This unit made up part of the Louisbourg garrison in 1758, and had a complicated history as its separate battalions had quite different services. Furthermore, my main source Supin-Lignieres Les Troupes Legere d'Ancien Regime doesn't provide a clear history in places.

You ask about similarities between this corps and the later Foreign Legion. well, there are some similarities. The corps was largely made up of Germans (orders were given in German until 1762) drawn from the frontiers of France as well as deserters and adventurers. Furthermore, the original purpose of the corps was as a colonial garrison (and as marines!). However, France employed several units which tapped the manpower resources of Germany several of which were called Volontaires Etrangers in their titles. Ile notion of stateless men whose only home was the Legion was foreign to the eighteenth century. Furthermore, if the motto of the Legion was "March or die" these other units much preferred "Fill your pockets, lads" or "Run away, someone's comng."

In fact the Volontaires Etrangers were raised on the 1st June 1756 under the auspices of the celebrated leader of light troops, Colonel Fischer, "pour serir sur mer et aux colonies". This part was not announced to start with. Originally, the corps was to have been of 3 brigades each of 2 companies of 67 grenadiers and 26 companies of fusiliers. This was too ambitious especially when the destination of the corps became known. The organisaton was finally a 3 battalion regiment - each battalion of 9 companies of 40 men, one being the grenadier company - totalling 1080 men.

In 1757, the first two battalions were sent to Brittany presumably to prepare for embarkation and for coastal defence. The third stayed for a while in Germany to be roughly handled by Prussian hussars a few days before the battle of Rossbach. It too was sent to Brittany at the end of the year.

Fischer was no longer involved with the regiment and that, with its realisation of their destination led to a breakdown of discipline amongst both officers and men. In October 1757, it was suggested that two battalions be sent to Belle Isle (an island) and one to Fort Louis (almost an island) out of the way. They seem to have spent their time in Brest though.

On the 22nd March, the 2nd battalion left France with drafts from the 3rd, ready for service in Canada. A 4th battalion appears to have been formed as well.

The 2nd battalions organisation was - staff.- Lt. colonel, adjutant, assistant adjutant, padre, surgeon. One company of 3 officers and 60 grenadiers (including 1 drummer and fifer) and 12 companies of 3 officers and 50 fusiliers (including a drummer and fifer).

The battalion was re-equipped with new clothing and equipment. the uniform was a coat, waistcoat and breeches of white with a collar, lapels and cuff of a mid-green, tin buttons and white hat lace. M. Petard shows a grenadier with a fur cap in one of his sketches. The shoulder strap was green as well. This battalion defended Louisbourg in July 1758 and after the surrender the unit was shipped back to France but I don't know if it was reformed. Another 2nd battalion was raised in 1759.

The 3rd battalion was brought up to strength by drafts from the 1st battalion in February 1758 and asked for colours as already given to the 2nd battalion. According to Mouillard, these flags were black with two white crosses - one the normal French cross, the other a thinner -St. Andrew's cross. this flag was carried by the later Voloutaires d' Anstrasic (see below) according to R.D. Pengel in his book France - Troupes Lcgcres where there is an illustration.

The bad reputation of this corps lingered on although the battalions seemed to have improved. Many men deserted at Louisbourg to start with (to join the Royal Americans?) but others fought well. The 1st and 2nd battalions were at the battle of St. Cast, 11th September 1758.

On the 27th January 1759 (another?) 2nd battalion was sent to the Antilles (Martinique, San Domingo, Haiti?). I know nothing of what happened to this battalion. Did it oppose the British landing at Martinique in 1761 or was it out of the way on Saint Dominique? I should be interested in any information on this unit or any others of the French West Indies garrison.

On the same date in 1759, the other two battalions were organised as light troops for the campaign in Germany. Now they were the Volontaires Etrangers de Vignolles after the commander Colonel de Vignolles. This corps had 17 companies, one grenadier of 60 men and 16 of 40 fusiliers. They received a new uniform of a royal blue coat and waistcoat white breeches, red cuffs, lapels, turnbacks. The buttons were white metal: 3 per horizontal pocket 3 per cuff, 7 small per lapel with 3 large under the lapels; hat lace white. They were armed with a musket, bayonet and short sabre.

On the 22nd November 1759, they became the Volontaires d'Austrasie - Austrasie being, apparently, the area in Germany between Worms and Mannheim. They adopted a standard light troop organisation of 948 men - 1 grenadier company of 60 men, 8 fusilier companies of 71 fusiliers and 8 companies of dragoons (who wore a dragoon helmet).

These took part in the pette guerre in Germany as the French and Allied armies marched to and fro across Westphalia.

On the 28th December 1762, the men were absorbed into the Legion du Hainault and the original corps vanished.

I hope this account, which seems to have got rather lengthy, will answer your query.

See also Military Answers #3: Q3. Volontaires Etrangeres in 18CMN&Q #2.