GREAT WAR STORIES Askaris of The British Empire

In this anniversary year marking 100 years after the ending of the First World War, we remember the heroism and bravery of the African soldiers who served in the King’s African Rifles in Central and East Africa.

Formed in 1902, the King’s Own Rifles (KAR) entered the First World War with only 21 small companies – comprising of 70 British Officers, 3 British NCOs and 3,325 Africans, and each company had only one machine gun! These numbers were expanded gradually as the War continued into three battalions of 1,045 men each by 1916.

The appointment of General Hoskins as Commander of the KAR marked a huge recruiting drive through Nyasaland, Kenya, Tanganyika, Zanzibar and Uganda.

By 1918 the King’s African Rifles consisted of 22 battalions, who had fought in the East African Campaign against the German forces under their Commander Paul Erich von Lettow-Vorbeck – involving some 30,000 KAR African soldiers.

King’s African Rifles casualties in the First World War were 5,117 killed and wounded, with another 3,039 dying from diseases.

A Photo Exhibition that celebrates the contributions and honours the sacrifices of these ‘Askaris of the British Empire’, is at The Basement at Bunyan – part of Bunyan Meeting in Mill Street, Bedford – from Tuesday 18 to Saturday 29 September (not Sundays or Mondays) from 11.00am to 4.00pm each day.

There is also a Presentation entitled ‘Line of Duty’from 2.30 to 4.00pm on Saturday 22 September.

Both the Exhibition and the Presentation are free – but please book for the Presentation:

The Basement at Bunyan tel01234 213722or 07835 261229

Learning through the Arts tel07577 273597