Cyprus
1957 - 1960
(aborted
Suez Posting)

http://www.britains-smallwars.com/cyprus/war.html

Click here to see
Tommy Dey's
Photo Collection

Left to right
Clifford Tilley, Tommy Hardman, Peter Bickerstaff
and Jimmy Lovelady

It was June 1958 when I took over Command of B Coy 1LF stationed at Kirmia Camp just outside Nicosia. Joe Kelly, the Lancashire full back was 2 i/c, Paddy Haines a regular subalterns and two N.S. subalterns, one of them destined for greater things as 2/Lt Konrad Schiemann later became famous as Sir Konrad Schiemann Privy Councillor in 1995. Gerry Lyons was the CSM and Les Lamb one of the Pl Sgts.
The Internal Situation in Cyprus was really on the boil so we had brilliant opportunities for soldiering. We were on a routine of three weeks in the Greek Sector of the Old City, rushing from burning church to burning church, followed by three weeks in the Turkish Sector of the Old City, rushing from burning Mosque to burning Mosque (we were not biased). Then for a change, three weeks in the suburbs enforcing curfews, following funerals, attending shooting incidents and generally keeping the natives off each others throats. Finally upto the mountains for three weeks to tap into telephone wires with our Greek speaking interpreter listening in to conversations between the monastries so that we could try to intercept EOKA weapons on the move and soft shoe patrolling around the villages in dead of night. After the mountains we went back to the Old City again on a never ending routine; 24 hours a day, seven days a week as infinitum......it was fun and there was hardly ever a complaint from a marvellous bunch of XXth soldiers.
Two Fusiliers are etched in my memory from those far off days Norman Hurst a national serviceman, my batman/bodyguard. He was a body builder, Mr North West, Great Britain at one stage. He could lift a rioting Greek or Turk with one hand whilst holding his rifle in the other. Peter Bickerstaff was my driver regretably he was killed shortly after I left the Battalion, he really was a splendid, brave, cheerful young man and great company to have around no matter whatever the circumstances. One night I remember, alone on vehicle patrol, we intercepted some seven coach loads of Greeks intent on burning down a Turkish village and with the help of a passing Ferret disarmed and arrested a couple of hundred men (the folly of youth there were at least two dustbins full of knives and axes). The Bn 2i/c Major James Martlew then came to our aid and we trundelled them all off to the Central Police Station in Nicosia and handed them over to the Police.
Happy days, almost 50 years ago with great soldiers from a truely great Regiment.

Maurice Taylor

Then 2/Lt Konrad Schiemann Now Sir Konrad Hermann Theodor Schiemann Judge of the European Court of Justice

"Cyprus Agreement!
Sent in by
Maurice Taylor

This set of photo came to us by Capt John Campbell they where sent to him by
Jim Brooks
We were in Turkey for two weeks survival expedition Oct 59.
We had to go in civvies as were not allowed in uniform.
We stayed in a hotel which turned put to be the red light ditrict, and Capt Campbell sat outside our room so as we could not go out 'sightseeing by night' with a shotgun across his knee, I really dont know what he thought we would get up to!!!!! do you ?

One day we came across a large snake, and one of the lads threw stones at it and killed it chopped it's head off then skinned it he put the skin in salt and later made a belt.
We went to Instanbul and went to the Museum of the 'Whirling Dervishes' I think Capt Campbell was trying to educate us.
I nearly got knifed on a train, because I was looking at some Turks, we kept the compartment door well shut after that!!!
We lived of the land but Capt Campbell
was given £75 for essential's, which every penny had to be accounted for.
we had a good time and a very good experience was had by all, with 'Capt Campbell' and the lads.
Story by
Brian (Fred) Fish

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