Guardsman, Kebur Zabagna, 1956.gif

Guardsman, Kebur Zabangna (Ethiopian Imperial Guard), 1949

After the liberation of Abyssinia from the Italians in 1941, the Ethiopian Army received substantial assistance and advice from the British Army. This led to the Army taking on a very British appearance.

The best equipped units of the Army were the Imperial Guard, as had been the case before the Italian invasion. In fact in the 1930s they were the only modern force in the country, with uniforms and modern weaponry.

This Guardsman wears a khaki serge peaked cap with brown leather chinstrap. The Guard badge is worn on the front of the cap.

The battledress jacket is also serge and either based on or an actual British 1937 pattern BD jacket. It is hip length with covered buttons throughout. The only exposed buttons are on the shoulder straps.

The jacket is worn with straight serge trousers.

His equipment is Ethiopian, perhaps modelled on the 1908 British webbing. It is brown leather with three cartridge pouches on each side.

He carries a British 0.303in Short Magazine Lee Enfield rifle and long bayonet.