Kings African Rifles - Officers Badges

[Jibba Jabba]

Has anyone got any genuine officers insignia from any period in their collections that they are willing to show photos of?

I`m having trouble locating an officers cap badge from this regiment I`m happy with, as I am unsure what a genuine example looks like.

Thank you.

[Peter Brydon]

Jibba Jabba,
Cannot help with illustrations but there were a number of articles on badges of Colonial units including the KARs in ther Military Historical Society Bulletins of November 1955 and November 1956. It appears that differnent battalions had their own badges, but there was a regimental badge ( Bugle with strings, a crown above the strings and a scroll below the bugle inscribed "Kings African Rifles" all in brass ) and worn by the East African General Service Corps and by personnel of the Regimental Depot at Nakuru.

Hope this is of some help. ( some of the battalion badges are illlustrated in Cox )

P.B.

[Jibba Jabba]

Thank you for your reply P.B. Its interesting to note that of any single British or Commonwealth unit in WW2 the Kings African Rifles had the most officers. These badges should in theory be common, but I supsect since many officers were attached to the KAR they wore their parent regiments cap badge. It can be the only explanation as to why these are so rare, after all RWAFF badges are ten a penny.

[seanus]

I have seen two CDs for sale on KAR uniforms at www.uniformsotw.co.uk. The first has a selection of badges as well. The first has 100 plates and the second 150. All from 1902 to 1964
There is also a CD on the RWAFF, again 100 uniforms from 1897 to 1961.
Worth a look