They endured the grueling East African Campaign, chasing General von Lettow-Vorbeck’s forces through thousands of miles of bush.

The study of the King’s African Rifles is more than a study of battles; it is a study of the transition from colonial subjects to national citizens. It remains a testament to the skill and endurance of the African soldier, who fought across continents for a Crown that was, simultaneously, their protector and their occupier.

Post-1945, the KAR’s role shifted painfully. The regiment was deployed against the Mau Mau uprising in Kenya, pitting African soldiers against African insurgents—a conflict that strained the loyalties of the rank and file.

Though intended for local defense, the KAR became a global force: