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Page 4 of 5

Aid to Civil Population and UN

Cyprus 1955 – 1959

Instructions to Individuals for Opening Fire in Cyprus. Front and back page. Printed December, 1955.(RMM)
Instructions to Individuals for Opening Fire in Cyprus. Front and back page. Printed December, 1955.(RMM)

From 1955 to 1959 40 and 45 Commando alternated duties in Cyprus undertaking anti-terrorist operations against the EOKA guerrillas during tensions between the Greek and Turkish inhabitants of the island. The EOKA were a small, but powerful organisation of Greek Cypriots, who had great local support from the Greek community. On 6 September 1955, the UN called 45 Commando at a moments notice to move to Cyprus amid escalating tensions and EOKA atrocities. The unit, based in Malta at the time travelled to the Kyrenia mountain area of the island and by 10 September, around 1,300 Marines and 150 vehicles used by the unit had arrived in the and ready to patrol.

Wanted men in Cyprus booklet. c.1955-59. Booklet issued by COSHEG for the use of Security Forces. Royal Marine Commandos would have carried these booklets on their person when patrolling for EOKA terrorists. (RMM)
Wanted men in Cyprus booklet. c.1955-59. Booklet issued by COSHEG for the use of Security Forces. Royal Marine Commandos would have carried these booklets on their person when patrolling for EOKA terrorists. (RMM)

A Royal Marine patrol in Cyprus consisted of helping the civil authorities restore law and order, crowd dispersal, conducting searches in villages for terrorist suspects, manning road block, taking down, terrorist flags and emblems of support. Above is a booklet defining the rules of engagement for troops in Cyprus. The Royal Marines would also carry booklets containing pictures and descriptions of men wanted in connection with terrorist activities in Cyprus.

Reward leaflet (front), written in Greek. c.1955-59. (RMM)
Reward leaflet (front), written in Greek. c.1955-59. (RMM)

As the Royal Marines found in Malaya in the early part of the decade, it was of great value to work with the local police and community when resources or intelligence was scarce. The Commando set up its own intelligence service and employed local civil servants as interpreters and local uniformed police. They would also run training courses for the police, encouraging a greater liaison with the Commando and the local authorities. Their operations also included gaining intelligence from the local population on the whereabouts of weapons and terrorists in order to quell the terrorist activity on the island. Below is a leaflet offering rewards to citizens who give the government information on the location of weapons and ammunition.

Screening villagers, Cyprus 1958. Photograph of B Troop, 40 Commando screening Cypriot villagers for EOKA suspects. (RMM)
Screening villagers, Cyprus 1958. Photograph of B Troop, 40 Commando screening Cypriot villagers for EOKA suspects. (RMM)

A police tracker dog searching for and arms cache with 45 Commando. The Royal Marines also trained Alsatians to aid the patrols, act as guard dogs or in anti-riot situations. These measures were also later used by the Commandos in the Far East. (RMM)
A police tracker dog searching for and arms cache with 45 Commando. The Royal Marines also trained Alsatians to aid the patrols, act as guard dogs or in anti-riot situations. These measures were also later used by the Commandos in the Far East. (RMM)

As the Royal Marines had been so effective in the Kyrenia mountain area the terrorists began to move to the central mountain range of Troodos and into the towns. The terrorists would hide in caves in the mountains where hard terrain and steep drops made patrols treacherous. Marines would use their mountaineering skills to abseil down these cliff faces looking into caves and be lowered into wells in order to find hiding terrorists. The troops would also use all terrain vehicles to patrol, and in the heavy snow of February 1956, patrols were carried out on skis.

Cyprus 1974 – 1984

Between 1974 and 1984 the Royal Marines undertook three United Nations tours of duty in Cyprus. The first was in November 1974 when 41 Commando took over the Limassol District from the 2nd Battalion of the Guards Brigade and became the first Commando to wear the light blue berets of the UN when they began the Corps’ first six-month tour with the UN forces in Cyprus (UNIFCYP). The Commando also consisted of the 8th (Alma) Battery of 29 Commando RA and two troops of Independent Squadron Royal Engineers.

Marines from 40 Commando on patrol during peacekeeping duties in Cyprus, summer 1984. (RMM)
Marines from 40 Commando on patrol during peacekeeping duties in Cyprus, summer 1984. (RMM)

The UN command structure was different to usual Royal Marine protocols. The UN regarded the Royal Marines as under the direct command of its Secretary General. The UN punished breaches of discipline severely and the method of operating depended more on tact and discussion, rather than the Commando-trained methods of taking the initiative in any dangerous situation. Again, this showed the ability of the Royal Marines to accept command from other organisations and their many different roles from humanitarian work to handling aggressive situations. The Commando not only kept the peace between the Greeks and Cypriots of the island but also worked with the Red Cross in assisting refugees in the area.

In 1984 41 Commando was awarded the Wilkinson Sword of Peace for “The establishment or unit which contributes the most towards establishing good and friendly relations with the inhabitants of any territory within, or outside the UK.”

Marines of 40 Commando man a UN border post in Cyprus, September 1984. (RMM)
Marines of 40 Commando man a UN border post in Cyprus, September 1984. (RMM)