|
Aden's
Centenary Celebrations
In March 1938 the Governor instructed
his staff to form a committee to decide what should be
done in Aden to celebrate the centenary of the colony
coming under British rule in January 1839. It was
necessarily a large committee to be able to embrace all
aspects of Aden life, and particularly the commercial
sector. The only man to refuse to serve was the
local French businessman, Antonin Besse because,
in spite of contributing to Aden in many ways for nearly
30 years, he was very upset he had never been invited to
sit on any previous committee.
The Governor
gave them terms of reference. To put it somewhat
crudely, did they want a party or a lasting memorial, or
a combination of both? By a party he meant celebrations
combined with a charitable distribution and by a
memorial a permanent public utility. Whatever they
decided they must consider the cost of what they were
proposing and how it was to be paid for.
The Chamber of
Commerce were determined that they would have a voice in
the disposal of any funds raised. The recent KGV
Memorial Fund had been largely spent in Maalla (the KGV
Memorial Stadium being the chief beneficiary) and they
were all from Tawahi and the Crater. There were also
those who wanted to erect a statue of
Commander Haines, similar to that
of Queen Victoria in the
Crescent, and/or to rename the
Main Pass ‘Haines Pass’. Due to
Haines’ somewhat chequered career neither idea was
approved by the authorities.
It was felt that
Aden had had rather more celebrations of one kind and
another over the years compared to many other colonies
and that whatever was decided should be fairly low key.
There would be (as far as possible financially
self-supporting) celebrations and a distribution of food
to the poor. For a lasting memorial there were two
ideas, both of which would be proceeded with: the
provision of a public hall in Crater and the
construction of a much-needed maternity and
child-welfare clinic. There was not the money to build
the former, so an existing building in Crater would have
to be renovated and altered to make it fit for purpose,
with the minimum of expenditure. Most of the money
raised would go towards the clinic, urgently needed to
try to reduce the death-rate of mothers and babies at
childbirth.
Sub-committees
were formed and that to choose the building in Crater to
become the public hall singled out two possibilities.
One was the group of four squash courts next to the
garrison church and the other the old Army gymnasium.
Squash Courts in front of St.
Mary's Garrison Church
Not surprisingly the former was much too small and the
latter was selected. Another sub-committee decided on
the form of parade, their only remit being that it must
involve all the Services and other forces in Aden. They
decided to hold the parade on the football ground in
Crater and nine guards would be drawn up in order of
precedence as follows:
|
J |
|
|
|
|
|
|
A |
|
H |
|
|
|
|
|
|
A |
|
H |
|
|
|
|
|
|
A |
| |
G |
FF |
EEE |
DDD |
CCC |
BBB |
|
|
A |
Royal Navy |
40 |
|
B |
Army (Royal Artillery) |
60 |
|
C |
Royal Air Force |
60 |
|
D |
Royal Indian Navy |
60 |
|
E |
Aden Protectorate Levies |
60 |
|
F |
Armed Police |
40 |
|
G |
Government Guards |
22 |
|
H |
Lahej Trained Forces |
40 |
|
J |
Amiri Tribal Guards |
25 |
|
In rear of the
parade would be lined up six cars of the
APL Armoured Car Squadron and
another six cars of the Machine Gun Company.
Another
sub-committee had the task of putting together the
programme of events for the celebrations, that would
last for almost a fortnight. Some of the events were
very minor, for example three film evenings, one each at
the Aden Talkies in Crater,
one at the New Theatre in
Tawahi and the third at the Soldiers’, Sailors’ &
Airmen’s Institute at Steamer Point. P&O were providing
the films but the titles could not be known sufficiently
in advance to be put in the official programme. On
another four evenings there were plays in the new
so-called Town Hall in Crater. Two performances of the
Hindu play Atashi Nag, and two in Arabic – one each of
Wardat-elhub (The Flower of Love) and Romeo and Juliet.
Sporting events included: an evening of aquatic sports
at the Gold Mohur bathing Club; boxing at the RN canteen
in Steamer Point; a football match at the KGV memorial
stadium at Maala (Aden Command
vs Aden) and an Aden sailing regatta. One event that was
not selected, on the excuse that there were already more
than sufficient, was a special running of the Cunningham
Cup horse race at Khormaksar.
Other events were: an afternoon Lottery Draw at the
Tawahi Reclamation; three evening concert parties; an
evening dance at the Union Club; a Governor’s Reception;
a Governor’s Dance and, importantly, an evening of Arab
and Somali dancing and singing at the
Tawela Tanks.
Tawila Tanks with Playfair Tank
in the foreground.
When not filled with water the tanks would often be used
for entertainment
At the last minute it was realised that there was no
Fair in the programme, but one on the lines of the
Sheikh Othman or Aidroos Fairs would be welcomed. A Fair
was arranged for the last four nights.
Apart from the Centenary Parade there was also an
afternoon Air Display at Khormaksar.
As well as an air display there was a static display
which included a sectionalised Vincent and a
demonstration of the testing of a synchronised Vickers
gun on the stop butts. The air display included message
dropping and picking up, supply dropping using parachute
containers, air to ground firing and formation flying.
The set piece depicted the bombing and destruction of a
native village by flight and individual attacks. The Air
Display finished with a display of squadron formation
flying, which included a fly-past with the planes
depicting ‘100’ to record the centenary. Entry to most of
the events was by ticket, the proceeds from which
amounted to a fair proportion of the money raised for
the Memorial Fund to pay for the maternity clinic. A
week after the event the Fund had raised over 80,000
Rupees. For example non-Europeans had to pay four Annas
to attend the event at the Tawela
Tanks, and Europeans one Rupee. The Air Display was
not free either, entry to the 1st Class enclosure, including tea,
three Rupees; 2nd Class enclosure one Rupee and the 3rd
Class enclosure eight Annas.
The total
raised was only about 1,200 Rupees.
It was suggested that there should be a VIP guest at the
four major evening functions with the Sultan of Lahej
attending the Arab play and the Governor Romeo and
Juliet (in Arabic).
Although the Centenary
Committee had discussed the possibility of the 'Feeding
of the Poor' being held in more than one location, it
was finally decided that this would be limited to Sheikh
Othman only. This 'event' in the programme took place on
15 January, the only other activity that day being the
evening performance of Romeo and Juliet. The programme
was designed so that there would be one daytime and one
evening event each day (not counting the Fair which was
added to the programme at the last minute)
No doubt a good time was had by all.
|
|
