6th Kings African Rifles Cap Badge

Kings African Rifles (K.A.R) locally made brass cap badge using the arabic numeral.

Some history:

The 6th King’s African Rifles (6th KAR) cap badge represents one of the battalions of the King’s African Rifles (KAR), a British colonial regiment formed in 1902. The KAR recruited soldiers from British East Africa, including present-day Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania.

The 6th KAR was formed in 1917 during World War I to support British military campaigns in East Africa. It played a vital role in fighting German colonial forces in Tanganyika (now Tanzania). The unit was later disbanded but reformed during World War II, participating in campaigns in Abyssinia (Ethiopia), Madagascar, and Burma.

The cap badge of the 6th KAR followed the general design of the KAR insignia, featuring a royal crown above crossed Askari rifles, symbolizing British rule and African soldiery. The regiment’s name appeared on a scroll beneath the rifles.

After World War II, the 6th KAR remained active until the early 1960s, when African nations gained independence. The battalion was absorbed into the Kenya Rifles following Kenya’s independence in 1963, marking the end of its British colonial identity. Today, the 6th KAR cap badge is a sought-after military collectible, reflecting the regiment’s historical significance.