WW1/2 4th Kings African Rifles cap badge

Brass 4th (Uganda) Battalion, King’s African Rifles cap badge.

Raised: 1902, from the African companies of the Uganda Rifles when the KAR was formed.

Recruiting area: Protectorate of Uganda – mainly local Ugandan ethnic groups under British officers

First World War (East Africa Campaign)

During WW1, the 4th Regiment (Uganda) KAR expanded into several battalions (1/4 KAR, 2/4 KAR, 3/4 KAR, 4/4 KAR, etc.), all recruited in Uganda.

• Fought in the East Africa Campaign against von Lettow-Vorbeck’s German forces.

• Took part in long bush marches and skirmishes across German East Africa (modern Tanzania), including the advance south through Mwanza, Iringa, and Langenburg toward Lake Nyasa.

• Served as light infantry (“askaris”), operating in small columns in very difficult terrane

Second World War

• 4 KAR again expanded and saw service in:

• The East African Campaign against Italian forces in Italian East Africa (Ethiopia, Eritrea, Somaliland).

• Subsequent operations as part of East African brigades; Ugandan KAR battalions provided infantry for routes marches and patrols across Kenya, Ethiopia and beyond.

• Ugandan KAR battalions later contributed to overseas deployments (Burma and other theatres) as part of East African divisions, though your listing doesn’t need to go into battalion-by-battalion detail.

• First World War: fought in the East Africa Campaign, marching and skirmishing through German East Africa (modern Tanzania) with the Ugandan battalions of 4 KAR

• Second World War: expanded again, taking part in the East African Campaign against Italian forces and subsequent operations with East African brigades

After independence, the unit became the 1st Battalion Uganda Rifles, forming the nucleus of the new Ugandan Army.

A scarce, battalion-specific piece of KAR insignia tied directly to the Ugandan element of the regiment.