Cyprus

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BALDWIN, David

45 Cdo. RM
Sergeant David Baldwin died near Akanthou in the Karpas Peninsula during operations in Cyprus. He and Marine David Whitham were killed when their patrol landed by helicopter and came under ‘friendly fire’.
 
Sources
AFM ROH.
Cyprus Emergency Deaths 1955-1960.
British Cyprus Memorial Trust Book of Remembrance.
 
 

BLAKEWAY, Benet Carr

3 Cdo. Bde. RM
Marine Benet Blakeway, HQ 3 Commando Brigade, died during operations in Cyprus. He, and QMS Alfred Wheeler, both perished from exposure on anti-terrorist operations after their vehicle fell into a deep gully in the Troodos Mountains during a blizzard [1].
 

BYRNE, Patrick Joseph

No 4 Commando
Sergeant Patrick Byrne was awarded the MM in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in NW Europe [1].
 
Post war service
  • 27th May 1954 commissioned Lt. (Qr.Mr) in the Foresters [2].
  • 29th January 1957 received a MiD in recognition of distinguished services in Cyprus for the period 1st July to 3lst December, 1956 [3].
  • 2nd July 1959 promoted Captain (Qr.Mr.) Parachute Regiment [4].

COLLINGWOOD, Frank Arthur

45 Cdo. RM
Quartermaster Sergeant Frank Collingwood was awarded the B.E.M. (Military Division) for distinguished service in operations against terrorists in Cyprus between 1955 and 1956..
 
Sources
London Gazettes Supp. 40987, page 653.
National Archives file WO 373/126/17.
 

DAVIES, Hadyn

45 Cdo. RM
Corporal Hadyn Davies received a MiD for distinguished services in operations in Cyprus during the period 1st July to 31st December, 1957.
 
Source
London Gazettes Supp. 41305, page 851.
 

DICK, Louis Timothy Mylius

40 Cdo. RM
Lieutenant Louis Dick died in Paphos when a bomb was thrown into his vehicle as reprisal for the Governor’s refusal to commute the death sentences passed on two convicted terrorists who would be hanged next morning May 10 and after which EOKA would in revenge immediately ‘execute’ two other British servicemen.
 

GOURLAY, Basil Ian Spencer

Basil ian spencer Gourlay
43RM Commando
Acting Captain Basil Gourlay was awarded the Military Cross whilst serving with 43RM Commando in WW2. 
 
Post war he served in 45 Commando Royal Marines 1945-1948, Brigade Major 3 Commando Bde Royal Marines 1955-1957; OC 42 Commando Royal Marines 1963-1965, ultimately being appointed Commandant General Royal Marines from 1971-75 after which he retired.
 
  • M.C. (A/Captain 43RM Commando) for gallantry, zeal and skill during the attack on Sarande and the seizure of the Island of Solta. [1 +2]. 

GRANT, Richard Henry

40 Cdo. RM
Captain Richard Grant, OC  'A' troop, was awarded the M.C. [1], for distinguished services in operations against terrorists in Cyprus during the period Sept. 1955 and August 1956 [2].
 
He had earlier received a MID for  gallant and distinguished services in Palestine during the period 27th March, 1948 and 30th July, 1948 [3].
 
Sources
[1] London Gazettes Supp. 40987, page 653.
[2] National Archives file WO 373/126/14.

HELLINGS, Peter William Craddock

40RM Commando
On the 6th September 1940 it was announced that Lieutenant Peter Hellings RM had been awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for courage and devotion to duty during the withdrawals from Boulogne and Calais [1]. 
  • 1943 (Acting Major)(40RM Commando) awarded the Military Cross for gallant and distinguished services in operations leading to the capture of Termoli [2]. 
  • 12th February 1946 (Captain)(Acting Lieutenant Colonel) received a Mention in Despatches for gallant and distinguished services in NW Europe [3].

LAMB, Kenneth

Mne Kenneth Lamb 45 Commando
45 Cdo. RM
Marine Kenneth Lamb died during operations in Cyprus. He was accidentally shot and killed on anti-terrorist operations in the Troodos Mountains during the Cyprus emergency. They were reinforcing a Greek Police Station in Agros at the time. 
 
[Source: AFM ROH /  British Cyprus Memorial Trust Book of Remembrance.]
 

MEADOWS, Richard Francis Gerard

45 Cdo. RM
Captain Richard Meadows was appointed M.B.E., (Military Division), for leadership and courage of a high order when fighting a forest fire in the Paphos District of Cyprus on 17th June, 1956  [1].
  • Mentioned in Despatches in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in the Operations in the Near East at Suez, October to December, 1956 [2].
Sources
[1] London Gazette 40941, page 6880.
[1] National Archives file WO 373/126/8.

POUNDS, Edgar George Derek

Edgar George Derek Pounds
41 Ind. Cdo. RM
Edgar George Derek Pounds enlisted with the Royal Marines in 1940 and was awarded the King’s Badge as the outstanding recruit of 384 Squad. To date he is the only King’s Badgeman to have reached General rank [1].
  • 21 August 1942 (Lance Corporal) commissioned Second Lieutenant [1a].   
  • 1945 (Lieutenant) serving on the staff at the Commando Basic Training Centre [2][2a]. 

TAILYOUR, Norman Hastings

45 Cdo. RM
Lieutenant General Norman Tailyour was knighted in June 1966.
 
  • 1945, 8 January, Commanding Officer 27RM Battalion [1].
  • 1945, D.S.O. for gallant and distinguished services in North West Europe with 27 RM Bn. [1, 2].
  • 1945, MiD in recognition of good services with the 21st Army group [3]. 
  • 1954 December, Commanding Officer 45 Commando RM [4].  
  • 1955, Bar to D.S.O. during operations in Cyprus with 45 Commando RM [4,5].

THOMSON, Donal Thurston Murray

40RM Commando
Captain Donal Thomson received a Mention in Despatches for devotion to duty during operations in the Mediterranean theatre covering a period from 1st April to 10th September, 1944 [1].
 
Post war he served as an Assistant Police Superintendent in Cyprus. He was shot dead by terrorists at Nicosia on the 1st September 1958 [2].
 

THORNTON, Brian Richard

45 Cdo. RM
Marine Brian Thornton was awarded the British Empire Medal (Military Division) for distinguished service in operations in Cyprus during the period 1st July to 31st December, 1957.
 
Sources
London Gazettes Supp. 41305, page 850.
National Archives file WO 373/126/87.
 

WHEELER, Alfred

3 Cdo. Bde. RM
Quartermaster Sergeant Alfred Wheeler, HQ 3 Commando Brigade, died during operations in Cyprus. He and Mne. Blakeway both perished from exposure on anti-terrorist operations after their vehicle fell into a deep gully in the Troodos Mountains during a blizzard [1][1a].
 

WHITHAM, David Glyn

45 Cdo. RM
Marine David Whitham died near Akanthou in the Karpas Peninsula during operations in Cyprus. He and Sgt. David Baldwin were killed when their patrol landed by helicopter and came under ‘friendly fire’.
 
Sources

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