the 2nd battalion, the [[black watch]] was sent to aden from egypt by cruiser, ready to reinforce the french, as legentilhomme feigned ignorance of the armistice terms. legentilhomme also denied entry to the new vichy french governor, general [[gaëtan germain (governor)|gaëtan germain]] (25 july to 7 august). on 19 july, legentilhomme was opposed in the governor's council by the navy and air force commanders and to avoid bloodshed decided that those opposed to vichy should depart. legentilhomme had run out of time and left for aden on 5 august, leaving germaine to sever relations with the british. italian apprehension about the possibility of the british using the colony as a bridgehead continued; germaine was superseded by [[pierre nouailhetas]] as governor from 7 august, arriving from france on 2 september.