2014 is the 100th anniversary of the start of the first World War and on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month so many people of many nations will reflect on the horrors of those days and pay their respects for those that fell whilst serving their country.
Here in North Cyprus it is no different and we recently remembered the Turkish Peace Operation 40 years ago which was mounted by Turkey as a guarantor power that brought peace and an end to the inter-communal fighting although a political settlement still has not been found. In the months ahead preparations are being made for Remembrance Sunday on the 9th November 2014 when many people will gather outside the Old British Cemetery in Kyrenia to pay their respects to the 371 British Servicemen who lost their lives during the 1955 – 1959 Cyprus Emergency at the Cyprus Memorial which was erected here 5 years ago.
It is befitting that this year it is planned to erect a further memorial to the 11 British Police officers and others who lost their lives during the Cyprus Emergency and of whom not a lot has been written.
During the Cyprus Emergency some 1000 British Police Officers served in Cyprus under the name of The United Kingdom Police Unit to Cyprus (UKPU) and the names have been recorded in a very comprehensive book “Policing EOKA” by Richard Cowley. This book names the 11 British Police officers who lost their lives and the circumstances of their deaths plus the awards to so many other serving policemen at the time.
The total number of police officers killed during this period was 62 who will be commemorated on this memorial.
Turkish Cypriot – 25
Greek Cypriot – 17
British Cyprus police – 7
UK Police Unit – 11
Maronite – 1
Maltese – 1
Total – 62
