Brigade Askari

[Argonor]

And if they are Somali, would they be in the service of Italy or Germany? Or Britain?

Pardon my ignorance, but this late colonial period is not one of my main points of historical knowledge (hope to delve deeper into it through my pulp gaming, though...).

[warrenpeace]

And if they are Somali, would they be in the service of Italy or Germany? Or Britain?

Piero is saying Italian Somali askari.  They would have been used by the Italians in Ethiopia in the mid 1930's and in early WW2.  Here is page 2 of one of the links which Piero posted on the Colonial Adventures forum, with paintings of the Italian Somali askari about mid way down the page:

http://www.ilcornodafrica.it/fs-cart2.htm

[warrenpeace]

Have to say these figures look a lot like the British King's African Rifles, when they were wearing their fancy looking red tarboosh instead of the floppy hats or low pillbox hats they often wore on campaign during WW1:

http://www.chakoten.dk/cgi-bin/fm.cgi?n=699

[Shikari Sahib]

what they really missed is the sash, which is a must for the Italian Askari and for them more important than a flag, was a distinctive of their status.
I received yesterday some posts from brigade games forum and seems that they are generic askari . we need the help from Lon Weiss.
Piero

[Argonor]

Theoretically, the sash could be added with a dab of greenstuff.....

Well, I'll have to study this period some more 

[Svennn]

Askari Miniatures do some very nice Italian Askari's and I feel certain Nigel at Anglian will add some to his Abyssinian range at some point too.

[Shikari Sahib]

Nigel mentioned to me some more add, Dubat one of the new, I hope some more figs no available at the moment.
Piero