After the Artillery School, Stenroth served in the Field Artillery Regiment 2, until he unexpectedly resigned in February 1920, possibly because some financial affairs that had gone awry. His career as an officer had just started off well, and he was described as a “complete balking foal, in the right sense of the word.” He left for France, wherein April 1920, he joined the Foreign Legion in Arras, with a contract for five years, beginning his service in the rank of a private. The first years he served as an NCO responsible for combat materials, until he participated in a course for future officers in 1924, completing it as the top of the course, his score has been 18/20. He has been promoted a sublieutenant in July of the same year. It seems likely he knew French well at that point, as officers had to have an excellent command of the language.[2]
During 1925–26 Stenroth participated in the Rif War in North Africa, where he fought against e.g. the Berber troops of the charismatic MoroccanAbd el-Krim. According to Stenroth, the Berbers were “unbelievably brave and had a contempt for death”. At one point, it was already thought that Stenroth had died, but he managed to escape from the Berbers. The site of one battle was named Fort Stenroth in his honor. For his exploits in the war, he was awarded the Croix de Guerre, and he was promoted a lieutenant and mentioned in a dispatch, which is considered to be a special honor in France. He[2]
has, through his personal qualities, become a splendid leader for his men — he always volunteers for dangerous missions … On July 3rd, he led his men in a brilliant manner, showing them a most perfect example of indifference in the face of danger.
During 1928–30 Stenroth served in Libya and Syria. In October 1930, he was sent to Hải Phòng in French Indochina, where he arrived in April 1931, in order to restrain local troubles. However, he fell ill with a tropical disease immediately after arrival and was transferred to a hospital in Hanoi, where he died on 23 May.
[2]
^ abcdeHuhtanen, Jarmo (10 June 2019). "Tuntematon legioonalainen" [‘The unknown legionnaire’]. Helsingin Sanomat (in Finnish). Helsinki: Sanoma. Retrieved 17 June 2019.