AN ITALIAN OFFICER'S CAPE

circa 1944, believed to have been worn by Mrs Diana Lane, complete with a photograph of her wearing the robe in Nairobi 1944.

Due to the German forces advance into Greece, Diana Lane with her infant son was evacuated from Cyprus to Kenya in 1941. She joined the Kenya Police in Nairobi as the first woman to join the force. She worked in Police Intelligence. In 1943 the Italians surrendered to the Allies, many Italian officers ended up in Nairobi, including an Italian Colonel who presented his uniform cape.