Lead Adventure Forum

Miniatures Adventure => The Great War => Topic started by: Siaba on 24 August 2010, 11:36:31 AM

Title: Zanzibar riflemen
Post by: Siaba on 24 August 2010, 11:36:31 AM

I read that Zanzibar riflemen took part in the capture of Bagamoyo in 1916 but found nothing on their uniforms.
Anyone know how this unit looked like ?  ::)

Title: Re: Zanzibar riflemen
Post by: Plynkes on 31 August 2010, 12:28:26 PM

This is a detail from a picture of the Konigsberg gun captured at Bagamoyo. The photo was apparently taken by a British sailor from HMS Vengeance, which was involved in the attack.

(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/7/163_31_08_10_1_08_23.jpg)
If as seems likely the photo was taken not long after the attack (though I don't know how long HMS Vengeance stuck around after)  then it's hard to see who this chap guarding the gun could be other than an Askari of the Zanzibar Rifles (the KAR were not to my knowledge involved in the attack). He seems to be armed with a Martini-Enfield with rather a long pig-sticker attached. I think by 1916 the KAR all had Lee-Enfields, but I'm not positive on that. Interestingly in late 1916, the Zanzibar Rifles were merged with the Mafia Armed Constabulary to form 7 KAR.

Could be what you're looking for, but I don't have an ironclad identification as to who this chap is. Best I've got, I'm afraid.

Title: Re: Zanzibar riflemen
Post by: Plynkes on 31 August 2010, 01:44:01 PM

Hmm. Found another pic of the gun at the time of its capture by the Royal Navy:

(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/7/163_31_08_10_2_37_36_0.jpg)

Compare with the one I showed a detail from before:
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/7/163_31_08_10_2_37_36_1.jpg)

So an indeterminate amount of time has elapsed (enough for somebody to pinch the gun shield). Hard to know how much time, though. Doesn't do much other than add to the uncertainty really, but they are interesting pics at least.