Cyprus – A Forgotten War To Be Remembered At The National Memorial Arboretum

The 371 British servicemen who died in the ‘forgotten’ war – on Cyprus in the 1950s – are to be commemorated at the National Arboretum in Staffordshire.

Thanks to ex Royal Military Policeman David Littlemore and the RAF a large piece of Cyprus stone has been brought back to the U.K. where a stonemason will drill out a special chamber to house a copper capsule which will contain a roll of honour bearing the names of the servicemen who died on the island between 1955 and 1959. Most were conscripts – some of the last to lose their lives while carrying out their National Service.

The Cyprus Emergency, as it was known at the time, saw a series of murderous attacks on servicemen in the then British colony by EOKA – the Greek acronym for National Organisation of Cypriot Fighters. Although there is now a large memorial in Kyrenia Cyprus recording the servicemen’s names and regiments, until now there hasn’t been a presence at The National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire solely for those who served in the trouble spot.

The stone should arrive soon at The Arboretum  but we’re still waiting to hear when it will be officially unveiled and dedicated.

I’d love to hear from any Cyprus veterans – who served between 1955 and 1959 – along with friends and relatives, so I can add them to a database and keep them updated on progress and the date of dedication.

Since 2009 some of the next of kin of our deceased comrades are entitled to receive The Elizabeth Cross.

I can be contacted by email at     cyprusveterans”at”gmail.com