The Royal Yacht BRITANNIA evacuating personnel off Little Aden, January 1986

On 14 January 1986, Her Majesty’s Yacht BRITANNIA, under the command of Rear Admiral John Garnier CBE, was en route to New Zealand for Royal Duty with HM The Queen. As the Royal Yacht approached the Red Sea,she received distress signals about intense fighting between Government forces and rival Marxist factions in the former British Colony of Aden, now Yemen. The situation threatened the safety of foreigners, HM The Queen readily gave Her permission and the Royal Yacht was dispatched for an urgent evacuation of British and Commonwealth nationals.

Arriving off Aden at first light, BRITANNIA faced a chaotic scene with fierce fighting in the port area. On 17 January, BRITANNIA was joined by the destroyer HMS NEWCASTLE, frigate HMS JUPITER, fleet tanker RFA BRAMBLELEAF, and surveying ship HMS HECLA, along with MV DIAMOND PRINCESS from Cunard. Despite the restriction preventing warships from entering territorial waters, BRITANNIA came to anchor near Abyan Beach to facilitate the evacuation.

With white ensigns flying prominently, the Royal Yacht began her task, working alongside Soviet ships. The rescue effort involved the use of five of the Yacht’s six boats, despite challenging conditions and heavy surf. By midnight, BRITANNIA had evacuated 152 individuals of 26 different nationalities. The survivors found temporary respite in the Royal Dining Room and Drawing Room.

The following day, BRITANNIA continued the evacuation but had to halt due to rebel forces firing on government positions near the beach. With the situation becoming increasingly perilous, the Yacht transferred French nationals to the French ship JULES VERNE and proceeded to Djibouti, where the remaining evacuees were disembarked. In subsequent days, evacuations continued under harsh conditions, with additional rescues by HMS NEWCASTLE and other ships.