Saluting Bunder

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If we were to take a walk northwest from The Prince of Wales Crescent, past the Government and the P&O Coal Grounds, onto Jopp Promenade, and directly opposite the Police Chowkee,  we would have seen the Saluting Bunder where six twelve-pounder guns, on 4-wheeled carriages, were positioned for saluting arriving dignitaries. In 1876 a cast iron shed  was erected, supported by 8 posts. It had a semi rounded roof with  a full-length vent in the top. The Saluting Bunder was later renamed The Prince of Wales Pier.

 

The Duke of Connaught visited Aden for the second time in 1921. He had been due to land  January 1st that year on his way to India to open the Reformed Legislative Council, but he was ill. He was travelling on the battleship HMS Malaya and had been due to receive a reception similar to the one he had been given on his previous visit in 1905. But he was well enough to receive on board the principal chiefs and the leading citizens and officials of Aden. Fortunately on his return journey he did land briefly to open the Memorial Building on the Prince of Wales Pier, which had been built and paid for by the Port Trust to honour those servicemen who had lost their lives in Aden during the Great War.

 

The War Graves booklet mentions that a brass plaque was put up in the hall to commemorate the 19 NCOs and men of the Brecknockshires who died in 1915, nearly all from heatstroke 4-5 July. Somewhere many years ago I thought I had read that 21 died from heatstroke - but this probably was the total UK casualties from heatstroke - seven or eight gunners also died according to the booklet.