Corporal, Colonial Infantry Regiment, Angola, 1900.jpg

Corporal, Colonial Infantry Regiment, Angola, 1900

Portugal had a long history of colonisation, but by the turn of the 20th century the majority of its overseas possessions were in southern Africa. There were other territories spread between Africa and East Asia.

Its main force for defence in these areas was with local auxiliaries and the Colonial Infantry. As can be seen from this plate, the CI wore the temperate uniform of mainland Portugal but with a colonial sun helmet. The helmet bore a unit plate on the front. The blue jacket has red distinctions that include the relevant rank chevrons.

The trousers are tucked into the top of ankle boots.

Like his mainland compatriots, this soldier is armed with a M1886 8mm Kropatschek rifle with yataghan bayonet. This was replaced by the 6.5mm M1904 Mauser-Vergueiros, although the Kropatschek remained in use with auxiliaries. It had a tubular magazine under the barrel similar to that of the French Lebel rifle.

Below is an illustration of a continental infantryman from the same period. This shows there was little difference in the uniforms worn in the colonies, apart from white in the hotter months and areas and khaki drill in the field.