UK's forgotten soldiers in Cyprus

rtddci


Joined: 29/12/2007
Posts: 842

Message Posted:
20/04/2009 12:26

Daily Telegraph article.



http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/personal-view/5183952/The-forgotten-soldiers-buried-in-no-mans-land.html

spider


Joined: 03/01/2009
Posts: 5527

Message Posted:
20/04/2009 12:32

What a terrible shame,these solders should have had a memorial a very long time ago.Why has it took so very long.???















Spider,x

The-Wicks


Joined: 27/05/2007
Posts: 2279

Message Posted:
20/04/2009 14:54

Martin, thanks for putting this on. It is a shame that because of the 1974 divide that this cemetry became part of no mans land & thus almost forgotten.

Happy Hussar


Joined: 01/10/2008
Posts: 318

Message Posted:
20/04/2009 15:10

The Greek Cypriots are bitching about the memorial going up in Kyrenia. It's OK to have a national EOKA day and a statue of 'Billy the Bomber' in Nicosia!

Tony

rocking


Joined: 05/11/2008
Posts: 421

Message Posted:
20/04/2009 15:28

Well said Happy Hussar, how can anybody erect a statue 'Billy the Bomber' after what he did - you have to be sick.

mmmmmm



Joined: 19/12/2008
Posts: 8398

Message Posted:
20/04/2009 16:25

Here we go again...



We've already HAD a thread concerning this..



WHY do you think the Commonwealth War Graves Commission haven't asked for anything to be done... there are Commonwealth Grave sites in the "rump" RoC..



The article mentions support for this move by the UK High Commission - I wonder if someone involved can give me a contact there to check this out.. I rather doubt it.. WHY? The BHC don't want to get involved in a Political Hot Potato



Lastly, the web site for this idea shows that one of its Patrons is Ken Maginnis - a political supporter of "TRNC" and an "owner" there...



Don't get me wrong - it is a crying shame that Waynes Keep is stuck in no man's land - but the wording of the article - referring to "terrorists".. let's not forget Cyprus was a British colony "we" wouldn't let go - when we had let most other colonies cede following uprisings.. Britain needed to keep the bases..



Do we also still refer to Jan Smuts (S.Africa) as a terrorist ?

Mick the Fish


Joined: 27/05/2008
Posts: 180

Message Posted:
20/04/2009 16:53

mmmmmmmmm. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission's mandate is only

for those graves of servicemen from the 2 World Wars

mmmmmm



Joined: 19/12/2008
Posts: 8398

Message Posted:
20/04/2009 17:06

Mick the fish, re msg 7



Thanks for pointing out my howler...



I've read this article on wiki - do you agree with it's content ?



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commonwealth_War_Graves_Commission





So, what happens with UK Service personnel who fell in Korea, N.Ireland, or what is now S.Ireland or Israel ?



Is there an official MoD body ?



Thanks again for putting me "straight"...

deecyprus4


Joined: 27/07/2008
Posts: 3452

Message Posted:
20/04/2009 17:06

This paragraph is rather poignant ..well I think so and sums up for me the difference between our tc brothers and the ethnic cleansers, also known as gc's.



#



I think it speak volumes that it�s the Turkish Cypriot community on Cyprus that has lent its support to this memorial . The Turkish Cypriot community provided great support to the British during the EOKA uprising and as a reward for their loyalty Britain stood by between 1960 and 1974 as the Greek Cypriots exacted revenge for that support . In 1974 the Turkish government decided enough was enough and intervened to stop even more blood shed , our reward , total isolation for the Turkish Cypriots . Even now Britain and the EU have allowed the Greek Cypriots to call the tune and isolation continues . Is it not time we repaid the Turkish Cypriots who gave their lives in our support . Its long past the time for platitudes its time we took action and lifted the embargoes that so cruelly punish the Turkish Cypriot people

kiwikid


Joined: 18/08/2008
Posts: 496

Message Posted:
20/04/2009 17:10

If you didn't, you should read all he comments after the articile very interesting.

Mick the Fish


Joined: 27/05/2008
Posts: 180

Message Posted:
20/04/2009 17:19

mmmmmm sorry, don't know. Just done a little searching and couldn't find the answers

mmmmmm



Joined: 19/12/2008
Posts: 8398

Message Posted:
20/04/2009 17:23

Dear Dee, re msg 9



"In 1974 the Turkish government decided enough was enough and intervened to stop even more blood shed"



and how many Died were injured or disappeared during this intervention to stop "bloodshed".. ?



"Silly me" ... MORE folk than ever in a short period.. and previously moderate GCs / TCs were polarised and ethnic cleansing was carried out on a grand scale..



This is the EXACT reason that referring to "TRNC" in this organisations website - makes it "political" ...



It would be FAR better to support a solution whereby we can all easily pay our respects.

deecyprus4


Joined: 27/07/2008
Posts: 3452

Message Posted:
20/04/2009 17:29

Border my dear that is never going to happen, I really do wish you would wake up and smell the coffee...it's been bubbling in the pot for such a long time.



What you tend to forget is that the tc's agreed to the Annan plan..the gc's didn't because being the greedy greeks that they are wanted the lot..



Now the UBP is running the TRNC it certainly will never unify again..imho GOOD.

mmmmmm



Joined: 19/12/2008
Posts: 8398

Message Posted:
20/04/2009 18:18

Dear Dee, re msg 13 ( unlucky for some)



1/ I have smelt and been drinking Turkish ( aka Greek / Cyprus since 74) coffee and many TCs came "south" to buy it as it tasted better ;)



2/ if you were being "ironic"... then I'm sorry, but may be you missed Ismet reminding folk that TURKEY decides what will happen re Cyprus - not UBP.. !



3/ The GCs voted NO because :

a) their President told them ( correctly) that the plan was outside EU norms re Human Rights - but forgot to tell them that these suspensions of EU norms -weren't forever - AND that he didn't negotiate in good faith - then claimed the plan was "biased" ..



b) the "greedy" GREEKS - the country 300 miles to the west WANTED a GC yes ..



Is there any other misconception I can help you with ?!

deecyprus4


Joined: 27/07/2008
Posts: 3452

Message Posted:
20/04/2009 18:54

Border it is you that has many misconceptions..the Greek Orthodox church 'threatened' the lesser educated gc's that they would rot in hell if they voted for the Annan Plan.

deecyprus4


Joined: 27/07/2008
Posts: 3452

Message Posted:
20/04/2009 19:00

The Gc's want the whole island back to bring fear back to the tc's...

mmmmmm



Joined: 19/12/2008
Posts: 8398

Message Posted:
20/04/2009 19:55

Dear Dee, re msg 15



an Orthodox priest said that and was rebuked in the press - and rightly so... in the same manner as a RC priest who suggested the Holocaust "might not have happened" ..



Can you DEAL with my points in the order they were made - or is your "selective visionitis" kicking in today ;)



re 16



"The Gc's want the whole island back to bring fear back to the tc's..."



It is abundantly clear that your knowledge of what the average Cypriot thinks is akin to your knowledge of the island's history - esp as you told us there aren't any mosques in the "rump" RoC...



This is now the 21C, Dee.. and CY is in the EU - for all it's faults it hasn't had a war between states or a civil war within it's borders...



The "rump" RoC relies heavily on international inward investment and Tourism and you might as well say "the people of Eire want a united Ireland" .. most probably DO.. but they don't want any fighting / killing... to achieve that..



Carry on living in the pa

mmmmmm



Joined: 19/12/2008
Posts: 8398

Message Posted:
20/04/2009 19:57

(cont) msg 17



Carry on living in the past.. or is it because a solution *might* "inconvenience" your home - as it might STILL be legally owned by a "greedy Greek" ?

newscoop


Joined: 23/12/2007
Posts: 2197

Message Posted:
20/04/2009 20:00

6m; you apparently coming from the westernmost part of the British Isles should be able to enlighten us all regarding the commonwealth war grave cemeteries in your part of the world. Are they cherished by the locals in the same way that Wayne`s Keep would undoubtedly be by the peace loving G`cs

juliet


Joined: 11/01/2009
Posts: 612

Message Posted:
20/04/2009 20:06

msg 18



sums it all up......

newscoop


Joined: 23/12/2007
Posts: 2197

Message Posted:
20/04/2009 20:21

6m;



and the answer to the question (mess 19) is?

Steve1953



Joined: 04/12/2008
Posts: 298

Message Posted:
20/04/2009 22:42

Just another thought on this topic - anybody know if there are any Brits burried in the cemetary on the left hand hand of the main road ,near to the checkpoint in Nicosia? regards to all,Steve

mmmmmm



Joined: 19/12/2008
Posts: 8398

Message Posted:
21/04/2009 00:59

Dear Newscoop, re msg 21



You really must learn to be more patient.. ;)



Just like CY - at the height of the troubles there were those who did NOT respect life / limb , Churches or the dead..



Every village has his "idiot" but I think you'll find that desecrating of graves is rare. We read of attacks on Jewish graves more often than those of either "tribe " or British Service personnel.... We have memorials to those who died for King / Queen and country just like the UK.



You might remember a young nurse was killed at such a memorial and her Dad was a shining light of reason during those crazy times..



Now, Newscoop.. if you come to Lima(s)sol and find the Holiday Inn - and head 100 m west then go 100m north - away from the sea - at the lights - you will find a nice, well kept, little Commonwealth War graves cometary...



The GCs were at "war" with the UK 50 years ago - but as I keep telling members, here, former "enemies" are now firm friends..



Hope that helps..

mmmmmm



Joined: 19/12/2008
Posts: 8398

Message Posted:
21/04/2009 01:02

re msg 23



PLEASE, Please Izzet - we need that edit button - I really can spell cemetery..



and N.I is in the UK - as far as I'm concerned ...



"We have memorials to those who died for King / Queen and country just like the UK. " .. I meant the REST of the UK.. may be that was the co. Longford relatives genes causing me a Freudian slip..?!

Littlenige



Joined: 24/12/2006
Posts: 3594

Message Posted:
21/04/2009 07:27

who is 'Billy the Bomber' please

deecyprus4


Joined: 27/07/2008
Posts: 3452

Message Posted:
21/04/2009 07:54

Border,

This is now the 21C, Dee.. and CY is in the EU - for all it's faults it hasn't had a war between states or a civil war within it's borders...



The only reason there has been no further conflict is because the Turkish army is here protecting the tc's...border stop your drivel now..you are sounding really rather sad.

mmmmmm



Joined: 19/12/2008
Posts: 8398

Message Posted:
21/04/2009 10:16

Dee, re msg 26



"The only reason there has been no further conflict is because the Turkish army is here protecting the tc's."







Coming from the poster who still thinks the Mosques in "rump" RoC were all destroyed ..



..and you go on to go ME sad?



Enjoy your trip over this week - as you sit eating lunch at Ayia Napa - you must be very frightened - without the "protection" of the TR army.. ;)

thetruth


Joined: 11/01/2009
Posts: 268

Message Posted:
21/04/2009 12:01

deecyprus4,i could not have put it better myself.i add my support to what you have said.

semtcm


Joined: 13/01/2009
Posts: 249

Message Posted:
21/04/2009 12:50

I went to the service yesterday - ıt was really movıng. i think everyone who settles both from the north and the south should the opportunıty to visit those poor soles who lost their life. i canno explain the feeling the whole place has - totally surreal and extremely heart breaking - ı serıously recommend you make the tıme to go if you get the opportunıty in the future....

god rest their soles..