1st Battalion
The Argyll and Sutherland
Highlanders
Cyprus 1958 - 1959
|
1st Battalion The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
Cyprus 1958 - 1959
|
|
All photographs are the property of RHQ Argylls and may not be reproduced or copied without permission from RHQ Argylls.
The journey to Cyprus in H.M.T. Devonshire proved to be a very pleasant time for everyone. The weather was good, for all but the worst sailors, and there were very few who missed any meals. An exception to all this was "Cruachan," who, with his heavy winter coat, began to get extremely warm after the ship passed Gibraltar. Fortunately, the boat stopped at Algiers where he was taken ashore and clipped. The result looked rather like a soldier with a "pudding bowl" haircut, but it apparently achieved the object and made "Cruachan" more comfortable.
The Battalion disembarked at Limassol on 1st February 1958 in lovely weather. The whole operation went very quickly and without a hitch. "Q" Movement wanted the Battalion to wait another hour, just because it was planned to start at a certain time however the Battalion won, and got off to a very good start. The Band of the 1st Bn, The Middlesex Regiment, played the Battalion ashore. This meant playing for about an hour, because the disembarkation was carried out in small lighters from the troopship which lay about three-quarters of a mile off shore. The journey from Limassol to the camps proved a very good way of breaking everyone into the Cyprus roads. The Cypriot bus drivers, drive like Calcutta taxi-drivers — with one foot permanently on the accelerator and one hand continuously on the horn.
The Battalion was split, C and D Companies going to Polemi Camp and the remainder to Limni Camp. Both camps were in very bad condition throughout and consisted of tented accommodation, and huts for messes, cookhouses, etc. In both camps there were no hard roads and in wet weather everything became a sea of mud. Since the Battalion arrived a great deal has been done, and there is no doubt that the former occupants of these camps would have great difficulty in recognising them again.
On arrival the Battalion was allowed one week to get to know the country and job, before taking over the I.S. commitments. Fortunately, there was no trouble and the Battalion found it possible to carry out some normal training, as well as I.S. duties. This was helped by the fact that the Battalion strength has steadily been increasing by the influx of drafts from the Regimental Depot.
Click picture to enlarge
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Since arrival on Cyprus the Battalion have had several visitors. On 6th February, the Governor, Sir Hugh Foot and Lady Foot visited, they were both greatly pleased with the special guard in No. 1 Dress, and with "Cruachan" who was presented in his No. 1 Dress. The Governor's party stayed only for a short time, but had sherry in the Officers' Mess before leaving. During this visit the Governor and Lady Foot expressed a desire to attend a service in our Regimental Church. This was not possible until Sunday, 23rd March, when the Battalion received a signal to say that the Governor, Lady Foot and party were coming to the Church service and afterwards to lunch. Unfortunately, the Governor could not manage as a high wind made it impossible for his helicopter to fly, but Lady Foot and the remainder of the party came by road and spent a most enjoyable day with the Battalion.
The next visitor was Major-General Kendrew, Director of Operations, who came on 10th February. He spoke to all ranks of the Battalion and welcomed the Battalion to Cyprus. He afterwards toured the camp and had lunch at the Officers' Mess. On 25th March, Lt.-General Sir Roger H. Bower, K.B.E., C.B., C-in-C M.E.L.F., visited both camps. He was accompanied by his M.A., Major Cheyne of The Seaforth Highlanders. He toured the camp area and spoke to many of the soldiers. Afterwards he had lunch at the Officers' Mess.
On the sporting side the Battalion football team marched on, and, despite a complete lack of training opportunities, the cross-country team was the first Army team home in the all-island cross-country championships on 1st March. Captain MacMillan, as usual, ran a brilliant race and finished well up in the field. Soon after arrival in Cyprus, "Cruachan" and Pte. Morrison, the Pony Major, were sent on a course to the R.A.V.C. Depot in Nicosia. " Cruachan" came back looking very much like a race horse; Morrison looked much the same.
On 31st March the Battalion started exercise ''Village Green." This exercise took all Companies out into their areas where they carried out patrols, ambushes, and, where necessary, cordons and searches. In this way everyone got to know their job and the country extremely well, and lots of valuable information was obtained about the very many villages in the area. The exercise continued until 25th April, by which time everyone had become seasoned bivouac hands and thoroughly allergic to Mutton Scotch Style.
Click picture to enlarge
11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21
Operation "Kingfisher" started on 15th May and was finally ended on 3rd July. A detailed account of the exercise is given on a separate page, but it must be said that, although there were no tangible results from their labours, everyone learned a great deal during this operation.
The Battalion nearest neighbours, the 46 H.A.A. Regt, R.A, were relieved by the 1st D.L.I. During the period 21st July-5th August, when the hand/over, take/over, was going on, the Battalion was responsible for the whole of the Paphos area. This meant moving A Coy. and C Coy. down to the Gunner’s area, and spreading the remainder of the Battalion a little thinner over our own district. This put a tremendous strain on the Companies, especially as during this fortnight there were numerous incidents, and one major and one minor operation. This major operation was the gigantic round-up of suspected men over the whole of Cyprus. Of the number listed, the overall percentage of the men detained was 40 per cent. From the Battalion point of view it was most successful, as in Phase I of the operation bagged 75 per cent and in Phase II 80 per cent. The Gunners' area, which included the town of Ktima, kept A Coy. and C Coy. very busy. Both Companies did splendidly and achieved a well-earned success in the last few days. An A Coy. patrol, commanded by 2nd Lt. Campbell, picked up two Greeks on a motor cycle in the town. They were apparently carrying nothing more suspicious than a bag of salt, but on further investigation, which included the searching of their houses, a tremendous haul of explosives, etc., was found. C Company's success began with the chasing of an armed terrorist patrol and the shooting of one of them at 600 yards range. The scene was a deep gorge, reminiscent of the North-West Frontier and the Platoon Commander, 2nd Lt. Tennant, very properly used two of his best shots to fire at the runaway terrorists. When the man was picked up later he was found to have been hit five times, which proves the effectiveness of C Company's fire.
Click picture to enlarge
21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
Summary of Events - September 1958 to July 1959
2nd Sept.—Forest fire above Yialia: very fierce and fanned by a variable wind. 350-400 men sent from Battalion: fire brought under control after about 36 hours.
11th Sept. — Lt.-General Sir Roger Bower. K.B.E., M.C., G.O.C., M.E.L.F., visited Limni and stayed for lunch.
13th Sept.—At 1930 hrs. a vehicle returning from Limni to Polemi was ambushed, and Pte. Morrison of C Coy. was fatally injured and later died. In the follow-up of this ambush a Greek Cypriot. who attacked Pte. McChristie, was shot dead by L./Cpl. Fair. Pte. Howieson was slightly injured in the original ambush.
14th Sept.—A Greek Cypriot. who failed to halt when challenged, was shot dead at a road block near Kathikas.
15th Sept.—Pte. Morrison's funeral in Nicosia.
16th Sept.—Major-General Kendrew, Director of Operations, visited the Battalion.
23rd Sept.—Mrs. Barbara Castle visited the area.
24th Sept.—A Coy left for Tobruk. For more information please visit http://www.it-serve.co.uk/argylls/
25th Sept.—Major-General Kendrew paid a farewell visit to the Battalion.
26th Sept. — “Limni Follies," a concert party organised by Lieut. Smith.
29th Sept.—A sorely-needed N.C.O.s cadre was begun.
30th Sept.—H.M.S. Alamein paid the Battalion a final two-day visit. High jinks and high seas!
2nd Oct. — B Coy. were called upon to assist the D.L.I, in a cordon and search in Mesoyi, where they showed the superiority of their experience and training in such operations.
Click picture to enlarge
32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43
5th Oct. — Police vehicle ambushed at Ayios Demetrianos.
6th Oct. — Commanding Officer visited A Coy. In Tobruk. Police vehicle ambushed at Lyso.
7th/8th Oct.—Follow-up operations in Lyso produced a " wanted" man, a hide and a large amount of information which was later to be of great use.
12th Oct.—C.S.E. Show: Alex. Finlay and supporting cast. Police vehicle ambushed near Goudhi.
13th Oct.—Small arms cache found near Goudhi.
18th Oct.—Football team ambushed: no casualties. They went on to win 5-1!
20th Oct.—Two Turkish police shot in Kinousa.
22nd Oct.—Major J. D. C. Graham joined Battalion.
23rd Oct.—Major-General Darling, G.O.C., visited the Battalion. Major Howat ambushed at Psathi.
24th Oct.—Empty hide found near Kinousa.
25th Oct.—Balaclava Day. Sports, followed by Limni Follies- II.
26th Oct.—Church Service attended by Major- General Darling.
27th Oct.—Major Wood ambushed near Yiolou. Slightly injured in arm.
30th Oct.—Operation •' Goldfish " commenced. The aim of this was to exploit the information gleaned from previous ambush follow-ups and other sources. Lyso, Steni and Ghoudi were searched and large quantities of arms and explosives found, together with various suspects who provided further information.
8th Nov.—" Killer Groups '' were formed to lie out for several days to observe and patrol suspect areas.
9th Nov. — Hide and arms cache found in Lyso. A Coy. took part in Memorial Day Parade at British War Cemetery, Tobruk.
10th Nov.—Large land mine found near Peristerona.
11th Nov.—A Coy. provided Guard of Honour and Riot Demonstration before King Idris of Libya. Commanding Officer found an abandoned hide near
Kathikas.
23rd Nov.—The Battalion advance party left for Dhekelia.
2nd/6th Dec.—The Battalion moved to Dhekelia.
Dec. 6, 1958—Battalion arrived in Dhekelia. A Coy took over guard duties at Pyla Detention Camp. C Coy. took over town duties.
Dec. 20—Christmas visit bv Major-General K T Darling, C.B., C.B.E.. D.S.O.
Dec. 24—The Battalion took over all duties in Larnaca during the Christmas period E 0 K A "truce leaflet" appeared.
Dec. 28—The Battalion football team won the Garrison Trophy, beating 152 Bty. L.A.A. 2-1.
Dec. 31—1st Greenjackets took over the Pyla camp.
Click picture to enlarge
44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55
1959
Jan. 1—Hogmanay celebrations.
Jan. 5—Visit by the Brigade Commander, Brigadier Baker-Baker, D.S.O. (R.H.R.).
Jan. 7—Visit by the Rt. Hon. Christopher Soames and General Sir Hugh Stockwell. The Battalion provided a Guard of Honour in No. 1 Dress.
Jan. 12—Pte. Hickenson was accidentally shot dead on patrol.
Jan. 15—Pte. Hickenson's funeral.
Jan. 16—A small operation was mounted by A and Sp. Companies in the area of Pyrga and Lymbia. Nothing was found.
Jan. 17—Battalion cross-country won by A Coy.
Jan. 19—Start of Subaltern's Cadre.
Jan. 21—Assault course competition was won by Sp. Coy.
Jan. 22—H.Q. Coy. won the .22 rifle competition.
Jan. 25—D and C Companies spent the night trying to find a Sterling stolen from a gunner. A cordon was placed round Kiti village, but nothing was found.
Feb. 1—1st A. & S.H. took over the whole of Larnaca district, less the town, B Coy., therefore, moved to Kophinou and took over three police stations.
Feb. 8—The Battalion beat a Turkish team 7-4.
Feb. 10—Raising of the Regiment celebrations.
Feb. 14—After report from B Coy. observation posts a village was searched by the police. Nothing was found.
Feb. 17—Arrival of the Colonel of the Regiment on a visit.
Feb. 18 — General Graham visited B Coy at Kophinou.
Feb. 19—A parade of 100 Men with both Bands, " Cruachan" and the Colour Party was held for General Graham.
Feb. 21—General Graham lunched with A Coy. in the field.
Feb. 24—General Graham flew home.
Feb. 25—General Darling addressed the Battalion and thanked them for their hard work during the emergency.
March 3—Pentathlon training started.
March 5 — The Battalion won the Area football championship, defeating 40 Coy., R.A.S.C., 6-0.
March 14 — Miss Susan Stephen, the actress, was filmed for television with both Bands.
March 18—The Quartermaster-General visited the Barracks.
March 24—A Battalion T.E.W.T. on Nuclear Defence was visited by General Darling.
March 28—The Battalion defeated G.H.Q. Group, Episkopi, 5-3, thus retaining the island football championships.
Click picture to enlarge
56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65
March 31—C Coy. left for a week's training camp at Kyrenia.
April 4—The Battalion defeated R.A.F, Akroturi, 2-0 in the Champion Army v. Champion R.A.F. Unit final and thus won all the football cups for the second year running.
April 6—The Operations Room moved from Larnaca to Alexander Barracks.
April 8 — The Sergeants' Mess held a dinner to which a number of Officers were invited.
April 10—The Corporals held a dance in the Dining Hall. A TEWT for subalterns was held in the area west of Larnaca.
April 11 — Captain Palmer and Lieut. Wilson took part in the Dhekelia race meeting. Lieut. Wilson came third in one race.
April 12—The Pipe Band left for a two-day tour in Turkey where they played at Izmir and Ankara.
April 15—D Coy. started a march around Cyprus which took them approximately a fortnight.
April 20—Colonel M. A. Bell, the Highland Brigade Colonel, came to spend three days with the. Battalion.
April 21—A Guest Night was held in the Officers' Mess.
April 23—The Minister of Defence visited the new base area, accompanied by Lt.-General Sir Roger Bowen, C.-in-C., M.E.L.F., General Sir Cecil Sugden, Q.M.G., Air-Marshal MacDonald, C.-in-C., M.E.A.F., Major-General K. T. Darling, G.O.C., Cyprus, and Major-General Lloyd, R.E. C. of S., M.E.L.F.
April 25 — Friendly Pentathlon with the Black Watch.
April 26—Visit by H.M.S. Saints.
April 27—D Coy. returned from march round island after doing 200 miles.
April 28—A Coy. won the Highland Games.
April 29—Pipes and Drums beat Retreat in moat at Nicosia.
April 30—Eliminating events for Dhekelia Garrison sports.
May 1—D Coy. held dance in Dining Hall. Great success.
May 3—Major Graham and Major Slim started a cadre in Troodos for self-reliance and map reading.
May 4—Major Cookson left for a course, followed by a tour as Ground Liaison Officer. Night Guard withdrawn from Power House, Dhekelia.
May 5—Battalion held exercise on Goshi Range.
May 7—C Coy. out for 48-hour training camp near Boghaz.
May 8 — Battalion second in Island Pentathlon. Captain Palmer third individual.
May 9—Battalion won Garrison and Eastern Area Inter-Unit athletic meeting.
May 12 — Officers held a discussion on the re-organisation of an Infantry Battalion for nuclear war.
May 16—Battalion third in Cyprus Major Units Championships ' 'in Nicosia to 1st Devon and 1st Black Watch (2 points ahead). These two teams were first and second in the Army championships last summer.
May 18 — The Commanding Officer and Coy. Commanders visited cadre in Troodos.
May 19—General Darling visited cadre and heard briefing for final exercise.
May 20—The Pipe Band and Military Band played in the moat at Nicosia for a football match between the Turkish Army team and the Turks of Cyprus.
May 22—Battalion returned from a 24-hour exercise. 25 Officers of the Turkish Army visited Alexander Barracks. A draft of two Sergeants and 33 other ranks arrived from the Depot.
May 24—Subalterns went to cadre in Troodos.
May 27—Major Kelway Bamber arrived from U.K. and took over H.Q. Coy. The Military Bands of 1st A. & S.H. and 1st R.U.R. gave a concert in the playing fields.
Click picture to enlarge
66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76
May 28 — Brigadier Sparrow, C.R.E., M.E.L.F., visited the barracks to devise means of saving water. The Commanding Officer inspected H.Q. Coy. and the hand-over was completed.
May 29 — A Coy. won the Inter-Company drill competition.
May 30—D Coy. left for a week's camp at Troodos and B Coy. returned. L./Cpl. Henderson won the piping and Cpl. McQuaid won the bugling competitions.
June 1 — The Assault Pioneers Platoon started blasting a road for the villagers at Vavatsinia.
June 4 — Four Officers required as umpires on a Brigade exercise. Guest Night held in the Officers' Mess. Brigade held a TEWT on nuclear .defence.
June 5—Deputy and Commissioner were feasted at Vavatsinia when they came to inspect progress on the new road.
June 6 — Commanding Officer held conference to outline the training programme for the remainder of our time in Cyprus.
June 8—First practice for Queen's Birthday Parade took place this morning. Those taking part are 152 Bty. R.A., R.A.O.C., R.A.P.C. and R.E.M.E. from Dhekelia Garrison and 20 Cyprus police. Major Kelway Bamber commanded the parade.
June 11—Final rehearsal for parade was held in the Commissioner's compound, Larnaca. Parade was held; starting with a march through the Greek quarter then through sea front and Turkish quarter.
June 15—C Coy. moved to Troodos and took over from Sp. Coy. A Coy. set up a new camp north of Kyrenia Range.
June 16—A detachment from D Coy. took over duties at Government House Guard. B and Sp. Companies concentrated on shooting and completing their classifications.
June 20—C Coy. returned from Troodos and closed down the camp there. A barbecue was held for the Officers in front of the Mess. The un-invited Officers of 12th Lancers went for an involuntary swim.
June 21—A Coy. returned, leaving a small Company to look after camp.
June 22—A fortnight's cadre started for junior Officers. The first morning's programme included a demonstration by ALMA Bty. 29 Field Regt, R.A.
June 24—Major-General Darling visited Larnaca and discussed guard problem with the Commanding Officer.
June 26—A Commanding Officer's conference gave Coy. Commanders the opportunity to report training progress and hear preliminary plans for move.
June 28—Subalterns were taken out to camp in the Panhandle for 48 hours patrolling and endurance training.
July 2—D Coy. handed over Government House Guard to 1 R.U.R. and returned to camp.
July 4 — Subalterns' cadre ended. N.C.Os' cadre started for young N.C.Os and potential N.C.Os.
Click picture to enlarge
77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87
Apart from the hand-over to The Black Watch, who once again inherit a fish pond, the last months in Cyprus were taken up with Companies having Company camps, Battalion Training, providing a demonstration of the Battalion in the attack, swimming and visits by various members of the Staffs in Cyprus. The undoubted highlight of all this was the ten-day Battalion exercise carried out in the Panhandle and Zyyi area. Particular events are hard to sort out, but perhaps these were the highlights:—A Company's charge with razor blades and Mess tins to capture a rather startled 12th Lancers Armoured Car ; D Company's left flanking march ; the disappointment over a film called " Love is My Profession " ; the Drumhead Service, and the final event, the Battalion night attack, which even J. Arthur Rank couldn't have laid on better. In almost continuous light and to the skirl of the bagpipes, A and B Companies charged up the hill on to a very determined enemy position.
On 28th September, 1959, Lt.-Colonel C. P. Anderson handed over command of the Battalion to Lt.-Colonel H. S. Spens, M.B.E., M.C., T.D. Lt.-Colonel Anderson was given a traditional farewell by the Battalion.
Shortly after this the advance party left in two plane loads for home and five weeks leave. The Battalion meantime started to pack! (It took two ships to get the Battalion baggage to the U.K.) Visitors to the Battalion included Lt.-General Sir Roger Bower, C.-in-C. M.E.L.F., and Major-General K. Darling, who was interested in the amount of baggage being taken home by the Battalion.
At about 0500 hrs. on 6th October the Battalion left Dhekelia in Company groups for the Ulster’s camp at Famagusta and were very hospitably entertained until after lunch. The Battalion embarked during the afternoon on H.M.T. Dilwara, and in the evening the Governor, Sir Hugh Foot, Major-General Darling, Brigadier Baker-Baker and Lt.-Colonel Irwin, The Black Watch, boarded the ship and had dinner with the Officers. The Dilwara sailed at 2130 hrs., and this ended 18 months' stay in Cyprus, which, in spite of various trials and tribulations, had been enjoyed by all ranks.
Click picture to enlarge
88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98
If anyone can put names to faces with companies, dates and locations. Please e-mail to ayoung287@msn.com
CRUACHAN.
Cruachan's travels continued. At Famagusta he was "slung" on board ship in his travelling stall. He spent the trip on the after-deck. He then had a period of "leave" at the Depot. Next there was a train journey to Harwich and across the North Sea to the Hook. Here he was met by Cpl. Farmer with a 1 x 3 ton vehicle and was driven from the Hook to Lemgo, where he was comfortably established in a converted gas chamber.
Sources - RHQ and Thin Red Line Magazines
Updated: 09 April 2008