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King's African RiflesThe King's African Rifles, was a British colonial regiment in East Africa until independence in the 1960s. It performed both military and security functions as noted by its wearing of a grey-blue shirt with its khaki uniforms. Six battalions were formed in 1902 with one or two battalions located in each of Nyasaland, Kenya, Uganda and Somaliland. Further battalions were formed during the First World War, and then after the Second World War: The regiment fought against the German commander Paul Erich von Lettow-Vorbeck and his forces in German East Africa during World War I after which askaris of the former German East Africa became a battalion of the Kings African Rifles. The regiment fought against Italy in Abyssinia and against Japan in Burma during World War II. At one stage the regiment had 44 battalions. Its most infamous member was Idi Amin. It later saw service in the Malayan Emergency where the regiment was involved in heavy fighting, suffering 23 lost. The regiment's last Colonel-in-Chief was HM Queen Elizabeth II. When the various nations that made up the regiment became independent, the regiment began to break up. Ashanti 19001, Somaliland 1901-04 The Great War (7 battalions): Kilimanjaro, Narungombe, Nyangao, East Africa 1914-18 The Second World War: Afodu, Moyale, Todenyang-Namuraputh, Soroppa, Juba, Beles Gugani, Awash, Fike, Colito, Omo, Gondar, Ambazzo, Kulkaber, Abyssinia 1940-41, Tug Argan, British Somaliland 1940, Madagascar, Middle East 1942, Mawlaik, Kalewa, Seikpyu, Letse, Arakan Beaches, Taungup, Burma 1944-45 1. awarded 1908 for services of The Central Africa Regiment See Also
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