King's African Rifles Band Portrait, Malawi, ca. 1914-1918

Black and white lantern slide featuring a group portrait of an Askari military band. Large drums are arranged on the ground at the front of the picture. More senior officers appear to be sitting near the front of the picture. A single European officer sits towards the centre of the picture wearing uniform and pith helmet. Most men carry bugles. During the First World War, King's African Rifles uniform in Nyasaland was made up of khaki drill with black fezzes (other units outside Nyasaland wore red fezzes). Footwear was normally sandals or men went barefoot, since the British theorised that heavy military boots were unsuitable for recruits unused to such footwear. This slide comes from a set on the activities of the King’s African Rifles battalions in Nyasaland. It was originally held by the Church of Scotland, and generated by J.W MacKay.