King of Italy 

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A 21-gun salute fired from H.M.S. Penzance signalled the arrival in Aden of King Victor Emmanuel III of Italy in October 1934.

 

The King was on his way to Mogadishu in Somaliland aboard his yacht, the Savoia, which had been escorted by Admiral Miraglia in the cruiser Gorizia.

 

The Chief Commissioner, Sir Bernard Reilly, and the Italian Consul went aboard the Savoia to meet His Majesty.

 

The Resident's car at this time was an Armstrong Siddeley enclosed landaulette, seen in the left of the picture at the Prince of Wales Pier. It had arrived earlier in the year to replace the Austin Marlborough which can be seen, still being used, on the right.

 

The following morning Sir Bernard met the King at the Prince of Wales Pier, with a guard of honour provided by 100 men of the Aden Protectorate Levies. The Italian Consul presented the 24 members of the Italian community to His Majesty.

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Sir Bernard and the King then drove around Aden before heading out to look at the Italian Salt Works and Sheikh Othman Oasis.

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His Majesty was back aboard Savoia before lunch and departed at noon escorted for a short distance by 9 R.A.F. aircraft of 8 Squadron. This VIP escort was a standard way of showing the flag (and respect, as in gun salutes by the Army and Navy).