MILITARY UNIFORMS OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE OVERSEAS 1938 (8) - NORTHERN RHODESIA

In our tour of the Empire in 1938, it's time to cross the Zambezi and push on to Northern Rhodesia:

The reverse of this card (No.46 of 50) states:

"The Northern Rhodesia Regiment was formerly the Military Wing of the Northern Rhodesia Police. This Military Wing was subsequently divorced from the Police and constituted a separate military regiment under its present title. Two battalions were raised in the Great War and played a distinguished part in the operations in S-W Africa in 1914 and in East Africa, 1914 - 1918. Its badge is a golden-crested crane and its motto "Diversi genere fide pares." Recruited from Africans of Northern Rhodesia, the Regiment, of which we show a Regimental Sergeant-Major, is officered by British officers. Government House, Lusaka, may be seen in the background."

In October 1964, Northern Rhodesia gained its independence from Great Britain and became modern day Zambia. Government House still stands in Lusaka, however - now the home and offices of the President of the Republic and re-labelled the "State House":

The State House, Lusaka. Gone is the RSM of the Northern Rhodesian Regiment - instead
we have the President's parked Mercedes.

Notes:

(1). 28mm suggestions - a useful basis for a Northern Rhodesian Regiment conversion would be the Kings African Rifles produced by Under Fire Miniatures:

(2). there is an interesting YouTube video HERE showing the State Opening of the Rhodesian Parliament. Unfortunately the video has no sound and is undated, but it looks like it dates back to the very early 1960s, and the ill fated "Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland" (1953 - 1963). A Governor-General inspects a very smart parade of infantry - almost certainly the Northern Rhodesian Regiment - and, equally happily, there is more film of the Southern Rhodesian Mounted Escort (Lancers) as per the previous post!

(3). A useful book, illustrating the 1938 Colours of the Regiment, and a 1930s bandsman: