Death on the Kykko Track
Dave
Cranston
Ex
Royal Ulster Rifles
Friday November the first, 1957, Rfn Eric Gillett was driving along the notorious Kykko Track en route to collect some Cypriot workmen when the track crumbled beneath the vehicle, the front wheels slipped over the edge and the vehicle rolled 500 feet down a mountainside disintegrating as it went. One of the first on the scene was Sergeant Jack Taylor of the Cyprus Police, and the following is his account of the incident.
"I saw two or three forestry workmen looking down the vineyards towards the village, and looking down I could see the scattered wreckage of an army vehicle that had plunged down the steep terraces of vines . I jumped down slipping on the sandy shale, dropping over the terraces, and holding the vines until about 500 feet down I reached the driver. An old Cypriot lady was cradling the injured man rocking him gently in her arms and wailing softly. I moved him gently and wrapped him in my combat jacket and asked the old Cypriot lady to fetch some Nero (water). I wrapped the injured man in canvas from the vehicle. He was semiconscious, in a lot of pain with blood staining his face and clothes. When the lady returned with the water I washed his face but had to refuse him a drink, for which he cursed me roundly, but I thought the risk of internal injuries too great to allow him to drink."
"A helicopter was called for and Captain Bell, RAMC, and his medical team assisted by Cpl Shannon RUR and two of the riflemen managed to stretcher Rfn Gillett to a point where the helicopter could land for the pickup."
"It was thought that he had a 50/50 chance of survival but it was not to be. Rfn Eric Gillett died of his injuries the following day and was buried with full military honours in the British cemetery in Nicosia."
After the death of Rfn Gillett, Major Liddle traced the old lady who had comforted Rfn Gillett and had her brought to the local police station. She was informed of the reason before hand so she would not be thinking she had done anything wrong and she was deeply embarrassed to be the center of attention. Sgt. Stamataris, of the police, interpreted Major Liddle's words of gratitude and presented her with a bouquet of flowers, a cash reward, collected by the men of the Regiment and a silver broach in the shape of the Regimental Crest.
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