Amedeo Duke of Aosta

Spirow Ewes · #1

Hello!

Some someonde provide some pics and biography of Amedeo Duke of Aosta? What was his last rank in Regia Aeronautica? All the info you can find will be most welcome!

VJK · #2

Hi!

You'll find a pic and bio (in Italian) here: http://www.asso4stormo.it/arc3/arc35/353.htm
His last rank was Generale d'Armata Aerea.

Regards,

VJK

Lupo Solitario · #3

Amedeo di Savoia, third Duke of Aosta. Born 1898, first son of duke Emanuele Filiberto. Serves in WWI under his father command; after war keeps part in african exploration and in colonial campaigns in Lybia. In 1923 enters the new formed Regia Aeronautica. As colonel commands the 4th Stormo Caccia.
In 1938 is named Viceroy of Italian East Africa and Generale d'Armata Aerea (Air Force General).
In 1941 surrenders to british at Amba Alagi
Dies in March 1942 at Nairobi

Dr. Bob · #4

All I know about his personality is that Duke Amadeo was very tall and well-liked by his English adversaries for his good manners and aristocratic, anglophile ways.

verikyno · #5

HRH Prince Amedeo Umberto of Italy was the 3rd Duke of Aosta. He was descended from King Victor Emanuel II (this was his great grandfather) therefore a cousin of King Victor Emanuel III of Italy. His titles included Viceroy of Ethiopia, Gov-Gen of East Africa, General Italian AF, Senator of the Italian Kingdom, ETC...He was married to Princess Helene of France and had 2 daughters. He had the distinction of being the last vanquished general (when captured by the British) to inspect the troops to whom he had surrendered to. This line of the Italian Royal family always outshone the reigning family and contiues to do so to this day.

Oasis · #6

The grave of Amedeo d'Aosta lies abandoned in a desolated place far from Nairobi: a friend air force veteran from AOI some 9-10 years ago went to visit the grave bringing some flowers and a flag after 55 years, but he found everything abandoned.

Toni

Spirow Ewes · #7

What about this pictures? They show the grave. Doesn't look that abandoned...

source: http://www.asso4stormo.it/arc3/arc35/353.htm

FB · #8

Oasis wrote:The grave of Amedeo d'Aosta lies abandoned in a desolated place far from Nairobi: a friend air force veteran from AOI some 9-10 years ago went to visit the grave bringing some flowers and a flag after 55 years, but he found everything abandoned.

Toni

Could it be that we are confusing Amedeo Duca d'Aosta with his paternal uncle Luigi Amedeo Duca degli Abruzzi? I.e.: the so called Zio Luigino (in the family of course), the famous explorator, chief of the Joint Naval Forces during WWI?

After WWI he sort of disappeared from the scenes. That's because he went in voluntary exile, so to say. Infact he fell in love with an American girl. She was divorced, if memory serves, and when Luigi Amedeo went to King Vittorio Emanule to ask permission to marry her, the King denied it. So he left the Italy and went in Africa (he previously explored the Ruwenzori), establishing in Italian Solmaliland, near the Uebi Scebeli river, where he founded the Duca degli Abruzzi village.

This was a rather exceptional realization on many aspects, architecture, social developement, agricoltural and economical developement, religious cohabitation etc.

He died there in 1933 and was buried, per his precise request, on the banks of the Uebi Scebeli river.

Having been for the last decades the situation in Somalia the one that everybody knows I tend to think that the almost abandoned Aosta's grave in Africa is the Duca degli Abruzzi one and not the Duca d'Aosta one.

Best regards

Oasis · #9

It was only my old friend's witness of many years ago (I should have a press article somewhere written by him after coming back from the journey). Maybe now it has been restored. The result looks good. Thanks for the link.

Toni

UMachine · #10

FB is right when he asks if there is confusion on this matter.This site gives an explanation as to how the Duke of Aosta became ill in Gilgil and came to be interred in this mausoleum in 1952.

http://www.nationaudio.com/News/EastAfr ... /PA67.html

UMachine · #11

And his uncle's project village and resting place in Somalia.

http://xoomer.alice.it/fernandotermentini/somalia.htm

Spirow Ewes · #12

After reading the article posted by UMachine, I think I've located the church were the Duke is buried. According to the text it is "four kilometers northwest of Nyeri, Kenya." This is the site:

For Google Earth:

0°24'42.40"S
36°55'17.15"L

zaptiè · #13

Luigi Duke of Abruzzi rests wehre exumates and traslayed to Italy by italian army during the last international operation in Somaliland some years ago.