King’s African Rifles manning a trench, viewed from behind, 1939 circa (b/w photo)

King’s African Rifles manning a trench, viewed from behind, 1939 circa. Photograph, World War Two, East Africa, 1939 circa. The King’s African Rifles were ill-prepared to fight on the outbreak of the Second World War in September 1939. The regiment was deficient in equipment and support services of all types. Fortunately, the decision of the Italian dictator, Mussolini, to wait until his ally Germany had won a decisive victory over France before joining in the war against Britain, provided the regiment with a vital period in which to train, expand and equip their forces for the forthcoming struggle against the Italians in East Africa. From an album of 608 photographs compiled by Colin Campbell of the King’s African Rifles.