Author Topic: Italian Colonial uniforms 1918-1930 (Read 9179 times)

Ignatieff · « **on:** August 22, 2009, 08:57:38 AM »

Chaps

Looking for some help here, and in particular on the vexed question of who wore the 'grey/green' uniform and when? When, and to whom, was the khaki uniform issued to (were native troops different from Metropolitan ones for instance??) Also, when did they stop wearing puttees? My main source is Edwin Herberts fine books on 'Small Wars and Skirmishes 1902-1918' and 'Risings and Rebellions 1919-39'. However as he concentrates on specific campaigns and actions, you cannot follow the development of the uniforms.

I am looking to do another 'League of Extraordinary Campaign' next year set in East Africa (The Horn to S.Africa) so I guess the bullseye year would be around 1924, if that helps.

Any help, illustrations or contemporary photos much appreciated.

argsilverson · « **Reply #1 on:** August 22, 2009, 11:37:16 AM »

A good guide for Italian colonial uniforms is available online by:

http://www.warflag.com/shadow/uniforms/uniform.htm

and:
http://www.warflag.com/shadow/uniforms/ituniform.htm

it is a copy of an Italian book!

Ignatieff · « **Reply #2 on:** August 22, 2009, 11:46:31 AM »

Arg

Many thanks. A bit earlier than I was looking for though, or I am missing something?

argsilverson · « **Reply #3 on:** August 22, 2009, 11:50:08 AM »

this is the first part of what I am sending you!

check your email account

traveller · « **Reply #4 on:** August 22, 2009, 11:55:36 AM »

I cannot claim any expertise on the subject but I have been studying the Italian uniforms of the Libya war 1911-1913 Even though the Bersagliere started off with the blue-gray uniform it seems the soon shifted to khaki. Puttees were used as late as the invasion of Abyssina 1935 so if you are aiming for 1924 it would be safe to go for khaki and puttees for the Italian troops. Native levies would use white (early) or khaki if you are looking at 1924. Dubat irregulars have off-white rag like clothing (Darkest Africa askaris can be used for these). Good Luck with your project!

traveller · « **Reply #5 on:** August 22, 2009, 12:02:57 PM »

A photo of some of my Dubat irregulars:

argsilverson · « **Reply #6 on:** August 22, 2009, 12:11:46 PM »

Dear Ignatieff,

Please check some older LAF messages:

http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=8234.0

of particular interest is:
http://www.collezioni-f.it/museo/africa/africa.html

quite interesting is some details on 1925 raids:
http://www.collezioni-f.it/museo/raid.html

argsilverson · « **Reply #7 on:** August 22, 2009, 12:24:49 PM »

After some small research, I must advise that traveller has some right.

However, since italian administration was not so efficient (specially on colonial matters) some/all units used both uniforms, i.e colonial whites and colonial khakis for longer times. So, I suggest you use some units in khakis and some units in whites etc.
Anyhow during 1924 etc there is lots of colourful uniforms by the italians!

http://www.collezioni-f.it/ascari/a_carabinieri.html
http://www.collezioni-f.it/ascari/a_finanzieri.html

Ignatieff · « **Reply #8 on:** August 23, 2009, 02:24:55 PM »

Fantastic. Ascari Finanzeria! Only the Italians could introduce a colonial 'finance' police! Mind you, the modern day 'Guarda di Finanzia' are the scariest of the (many) Italian police forces. Super advice from everyone as always, many thanks

Arrigo · « **Reply #9 on:** August 23, 2009, 09:10:18 PM »

I hav some pictures of the service of the brother of my grand-father in Abissiania and North Africa (he was a mountain troops officer but ended commanding a meharista unit... there is even a picture of him in company of Amedeo of Aosta of WW2 fame); some of the officer clearly wear dark (thus grigioverde) uniform, but others a mux of local clothes and tropical sand colored uniforms.

hope this can help.

PS: the Guardia di Finanza is not a "financial police" (t least at the time) but frontier police.

Arrigo

Ignatieff · « **Reply #10 on:** August 23, 2009, 10:02:10 PM »

Would love to see them Arrigo. Thanks for putting me right on the Guarda di Finanzia

Shikari Sahib · « **Reply #11 on:** September 01, 2009, 09:14:58 AM »

hello chaps,
during most of the Lybian campaign the Italian troops fought on grey-green uniform,
never heard of the same in Abyssinia.
there are lot new books on that matter but all in Italian and most of them are very heavy,
the kakhi or gold-bronze colour uniforms were issued to Italian in Abyssinia just prior to Adua battle in 1896.
then at the turn of the century they were issued a real khaki colour uniform for all the metropolitan troops. the Native battalion retain the white unifrom until 1920 when they start to receive khaki unifrom, they fought in kahki during the invasion of Ethiopia in 1935.
In Libya only during the reconquest the Italian were issued khaki unforms.

Piero

Shikari Sahib · « **Reply #12 on:** September 01, 2009, 10:44:15 AM »

Quote from: traveller on August 22, 2009, 12:02:57 PM

A photo of some of my Dubat irregulars:

who made this Dubats?
I'm strongly interested, I knew that no company made them yet.
Piero

traveller · « **Reply #13 on:** September 01, 2009, 11:11:23 AM »

Shikari,

the buildings are bought on ebay. Cannot remember the seller but he sells this type regularly. I have some 20 of these. The Dubats are Foundry Darkest Africa. I made a half-ass attempt to convert their muskets to breachloaders but that maybe don´t show. Yes, I agree, Dubats are really cool SOBs!

Shikari Sahib · « **Reply #14 on:** September 01, 2009, 01:30:03 PM »

the books I mentioned in my previous message are:
Uniformi ed insegne delle truppe coloniali italiane 1885-1943 by gabriele Zorzetto.
issued in limited 500 copies is no longer available, hundreds of beautiful colour illustrations and full text

Soldati d'Africa vol, 1 2 3 4 vol. 5 should be out soon.
this is a kind of book like those dealing on German militaria in WW2 is a must

both have italian text sorry.

Piero

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