'Isle and his staff on the eve of the Lạng Sơn Campaign. General François de Négrier (with hand on chest) and Lieutenant-Colonel Paul-Gustave Herbinger (clasping cane in both hands) are in the front row.
Tonkin Expeditionary Corps
The Tonkin Expeditionary Corps was a French military command based in northern Vietnam (Tonkin) from June 1883 to April 1886. The expeditionary corps fought the Tonkin Campaign (1883–86) taking part in campaigns against the Black Flag Army and the Chinese Yunnan and Guangxi Armies during the Sino-French War and the period of undeclared hostilities that preceded it, and in important operations against Vietnamese guerrilla bands during the subsequent 'Pacification of Tonkin'.
Soldiers of the Tonkin expeditionary corps in 1885 (from left to right : Naval Fusilier in coolie hat, Marine infantryman, Turco and Marine artilleryman).
General Alexandre-Eugène Bouët (1833–87)
Lieutenant-Colonel Anicet-Edmond-Justin Bichot (1835–1908)
General Charles-Théodore Millot (1829–89)
