African Soldiers by Simkin

Dear Sean,

I have now been through your new RWAFF CD very, and I find it very
interesting!

I see that you use one of the WAFF photos from the NYPL. A most interesting
site in my oppinion.

At the site I have found an "African" plate (enclosed) by Richard Simkin
(Digital ID: 1503229), but I must admit, even with the assistance of both
CDs, I am not quite able to identify the unit in question.

Would you happen to know the original title, or do you have a guesstimate
as to the regiment illustrated?

I would guess for either WAFF or the Sierra Leone based West African
Regiment, but would love to know the right title of the plate.

Regards
Per
https://i.servimg.com/u/f42/12/22/09/10/africa10.jpg

Hi Per,
Unfortunately Simkin can not be considered an authority on detail.
He was a brilliant artist and did exceptional work.
But in a lot of cases he worked from second hand information without having seen the uniform he was drawing.
After doing some of the CDs I can relate to the problems he faced.
I have seen this plate before but described as KAR. Looks a bit Schutztruppe to be honest.
Not the most accurate of Simkin's work.

This is actually a fair representation of the East Africa Rifles, forerunner of the 3rd KAR. The uniforms seem to have been based on Egyptian army patterns, and were issued in either in Khaki or white. The Egyptian influence can be seen here, especially in the close fitting pattern of the fez or tarbush, which is much lower than that worn later by the KAR. A poor quality photo appeared in the Navy and Army Illustrated circa 1900, a common source for Simkin, so this picture was almost certainly based on that.
Tim

Dear Tim,
East Africa Rifles! Thank you very much for identifying the plate.

It would be very interesting to see a copy of the photo, despite the low quality.

Per

The Simkin plate in question have now been identified as being "Military Types - No. 177: The East Africa Rifles". It was published in ARMY & NAVY GAZETTE, Saturday, September 6, 1902.

As small article on the plate as well as the article referred to by Tim - “In British East Africa - With the East African Rifles”, published in the NAVY AND ARMY ILLUSTRATED, 13 October 1900 - has been uploaded on www.chakoten.dk, see The Uniforms of the East African Rifles, c.1900.

Per