I don't think Pankhurst has a clue. THats because according to him the Mehal Sefari were created in 1917 by the Regent at the time Crown Prince(Later Emperor) Haile Selassie I. Facts are that the Mehal Sefari fought in the Battle of Adwa in 1896 under the command of Jan Fitawrari(Imperial Fitawrari) Gebeyehu who fell in that battle. Every single chrnociler of that battle, especially ones who covered the battle for Enda Mariam Shewito distinctly records the travails of the Mehal Sefari. The Mehal Sefari was an elite not regular Army unit composed of no less than 5 units. These were the Malefya Temenja(Snipers), Wiha Sinku(Rapid deployment specialized infrantry), Feres Zebegna(Cavalry)under Commander Kegn Tafesse, Gibi Zebegna(Palace Guard) under Commander Ato Habtegiorgis, Medf Bet(Artillery) Commander Ras Abate Buayalew. Habtegiorgis went on to become commander of the Mehal Sefari the very next day after Adwa and Minister of war. He was the second most powerful man in the Empire during the reign of Menelik II and Eyasu V and Zewditu I.