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1974
Cyprus is an island in the eastern Mediterranean. It was ruled by Turkey until
1878 when it passed into British Administration. It
 was
annexed by Britain after Turkey joined Germany during the First World War, and
it became a Crown Colony in 1925.
The population was approximately 75% Greek Cypriot although the island had never
belonged to Greece, and by the early
1950’s they were agitating for union with Greece (Enosis) and this developed
into a campaign of violence and murder. The political leader of the Enosis
movement was Archbishop Makarios, and self-styled ‘General’ Grivas led their
‘military’ wing. A State of Emergency existed between 1954 and 1959 and
thousands of British troops were deployed in an anti-terrorist campaign.
Although no Coldstream unit fought in this campaign many individuals served with
the Guards Parachute Company, various Headquarters and other units.
Independence was granted in 1960 on the condition the Cyprus joined neither
Greece or Turkey, and for strategic reasons Britain retained two Sovereign Base
Areas (SBA). Archbishop Makarios become President, but Turkish-Cypriots were
resentful at the way that they were treated and inter-communal trouble soon
developed.
In 1964 the United Nations Force in Cyprus (UNICYP) was authorised for a period
of six months; thirty-eight years later
it is still there! Initially over 6,000 troops from nine counties were deployed,
with the biggest contingent coming from Britain. Limited success was achieved
and by April/May 1974, the strength of the force had been reduced to about 2,500
men, consisting of 40 static OP’s and mobile patrols. This had the effect that
the British Battalion was divided in two, one half was under command of UNICYP,
and the other half remained in the SBA’s.
When the 2nd Bn arrived in May 1974, Battalion Headquarters, Number 1 and 4
Companies and the Parachute Squadron, RAC deployed to UNICYP under the
Commanding Officer, while Number 2(Support) and 3 Companies went to the Eastern
SBA at Dhekelia under the Battalion Second-in-Command.
The UN Bn deployed to the Limassol Zone which was commanded by the Commanding
Officer. The zone was divided into the Paphos District
 which was the
responsibility of No1 Company, and the Limassol District which became No4
Company’s area. Each company had two troops of Ferrets from the Parachute
Squadron under command. They manned static OP’s in areas of likely confrontation
between Greek and Turkish Cypriots, and mounted mobile patrols to outlying
areas.
By mid July, all seemed to be going well as there had been no major incidents.
The SBA Bn had been concentrating on training and other duties at Dhekelia.
However, at 0930hrs on 15th July, reports were received of heavy fighting in
Limassol where the National Guard attacked the police stations. Reports were
also received from Nicosia that the National Guard had seized the airport and
were attacking the Presidential Palace. Paphos was a Makarios stronghold and
remained calm, and the National Guard remained loyal. Later that day, Makarios’s
death was announced.
The UN Mandate didn’t allow for intervention in purely Greek Cypriot matters,
but the Battalion had to ensure that the fighting didn’t spread to the Turkish
Cypriot areas of Limassol and Paphos. However, in Paphos news of the death of
Makarios and that
Nicos Sampson had seized power was met by much activity. Turkish Cypriots used
this as an excuse to strengthen their fortifications, something the Battalion
had spent much time trying to ensure didn’t happen. Makarios loyalists also
detained the National Guard officers. All this led to increased inter-communal
tensions.
To add to their problems, No4 Company lost all radio and telephone
communications on the 15th July, their only contact with HQ UNICYP was an
insecure voice relay station in the Trodos Mountains. Their only source of
intelligence was the BBC World Service news bulletins.
Late
in the afternoon, Major Macfarlane received a message that Makarios was alive
and well in the Paphos Bishopric. He was handed a note which he was asked to
transmit to HQ UN in New York. Although dubious as to its authenticity, he
transmitted it and asked to meet Makarios, which he did that evening. Makarios
wanted to know of events in Limassol as he wanted to visit it next day as he
believed that it was the key to success or failure of the coup. He also asked to
meet Mr Weckman-Munoz, the Secretary General’s Special Representative to Cyprus,
and General Prem Chand, Commander UNICYP.
That night the BBC were still broadcasting that Makarios was dead, but by next
morning they were reporting that he had been seen alive by a UN Officer. After
the meeting with Weckman-Munoz and General Chard, all doubts were dispelled.
Limassol fell over night and the only serious resistance was now centred on
Paphos. The National Guard moved quickly against Makarios, and
 he sent a note to
Major Macfarlane requesting a helicopter to take him to RAF Akrotiri. He arrived
at St Patrick’s Camp shortly after and spent the next few hours in the Officers’
Mess while negotiations were held between HQ UNICYP, HQ UN and the British
Foreign Office. A helicopter arrived later that afternoon and flew him to
Akrotiri. He then went to London via Malta.
Tensions remained high after the coup and the likelihood of a Turkish invasion
increased. The SBA Bn was confined to the SBA where they undertook extra duties
such as manning Entry Control Points, guards at the British Military Hospital (BMH)
and the British Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS), and re-supply convoys to
Dhekelia, Episkopi and Famagusta. The UN Bn was meeting
with the Greek Colonels in the Limassol Zone seeking assurances that no action
would be taken against the Turkish Cypriot communities.
At 0500hrs on 20th July, the Turks began invading the north of the island. It
was a full-blown assault with parachute battalions landing, helicopter assaults,
seaborne landings and air strikes. Nicosia airport was badly bombed. There was
much fighting in Limassol where both sides had agreed that neither would fight
unless attacked first!
No3 Company evacuated British Service families from Famagusta in a convoy of
trucks supported by Saladins and Ferrets. This was achieved without injury
despite Turkish mortar fire and an air strike.
No2 (Support) Company, now part of UNICYP, occupied Nicosia airport to stop it
falling into the hands of either the Greeks or the Turks who both wanted to
seize it.
That evening the remainder of the SBA detachment joined the rest of the
Battalion in UNICYP. By the end of the month the situation stabilised slightly
and most of the Turkish advances were outside the Coldstream area of
responsibility. Joint patrols were mounted with the 16th/5th Lancers in the
buffer zone between Nicosia and Kyrenia. On 13th August, the Battalion was
ordered to establish OP’s in all Turkish and mixed villages. On the 15th, the
Turkish army pushed east and west and the next day they consolidated along the
‘Attila Line.’ The OP’s were welcomed in most areas as they stopped attacks by
Greek Cypriots and avoided further flare-ups.
Towards the end of September, the Queen’s Royal Irish Hussars took over Paphos
District with Number 1 and 3 Companies under command, whilst the Battalion took
over Limassol District with C Sqn, QRIH under command. The next month was
relatively calm and on 30th October the Battalion handed over to 41 Commando,
Royal Marines and returned to the UK.
Cyprus and UNICYP today are very different. The UN operation is now based mainly
along the ‘Attila Line’, and since 1983, this line has formed the border of the
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. This self-declared independent country is
only recognised by Turkey. The vast majority of Turkish Cypriots now live in the
Turkish area, whilst most Greek Cypriots live in the Greek area. |
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