Belgian Askaris WW1

[Mike D. Mc Brice]

Does anybody know what uniforms the Begian Askaris used during WW1? Did they still use the blue ones or were they changed sometimes after 1914?

[Plynkes]

They began the war in their famous blue uniforms, in 1915-16 they wore khaki shirts with their blue pants, and in 1917 a new completely khaki uniform was introduced.

One concession to concealment with the blue uniform was the abandonment of the red sash, and a cover for the fez. I think it started out light blue, but faded to white in the sun. You still see photos of askaris wearing their fezzes with no cover on, though.

There is a colour plate in the appropriate Osprey showing all three styles.

[Mike D. Mc Brice]

Thanks for the great info!

[Plynkes]

If we're talking about the Brigade Games figures, it looks to me (despite how they have been painted on their site) like the majority are in the blue uniforms, as both versions of khaki shirt had two breast pockets, something which most of the Brigade fellows lack.


The fellow marked THIS GUY is definitely wearing the transitional khaki top, though. It had red piping. The later one had a collar and no piping.


Our very own Rudi has a cool website about the Force Publique you may find helpful:

http://www.rudi-geudens.be/html/titelblad_force_publique.htm

[Mike D. Mc Brice]

From what I've found the colonial blue and the 1915 WW1 Khaki uniforms wear cut pretty simillar, apart from the 2 chest pockets of the khaki uniform. The colonial blue uniform is more baggy, the Foundry DA Askaris have this quite well.

Edwin Herbert writes that red piping was worn by Hausa troops whilst Bangalas had yellow piping.

The WW1 troops could also have webbing.

Here are some more pictures, notice the headgear of the WW1 guy bellow.
http://www.rudi-geudens.be/html/oorlogsmuseum_colonial01.htm