Help with belgian and portugal colonials :)

[Fjodin]

Here what I found about Belgian uniform in Congo


http://www.bunkermuzeum.hu/Bunkermuzeum/utazasok/2007/07--Julius/2007-07-04_en.htm


http://www.sacktrick.com/igu/germancolonialuniforms/militaria/mab.htm

But I am completely not sure about the date There also only officer uniform pic and somekind of askari. Nothing about line infantry

I cant find anything about colonial portugals

[Plynkes]

Those are WWI uniforms. Force Publique uniform was blue until then, and khaki was phased in as the war progressed. The askari in your picture is wearing a uniform that was introduced in 1917.

You won't find any pictures of European line infantry. The army of the Congo Free State and the Belgian Congo was, with the exception of the officers, entirely made up of Africans.

This should give some idea of the appearance of Belgian colonial in the armies in the late 19th and early 20th centuries:



It's a bit late now. I'll see if I can dig up some proper pics tomorrow. Got some Portuguese info in a book somewhere too, but I'm off to bed right now.

[Plynkes]

Rudi's site has quite a few photos of Belgian colonial bits and bobs:

http://www.rudi-geudens.be/

Click where it says "Weapons and uniforms."

[Fjodin]

THANX! There are line ifnatryman there!

[Plynkes]

That's from the Belgian legation in Peking. No European infantry in the Congo.

[Fjodin]

But did Belgians  use european troops to conquer Congo?

[Plynkes]

No. The Congo Free State was a private venture of King Leopold of the Belgians, it wasn't anything to do with the Belgian state or government, so Belgian troops could not be used. The lofty-sounding International African Association recruited European mercenaries to be officers and NCOs, and Africans from Somaliland, Zanzibar, Liberia and other parts of West Africa. Officially they were escorts for scientific and commercial expeditions, but they were in reality destined to be the army of Leopold's new private colony. At this time there were no uniforms.

Once the Congo Free State was founded in 1884, these troops were organised into the colony's army/police force, called the Force Publique, and local Congolese troops were recruited as well.

By 1908 the Congo Free State was embroiled in scandal over terrible mistreatment and exploitation of the natives, and the Belgian government took it over as a Belgian colony. The Force Publique remained as the colony's army.

[Chris Dale]

Osprey's Armies in East Africa 1914-18 covers both the Portuguese and Belgians, although both of course WW1 era.

Foundry's Colonial Armies-Africa 1850-1918 would probably be better and covers both Portuguese and Belgians in some detail as well as Brits, French, Germans, Spanish... it'll all come in handy one day!

Cheers
Chris

[john Hollyoak]

Fjodin
There is another thread re Portugese colonials. I have an article from Savage & Soldier which includes history and some line drawings. Email me at principlesofwar at tiscali dot co dot uk and I can let you have a pdf.

Regards
John

[Smokeyrone]

Those are WWI uniforms. Force Publique uniform was blue until then, and khaki was phased in as the war progressed. The askari in your picture is wearing a uniform that was introduced in 1917.

You won't find any pictures of European line infantry. The army of the Congo Free State and the Belgian Congo was, with the exception of the officers, entirely made up of Africans.

This should give some idea of the appearance of Belgian colonial in the armies in the late 19th and early 20th centuries:



It's a bit late now. I'll see if I can dig up some proper pics tomorrow. Got some Portuguese info in a book somewhere too, but I'm off to bed right now.

I DEMAND those in 15mm!  Tis  not fair!  I need Askaris!  Whaaaaaa!

 

[yancey5]

I agree with Chris, the Osprey Book Armies in Africa contains great information on both Belgian and Portuguese 1914-1918, also the Foundry Book Colonial Armies in Africa 1850-1918 has a wealth of information on all colonial armies plus narrative to provide some scenarios for gaming.
Good luck!

[john Hollyoak]

Smokeyroan - The Essex Gendarme in the colonial range Egyptian section is almost identical to the Foundry figure in the fez (except half the size!).

John

[Smokeyrone]

Smokeyroan - The Essex Gendarme in the colonial range Egyptian section is almost identical to the Foundry figure in the fez (except half the size!).

John

OMG!  Really?  Sweet!  Just about to order another Essex load.  I am happy!

Thanks!

[Fjodin]

Thanx for very informative posts.

[Smokeyrone]

Thanx for very informative posts.

And did you see, Fjodin?  Essex has REAL askaris in 15mm!

No one knows how happy that makes me!  Darkest Africa ain't Darkest Africa without them!