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Description
Rifleman, King's African Rifles 1920s-30s.

The King's African Rifles (KAR) was a multi-battalion infantry regiment raised from the native populations of the British colonies of East Africa. Formed in 1901 the regiment carried out military, security and police duties in Kenya, Uganda and Nyasaland. The Regiment was initially formed into six battalions, whilst the vast majority of officers and NCOs were seconded from the British Army a number of officers in the 4th (Ugandan) battalion were initially native Sudanese.

During the First World War the KAR fought in German East Africa against Lieutenant Colonel Paul Lettow-Vorbeck's 'Schutztruppe', by the end of the war the regiment had been expanded to 22 battalions.

The inter-war period saw the regiment's strength reduced again to six battalions.

During the Second World War the KAR fought in East Africa against the Italians and Germans, in Madagascar against the Vichy French and later in Burma against the Japanese. By the end of the war the regiment had expanded to 43 battalions, including armoured car, artillery, engineering, signals and transport support elements.

In the 1950s the KAR took part in suppressing the Kenyan Mau Mau uprising and fought in the Malayan Emergency alongside other British, dominion and colonial forces. The regiment broke up in the 1960s as the various East African colonies gained their independence from Britain.

Whilst the majority of officers remained white, the number of African officers and NCOs in the King's African Rifles steadily increased with the expansion of the regiment in the later years of WWII and continued post war in the run up to independence.

Wiki article.
[link]

Regimental Association.
[link]

Description
Rifleman, King's African Rifles 1920s-30s.

The King's African Rifles (KAR) was a multi-battalion infantry regiment raised from the native populations of the British colonies of East Africa. Formed in 1901 the regiment carried out military, security and police duties in Kenya, Uganda and Nyasaland. The Regiment was initially formed into six battalions, whilst the vast majority of officers and NCOs were seconded from the British Army a number of officers in the 4th (Ugandan) battalion were initially native Sudanese.

During the First World War the KAR fought in German East Africa against Lieutenant Colonel Paul Lettow-Vorbeck's 'Schutztruppe', by the end of the war the regiment had been expanded to 22 battalions.

The inter-war period saw the regiment's strength reduced again to six battalions.

During the Second World War the KAR fought in East Africa against the Italians and Germans, in Madagascar against the Vichy French and later in Burma against the Japanese. By the end of the war the regiment had expanded to 43 battalions, including armoured car, artillery, engineering, signals and transport support elements.

In the 1950s the KAR took part in suppressing the Kenyan Mau Mau uprising and fought in the Malayan Emergency alongside other British, dominion and colonial forces. The regiment broke up in the 1960s as the various East African colonies gained their independence from Britain.

Whilst the majority of officers remained white, the number of African officers and NCOs in the King's African Rifles steadily increased with the expansion of the regiment in the later years of WWII and continued post war in the run up to independence.

Wiki article.
[link]

Regimental Association.
[link]