50 Years on - The Gordon Highlanders pay tribute to their fallen
ONE HUNDRED Gordon Highlanders, wives, families and relatives, gathered at Wayne's Keep Military Cemetery in Nicosia, Cyprus, on 16 October 2006 at 11.30 am, to pay tribute to members of the battalion who gave their lives during the anti-EOKA campaign. Colonel Tom Fitzalan-Howard, Chief of Staff of the UN Forces, and Sir Peter Mallett, the British High Commissioner, welcomed them. Representatives from a number of units presently serving on the island and several former servicemen also took the opportunity to pay their respects to former comrades who are also interred at Wayne's Keep.
Colonel Fitzalan Howard, in his opening remarks, paid tribute to the proud history of the Gordon Highlanders and commended those present on the reputation they had gained whilst carrying out a very difficult role on a troubled island. He was also impressed that so many had taken the time and trouble to revisit the island on this the 50th anniversary of the deaths of so many young soldiers.
The 1st Battalion The Gordon Highlanders arrived in Cyprus in late 1955 and remained until December 1956. During that time, 16 members gave their young lives in performing IS duties. They were buried with full military honours. Today the Wayne's Keep Military Cemetery lies within the United Nations Protected Area of Nicosia, located between the Greek Cypriot south and the Turkish Cypriot-controlled north.
Tom Morrice gave 'The Address to The Fallen'.
He reminded those present that while the Battalion Headquarters was located at the appropriately named Aberdeen Camp at Xeros, near Lefke, in the north of the island, individual rifle companies were based at various locations within the Troodos area, where they were deployed to seek and destroy Eoka's mountain-gangs.
Pte James Falconer was the Battalion's first fatality. He was killed in an Eoka ambush on 13 April 1956.
More deaths followed during Operation Lucky Alphonse. (See BSW article above)
The Gordon companies, along with many other units, were spread out in a vast forest area north of Paphos. Their mission was to eliminate the Eoka units known to be there. On 16 June, a fire started in the area where 'B' Company was operating and, as the flames ignited the tinder dry pinewoods, rich in resin, even the air appeared to be burning.
The following lost their lives as a high wind, in excess of 30 miles an hour, spread the fire and
engulfed them in flames:
2 Lt Bruce Kynoch,
Lcpl David Ferrie,
Pte Jimmy Cockie
Pte Ian Gray
Pte Robert Burnett
Pte Harry Gerrard
PteWilliam Gray
Pte Ian Simpson
Pte George McRuvie
and
Pte Michael Hindle.
Later, on 20 June, Pte Alex Dunbar died of his injuries and L/Cpl Percy Oakley died the following day. Pte Jimmy Smith was the final fire victim.
Barely two weeks later, on 8 July, Sgt Stanley Smith was killed in a shooting at Morphou.
Sgt Tony Dow was the last member of the Battalion to die in Cyprus. He was the victim of an Eoka ambush at Pedhoulas on 12 November 1956.
Many of these Gordon Highlanders were National Servicemen, called to the colours for two years, with no desire to engage in a conflict so far from home. However, they answered the call in the true traditions of the Regiment.
The late RSM Alan Dunbar, very proudly, described the Battalion that served in Cyprus as one of the greatest he had experienced and on a par with those who had gone before. These were not warriors, but young soldiers sent to a far away land to prevent mass bloodshed, intimidation of the populace and the real threat of civil war.
At the end of the religious service, conducted by Father Francis Barber, members of the Cyprus ex-servicemen's branch of the Gordon Highlanders Association laid poppy wreaths on each grave. After this, relatives and friends placed their private wreaths.
Members of Ian Gray's family from Aberdeenshire stand by his grave.
The remains of 2Lt Bruce Kynoch and Pte Jimmy Smith had earlier been exhumed and returned to the U.K. 2Lt Kynoch was re-interred in Broomhill Cemetery, Keith, Banffshire and that of Pte Jimmy Smith in Colinton Cemetery, Edinburgh.
The Committee had laid commemorative wreaths on both these graves in July 2006.
After the wreath-laying ceremony, the Color Party lowered the Colors and a young bugler from the REME band played The Last Post. Piper 'Cherry' Anderson, a Battalion piper from 1956, performed the lament Flowers of The Forest.
Father Barber then led the gathering in prayer after which Tom Morrice delivered 'The Silent Tribute'. Following two minutes' silence, the Colors were raised, and the bugler played Reveille.
John Gill thanked Col Fitzalan-Howard for his support and handed over a Regimental Plaque to be displayed in the Wayne's Keep church.
After the ceremony, the party was invited to the Sergeants' Mess at UNFICYP Headquarters, where a buffet and refreshments were provided.
In his 'Vote of Thanks', Tom Morrice paid tribute to the many hours of hard work done by the organising committee and in particular Mr and Mrs Jim Lawrence of Ellon.
As a small token of thanks for the unstinting assistance given by Sgt Rob Shubert of the Royal Signals, Jim Lawrence presented a bottle of Gordon Highlanders' whisky to the UNFICYP Sergeants' Mess.
Thanks were also expressed to High Commisioner Sir Peter Mallet and his staff for their assistance and to Col Tom Fitzalan -Howard and all ranks of UNFICYP.
Morrice especially thanked Father Francis Barber for stepping in to conduct the service at very short notice.
Finally, thanks were extended to all present for attending the service. There were many emotional farewells when the time came to board buses to return them to their hotels.
For most of those present, this would probably be their last opportunity to pay respects to their fallen comrades.
Footnote: On Thursday. 12 October, a smaller party from the group, visited the British Cemetery in Nicosia and laid a Regimental wreath on the grave of Mr Theodore Bogdanovich G.C.
'Bog', as he was affectionately known, had been the Security Officer at the American-controlled copper mine at Xeros and became a well-known and respected figure with all ranks of the Battalion. He was instrumental in obtaining many comforts for the Battalion, including concrete bases for tents, an improved water supply and electricity.
On the evening of 20 April 1956, 'Bog' as was gunned down and killed at the bottom of his garden. (See BSW article above).
In recognition of his contribution to the Battalion's welfare 'Bog' was buried with full military honours. Many Greek and Turkish Cypriots attended his funeral.
As 'Bog' had no living relatives, his GC and personal effects were donated to the Gordon Highlanders and these are now held in the Regimental museum at Viewfield House in Aberdeen.
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