Royal Air Force Akrotiri
Royal Air Force Akrotiri, Cyprus 25th December 1963. All station personnel in best blue uniforms for Xmas dinner, served by the stations officers. Members of the two resident R.A.F. Regiment squadrons, 27 and 34 who made up 3 (L.A.A.) wing, had just began to tuck into the main course when they were ordered to stop eating immediately, and proceed to the station armoury to draw arms and pack equipment for 28 days. Transport was rapidly sent to Limassol to bring in those who were 'living out.'
Fighting had erupted between Greek and Turkish Cypriots in the city of Nicosia. We sat in the billets for ages awaiting orders, and as darkness fell we were transported up to the offices at our gun lines. Soon after this 34 squadron were flown by Hastings aircraft into R.A.F. Nicosia. Archbishop Makarios had requested British help in stopping the fighting, and as a matter of urgency, island based troops would form the initial peace force. Land rovers were obtained and some fool suggested that sheets of 4x 4 blockboard be acquired, painted with R.A.F. roundels, and affixed to the sides of the vehicles. This nearly caused a riot, as it would give both the warring sides a mobile firing range to practice on. Common sense eventually prevailed, and a supply of union jacks were discovered and fixed to the radio aerials.
First thing next morning the R.A.F. Regiment patrols entered the city, each patrol consisting of seven land rovers and approx. thirty Regiment gunners but leaving me at the airfield as rear link signaller. The R.A.F. Regiment were used, as both sides of the combatants had many dressed in old army uniforms, plus there were battalions of both Greek and Turkish mainland troops based in the city, again in khaki uniforms. And there was the possibility that U.K. soldiers could be mistaken for the enemy. Patrols reported their mobile positions and what barricades were in place, and what weaponry. In addition, a small group entered the city to oversee the collection of bodies from both sides. In the evening, the 3-ton Bedford assigned to this task began to emit a horrible pong over the whole station, and next day it was doused in petrol and set alight.
That day the army first entered Nicosia, the R.A.F.Regiment escorted in the Glosters from Episkopi, with their land rovers interspaced with ours. They had to suffer a bit of mickey taking regarding being baby-sat by the Rock Apes. I knew a few of the Glosters when we spent a period at Troodos together. I was fortunate enough to be on patrol with them as there was no longer a need for a rear link. Next day, 27 squadron arrived by road, and it was planned that the city would be controlled by the major peacekeeping units of 3 (L.A.A) wing from Akrotiri, 1st Glosters from Episkopi, 3rd.Green Jackets plus 2 R.A. from Dhekalia and 14/20th Hussars from Libya. Armoured personnel carriers were 'borrowed' from the army, painted Air Force blue and used by 3 wing to evacuate service personnel trapped in the city.
After tea sergeant Fisher informed me that we and two other gunners were being attached as escort to Major General Peter Young, commander of the tripartite peace force. We were given a land rover and trailer; both C42 and A41 radio sets, rations plus extra four magazines each for our S.L.R. rifles, giving 100 rounds each. We arrived at the British passport office, which was being used as a temporary H./Q. In the building in addition to the escort were the general himself, his A.D.C. a major from the Green Jackets (rifle Brigade) Duncan Sandys, Secretary of state for Commonwealth Relations, and three army lads, two drivers and a signaller. We settled in downstairs, whilst the others slept upstairs. The passport office was quite roomy, main business area, a bedroom and kitchen downstairs, two large bedrooms and a bathroom upstairs, and the building was oil heated.
Next morning everyone with the exception of the Regiment escort moved to the nearby Cornaro hotel. As soon as they departed the sergeant booked the Foreign ministers bed and I got the generals. Our duty as escort was to have a lead rover with the driver and Sgt Fisher in the front seats with myself on the radios in the back, next came the generals Humber staff car followed by the signals rover with a Regiment escort in the passenger seat. During daylight we escorted to various units and embassies including Black Macs residence. Down came darkness, then I had my first scary moment. We drove to Kyrenia gate which the Regiment were in control of, and entered into the walled city which was in complete darkness. Turning left to visit the palace of the Turkish Vice President Dr. Kutchuk, we encountered a large roadblock. Barbed wire strung across x frames. It was my duty to open these barriers, and I approached shouting “General of peace force to see Dr Kutchuk" At this point the air was filled with the sound of Turks cocking their weapons. They could see me in the vehicles headlights, but I could see nothing but the barrier. I slung my rifle and with hands in the air went and opened the barrier, let our convoy through and closed it again. This was a nightly ritual for the first week or so.
In the vice presidents compound whilst the general was in talks with Cypriot Turkish representatives, we stood watching as the A.D.C. and the generals driver, a corporal from the R.A.S.C. played dice on the bonnet of the Humber. A camera crew approached and began filming. The A.D.C. smiled and asked them what business they were, and got the reply "Turkish television, recording British soldiers play whilst Turkish women and children die." That put an end to the dice, and was a lesson learned. As the army units had now moved into the city in force it was suggested to Major General Young that perhaps it would now be appropriate for him to have an army escort. He would have none of it, he was quite chatty with us, and we thought he was a great guy. Soon after this his new staff car arrived, a Jaguar Mk10. Sgt fisher would drive it now and then, and on occasion I would sit in the back seat as we ran some errand. Soldiers on every street saluting and I dare not return their salutes. We were very fortunate being billeted in the passport office, especially after the first three weeks when the young ladies returned to work, and in return for some compo rations, they often cooked for us. The other members of 3 Wing, not so fortunate, some were sleeping in factories and other buildings, and they also took the responsibility for providing the guard at the front of the Cornaro hotel, receiving much praise for their smartness, especially when wearing greatcoats.
By now the peace force was strengthened by units flown out from the U.K. H/Q. 16 Para brigade and two Para battalions, and from the RA.F Both 16 (field) squadron and 2 field (Para) squadron. Lots of escort duties as wherever the general went in the Nicosia district, we also went. One night we were in a street near the Roundel club, and the general was in conversation with another officer. They went to the signals rover, but could not make radio contact with any of the major units. They rushed to my vehicle and asked if I was in contact with any unit. I replied, "Yes sir, 3 (L.A.A). R.A.F.Regiment." I was asked to get their commanding officer on the line, and responded "one niner for six niner fetch sunray over" Reply was "unknown station say again over" Replied "Check your N.I.S. board over" Again they came back with the unknown station, asking "who are you" The general gave the nod and I answered with "Commander Cyprus Tripartite Peace Force over" One could almost cut the silence at the other end, and suddenly sunray was there! The general requested a flight to approach our position on foot, and after a sitrep they slowly surrounded a suspect building, before Greek Cypriot police entered it. The general profusely thanked the flight for their speedy effort.
On other occasions we were sent to looted houses, in one such house deserted by a German family we discovered a very friendly but hungry Rhodesian ridgeback which we fed, and handed it to a nearby army unit which promised to look after it. On occasion we were tasked with escorting other individuals. On one occasion when we arrived back at the Cornaro the general asked two of us to escort an elderly gentleman back to his farmhouse a few hundred yards away. When we got there, I walked round the building to check that all was in order, when I reached the rear, horror! Four guys pointing shotguns at me! I said "Good afternoon" and kept on walking. Back at the rover I informed the old fellow, and he was delighted as it was a few friends protecting his property from looters. One of the girls in the passport office (an Armenian lass) asked us if we could assist in flitting her fathers tailor shop from inside the walled city to a new location on the outskirts. We used our land rover and helped move the contents so as to hurry our departure, as a large group of Turks watched in silence whilst a Turkish T.V. crew recorded all our activity. Was glad when we exited the walled city. For our efforts we were rewarded with a bottle of wine each.
Nicosia was getting cold at night so we wore our greatcoats, as did the remainder of the wing, Later we changed into combat suits as the need to appear in blue receded
One light moment, was when the general went home to Episkopi for 24hours, during a period when things were becoming quieter. This was our first day off duty in five weeks and the general's driver and I went up to Nicosia camp in the signals rover to watch a film, on the return journey along airport road we noticed that a bar was open. We stopped and went in for a Keo beer. The bar was deserted bar a few hostesses who were sitting along one wall. One of them put a coin in the jukebox and asked us to dance with them. Duly obliged, dressed in blue battle dress, boots and gaiters, with rifle slung over shoulder and ammo pouches full of magazines, when in walked three redcaps. A sergeant and two lance corporals, one of them pulled the jukebox plug to stop the music, and they demanded to know who we were and that we should accompany them back to their camp. My mate informed them that we were the general's staff on a night off and if they had looked at the star plate on the signals rover they would have been aware of this. He asked permission to phone to prove it. They gave the o.k. And after the situation was explained to Episkopi, he handed the redcap sergeant the telephone. Do not know what the general said, but they quickly found a coin to restart the music and bade us a fond farewell. Great to have friends in high places, especially when that friend was the highest-ranking officer in the Middle East. Other perks also came with the job, such as the time when our stock of compo rations was getting low. We mentioned this to the A.D.C. who told us to take the signals rover, and go up to R.A.F. Nicosia and collect a supply. Found the stores building, and was greeted by a surly n.c.o. who greeted us with “What do you lot want, and which unit are you from?" When we told him we were the general's staff, he told us to enter the rear storage area, and gave us a list detailing the contents of all the compo stock, and told us to tick anything we wanted.
On another occasion we were with the general when he visited the airfield. He noticed a pay parade in progress and stopped the jaguar, the A.D.C. came and asked if is was our unit being paid. Answered yes, and was told to go and get paid. The warrant officer in charge ensured that we were paid instantly and sent a sergeant running at the double to give us our free cigarette ration of 400 fags apiece. Gradually U.N. troops arrived and took over positions from island-based troops. Among the first to arrive were the Canadian Van Doos and a Finnish battalion who cycled from Famagusta to Nicosia. As things were quiet Sgt Fisher and ginger returned to unit, leaving two of us as escort.
On our final day as escort after serving for seven weeks we escorted the general to the airport. Prior to departure he shook hands and had a chat with each of us. The A.D.C. took photographs of us with the general and promised to send us copies (still waiting.) Back to normal duties at Akrotiri for us as the U.N. gathered in strength. Returned to Akrotiri, but no R.A.F. Regiment! and nobody knew where they were. Later we noticed a 3 wing land rover, flagged down the driver to be informed that the wing were in the Greek village of Episkopi and the Turkish village of Kandou.
We arrived there to find Episkopi civilian population had deserted, so found a bed in the police station. Later moved to Kandou where the Turks were in defensive positions. At the entry they had a trench with a Turkish flag, and an old guy with a bren gun and three bullets, one live and two spent. We quickly reinforced the trenches draped our union jacks over the front, and began to give the old bren a thorough going over. Our S.L.R. ammo was no good to them, but we quickly cannibalised every bren mag. To give them a plentiful supply. No Greek ever approached during our stay, and the Turks were heartbroken when we were relieved by U.N troops.
Back to base for 3(L.A.A.) wing, job done. A month or so later Gayton and I were told to present ourselves in best blue to appear in front of our C.O. Wonder what we have done wrong? Marched into the office to be informed that he had received a lovely letter from the general, which he read to us, praising our efforts, and we were to proceed next day to his residence where we were to be awarded with a scrumptious meal served by Sudanese waiters in white uniforms and red fez caps.
All island-based troops returned to their Sovereign Bases. Fresh forces including those from the U.K. now wore the light blue berets of the O.N.U. and were awarded medals for their efforts, even if they never went outside the wire of a Sovereign Base Area. The original peace force, which for a short spell also came under U.N. command but not badged, were soon forgotten.
A final thought, when General Young vacated the passport office, he left pinned on a wall an ariel photograph of Nicosia city. Marked with positions of various units, and the line dividing Cypriot Greek and Turk, was this the original Green Line? I took it back to Akrotiri with me, but instead of sending it home in my deep sea box when tour-ex, I gave it away, along with my N.I.S. boards. Wish now that I had retained them for their historical value.
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