Italian Kingdom. The infantry also wore black gorget patches with a red border marked by a . The first helmets they used were made of cork, as was typical for colonial military units. In the 1910s, they switched to khaki pith helmets, inspired by the English cavalry of the Boer War. During the 1920s, the pith helmets were replaced with hats similar to the Cappello Alpino, without a feather or tassel. Canvas bandoliers were also often used, much like hunters, the Zaptié, and the Méhariste. Military structure 1888 Special African Corp (General Alessandro Asinari di San Marzano 1st Brigade (General Carlo Genè) 1st Special African Regiment (Colonel 1st Battalion (Major Carlo Rodano) 2nd Battalion (Lieutenant Colonel Giovan Battista Luciano) Battalion of Bersaglieri 2nd Special African Regiment (Colonel Camillo De Charbonneau) 3rd Battalion (Major Camillo Fiore) 4th Battalion (Major Pio Carlo Di Majo) 5th Battalion (Lieutenant Colonel Gustavo Ferrua) Squadron of cavalry Brigade of artillery, with four companies of gunners Command company Health company Logistics company Transport company Bashi-bazouk irregulars 1923 1st Battalion (Zuwarah) 2nd Battalion (Tripoli) 3rd Battalion (Benghazi) 1st Squadron Armored Car (8 Lancia 1ZMs) 2nd Squadron Armored Car (3 Lancia 1ZMs, 2 Fiat-Terni Tripoli, 2 Lanchester armoured cars) 4th Battalion 1st Squadron Armored Car (12 Fiat-Terni Tripolis) 2nd Squadron Armored Car (8 armed Fiat 15 trucks) 5th Battalion 1935 1st Infantry Regiment of Africa Command company 1 battalion of tank hunters 1 battalion of Milizia Coloniale 1 storage depot 2nd Infantry Regiment of Africa Command company 1 battalion of tank hunters 1 battalion of Milizia Coloniale 1 storage depot Military units and formations of Italy Military units and formations of Italy in World War II Military units and formations of the Industrial era Military units and formations established in 1887 Military units and formations disestablished in 1937 Infantry units and formations Mechanized units and formations Military history of Africa