King's African Rifles training in Kenya, 1939 (c)

Photograph, World War Two, East Africa, 1939 (c).

In the course of the Second World War Askari troops of the King's African Rifles succeeded in overcoming many prejudices held by Europeans as to their capacity to wage modern war. In particular doubts existed as to their ability to master modern weapons and to fight effectively in environments that differed from the bush land of their native East Africa. The Askaris proved their doubters wrong on both counts, operating effectively in terrain as diverse as the mountains of Abyssinia and the jungles of Burma and utilising modern weapons with a skill and dexterity that compared favourably with any European formation.

From an album of 608 photographs compiled by Colin Campbell of the King's African Rifles.