A former military officer is set to give a talk in Carlisle on the history of the King’s African Rifles
On Tuesday, April 8, Colonel David Bates will deliver the presentation at Cumbria’s Museum of Military Life, located in Carlisle Castle.
The King’s African Rifles originated as the Central Africa Regiment in the late 19th century, initially focused on combatting indigenous and Arab slavers and ivory poachers.
However, as Britain’s empire receded in the early 1960s, the regiment was disbanded.
Many of its soldiers subsequently joined the national armies of newly independent African states.
This talk will delve into Lt Col Moyse-Bartlett’s detailed regimental history, concentrating on the first five decades of the King’s African Rifles, with a particular emphasis on the Burma Campaign.
It will also explore the experiences of King’s African Rifles veterans who served during the regiment’s final years and subsequently joined post-colonial units like the Malawi Rifles and the Kenya Regiment.
Their stories continue to be told through Rhino Link, the King’s African Rifles Association’s publication.
By reinterpreting the history of the King’s African Rifles for a modern audience, the talk aims to explore the regiment’s significance in professional military education, and consider how its lessons in leadership and management can be applied to civilian life.
Colonel Bates, a senior lecturer at the University of Cumbria, has experience spanning military, healthcare, and academia.
His interest in the King’s African Rifles began during his deployment to Malawi in 1991-92, where he led a Short Term Training Team supporting the Malawi Defence Force’s operations in Mozambique.
This, along with stories from his father-in-law about his own experiences in East Africa with the Medical Services, sparked an interest in the regiment’s history.
He is now an active member of the King’s African Rifles and East African Forces Association Committee.
The talk is open to all and is set to begin at 6pm, with doors opening at 5.30pm.
A licensed bar will be available.
Tickets booked in advance are priced at £4 for members, and £5 for non-members, with prices on the door costing £6 each.
To reserve tickets, call the museum on 01228 532774, email enquiries@cmoml.org, or book online at www.cumbriasmuseumofmilitarylife.org.
Attendees are encouraged to book their tickets in advance to ensure a seat.
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