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I have mislocated the book, so I can't quote from it, but there is a BL book about excoriators and the "legion of the damned". In it, a scout finds an empty stasis casket that has fallen from orbit. The casket shows markings of a legionnaire that acheived great honours during the crusade.
Later in said novel, Keeler's Comet is destroyed by a mysterious ship shaped like the Imperial Eagle that is on par with the Phalanx in size. The legion of the damned in the novel appear to be the same as the ones in C:SM.

Therefore, I support the theory of the lost and the purged. Clearly, a legion was lost sometime during the early stages of the crusade. Perhaps this was a result of early warp storms. The flaming armour and skull-faced legionnaires certainly suggest the taint of the warp. This would be enough for the emperor to go OMGWTFBBQ on their asses and attempt a purging. However, perhaps the corruption didn't reach their minds. Perhaps they still serve, even though their help is neither asked for nor wanted. Due to time fluctuations in the warp, they could be unaware of the emperors pseudo-death and the years that have passed. They just continue to serve... service behond death.

However, this is mostly just speculation, so take it how you will.

 AndrewGPaul wrote:
I meant Valedictors, though.

They're still not one of the missing Legions... on account of how they're not missing...




Justicar_Thunderflanks, the Legion of the Damned are the Fire Hawks, a 21st Founding Chapter.

As Insaniak has said there is plenty of fluff about the Legion of the Damned.

 English Assassin wrote:

If there was an intentional historical reference, it was more likely to the two Roman legions disbanded in disgrace after their betrayals during the Batavian rebellion, rather than those lost at (as I presume you are thinking) the Teutoberger forest.

Possibly; I thought it was the ones at Teutoburger Wald because IIRC the Romans never used those Legion's numbers again, so in a way you could say their records were expunged, too.

always thought that the missing legions were references to the disappearance of the ninth legion north of Hadrians wall, then i realised it was the XIlegion, not the IX legion.....

Bran Dawri wrote:

 English Assassin wrote:

If there was an intentional historical reference, it was more likely to the two Roman legions disbanded in disgrace after their betrayals during the Batavian rebellion, rather than those lost at (as I presume you are thinking) the Teutoberger forest.

Possibly; I thought it was the ones at Teutoburger Wald because IIRC the Romans never used those Legion's numbers again, so in a way you could say their records were expunged, too.

There is, of course, no reason it can be a reference to both (or indeed to the legions lost in Britain); given that the only classicist at GW in the early days was (believe it or not) Tom Kirby, I'd expect broad strokes rather than very precise references.

 English Assassin wrote:

Bran Dawri wrote:

 English Assassin wrote:

If there was an intentional historical reference, it was more likely to the two Roman legions disbanded in disgrace after their betrayals during the Batavian rebellion, rather than those lost at (as I presume you are thinking) the Teutoberger forest.

Possibly; I thought it was the ones at Teutoburger Wald because IIRC the Romans never used those Legion's numbers again, so in a way you could say their records were expunged, too.

There is, of course, no reason it can be a reference to both (or indeed to the legions lost in Britain); given that the only classicist at GW in the early days was (believe it or not) Tom Kirby, I'd expect broad strokes rather than very precise references.

They tend to use very very broad strokes to keep things open to intpretation. That way the hobby can speak to as many cultural backgrounds as possible.

They shoud never be detailed, as it would spoil the whole fun of them be mysterious, just like the Legion of the Damned.

 AegisGrimm wrote:
They shoud never be detailed, as it would spoil the whole fun of them be mysterious, just like the Legion of the Damned.

There is nothing mysterious about the LotD.

I presume he meant "mysterious, as the Legion of the Damned, who were diminished by the revelation of their mystery, should be".

The Legion of the Damned was explained? Lame.

I was kinda hoping they'd be the "lost" legion.

 DeffDred wrote:
The Legion of the Damned was explained?

At least 10 years ago, yes...