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.