"KAR in WWII" Topic

Does anyone know what the uniforms and equipment of the King's African Rifles were like during WWII? Standard Brit stuff or more like Great War leftovers?

Standard Brit stuff. Ghurka/ANZAC type slouch hats when in tropical climes.

Yes. By the time the KAR were actually sent to theatre (1944ish) they would be in standard British kit with slouch hats.

Had they been called to action before this then Askari hats/ WW1 equipment may well have have been prevolent.

Raventhorpe do KAR in 20mm in both WW2 in puttees and WW1 in shorts versions.

Really depends what theatre you are talking about?

1940-42 in Italian East Africa
1944-45 Burma

Here are some soldiers of the KAR in 1944-45

Jonana Mungai of the Kings African Rifles, writing home. Burma, January 1945.

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1944
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Sent to theatre 1944ish? As already mentioned they fought the Italians in East Africa, and also the Vichy French in Madagascar before they went to Burma.

I have a book with a couple of photos of the KAR in Abyssinia. One shows two anti-tank rifle-armed Askari in somewhat motley dress. Both have slouch hats and 37 pattern webbing. One is wearing a light coloured jersey and long trousers not tucked in.

The other is wearing the old-type smock (the sort worn in the Great War), long trousers and perhaps gaiters (hard to say, his anti-tank rifle is on the ground and obscuring his ankles a little).

Another picture shows a gun crew manning an ancient Great War era artillery piece. Again they are in a mix of smocks and jerseys, some with shorts and puttees, some with long trousers, some bare-headed and others with slouch hats.

The photos in the book of them in India and Burma are of a 'behind the lines' nature (on parade and such) and they have a much more smart and regimented appearance, being dressed no differently to any other British troops in that theatre (slouch hats again, brims not turned up at the side).

I have no pictures of what they looked like in Madagascar, unfortunately.

I stand corrected. Had forgotten about the East African campaign.

I have a couple of books on the Kings African Rifles. One a booklet on organization, uniforms an insignia by Peter Abbott, and the other a full unit history by Lt. Col. H. Moyse-Bartlett. They wore the 1938 African 'battledress' during the campaigns in Italian East Africa and Madagascar. This included the lighter khaki drill long-sleeve shirt and 'long' shorts (mid-calf). Head gear were slouch hats. Some European officers (notably from 4th KAR) adopted rifle green side hats.

Units serving in Burma were re-equipped with standard jungle green battledress with slouch hat.

I also have the book WAR BUSH by John A.L. Hamilton about the 81 (West African) Division in Burma. Dress is essentially the same except photos show the 81 Recon battalion wearing a large number of helmets.

Mark

Oh, I can give you the flashes worn on the side of the slouch hat for the KAR battalions if you need them.

Mark