Aimer of a battery of Eritrean Ascari. Italo-Ethiopian war 1935-36. DVX

 Eritrean Ascaro

War Ministry headquarters, Empire of Abyssinia, just before the Second Italo-Abyssinian War.  The guards' uniforms identify them as member of Emperor Haile Selassie's Imperial Guard - in practice, a personal military corps which was one of the principal underpinnings of the Emperor's régime.  The concept of "boots" seems to have been absent from these soldiers' military thinking ... Best regards, JR.

Iron Lions, bare feet ...

Eritrean Ascari serving and old gun during the Italo-Ethiopian war. In background the Italian officer and two Scium-Basci (the highest NCO rank in the colonial troops). The number and the color of the stars on the Sciumbasci sleeves indicated the time of service: 3 gold stars indicated over 28 years of service. DVX