Cyprus 1964 (Operation Quilt)

In early 1964 the Battalion was deployed from Malta to Cyprus on operation ‘QUILT’ as a result of the deteriorating relations between the Turkish and Greek communities.

Initially responsible for the defence of Nicosia airport they were later given the task of manning 'The Green Line' in Nicosia itself.

The regimental diary recorded that ‘B’ Company 'was to have half the old city based on rather doubtful accommodation in the Armenian Young men's club. The Officer Commanding (OC) [Maj. Graham] returned from the reconnaissance muttering about the squalor, four hour shifts and claustrophobia'. A soldier from ‘B’ Company remembered 'It was the pits'. Although the building was cleaned up most of the platoons spent the bulk of their time deployed on operations in the city.

The Battalion’s first task on arriving in Cyprus in February 1964 was to secure the perimeter of Nicosia airfield. The regimental journal recorded 'For many in the company digging-in had a purpose for the first time and holes went down and overhead cover went up in record time'. The Battalion remained until March then went back to Malta.

Rifle companies returned to the island over the next eighteen months. Point 'Bravo' on the ‘Green Line’, Nicosia, was manned by soldiers of ‘C’ Company.

This was a dangerous area which the company manned for three weeks with the Greek and Turkish irregulars frequently firing at each other. Privates Millar and Brown had a lucky escape during one of these exchanges when a Greek Cypriot firing a light machine-gun nearly hit both of them in Constantine The Great Street.

On arrival in Cyprus the drums platoon together with the reconnaissance platoon relieved a platoon of the Gloucestershire Regiment at a particularly troublesome copper mine at Havrovouni. It was here that the Battalion had its first casualty, with Private Clacher being slightly wounded by shotgun pellets discharged by a trigger happy Cypriot.

The drums platoon were very much operational soldiers and were used to reinforce undermanned rifle companies. After leaving Nicosia the drums platoon went to the village of Ghaziveran where they remained until the Battalion returned to Malta.

‘C’ Company returned to Cyprus in July 1964, remaining until September. Initially they were under the command of 1 Glosters carrying out operational tasks at Akrotiri, followed by several weeks under the command of the 3rd Battalion Green Jackets (the Rifle Brigade) at Dhekelia.

Images From This Cyprus Tour