Cyprus Regiment
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Cyprus Regiment
Hello,
Yesterday I had an opportunity to watch Turkish documentary film concerning of the Turkish volunteers of Cyprus Regiment of British Army.It was quite interesting that estimated 10,000 Turks and 20,000 Greek had volunteered to British Army,newly founded Cyprus Regiment and it first purposed to serve at supply measures and than Regiment had found itself as primary fighting force in both Greece and Crete against the Germans Army.Documentary stated that Turks and Greeks both fought at very close comradeship which was continued after the war.Documentary makers interviewed living 6 veterans and some of relatives of veterans which were killed in th War/POW camps or passed away in recent years;the result is very good many interesting personal account and stories.
One veterans told that he managed to escape from a POW camp near Hannover,suffering from ill and knocked a German house's door.The German woman opened door and saw his POW uniform and than called his husband,an SS Colonel.The Turkish volunteer and SS Colonel had conversation in Turkish;SS Colonel asked "are you Turk or Greek?",volunteer replied him "I'm a Turk" in Turkish and SS Colonel showed very close hospitality because of he had fought in Turkey knowing Turks very well.Stories goes on...
One of my friend told me that their story is going to be published in book format;hopefully also in English so non-Turkish will be able to read that forgetten story.
http://www.cnnturk.com.tr/OZEL_DOSYALAR ... erid=71302
Yesterday I had an opportunity to watch Turkish documentary film concerning of the Turkish volunteers of Cyprus Regiment of British Army.It was quite interesting that estimated 10,000 Turks and 20,000 Greek had volunteered to British Army,newly founded Cyprus Regiment and it first purposed to serve at supply measures and than Regiment had found itself as primary fighting force in both Greece and Crete against the Germans Army.Documentary stated that Turks and Greeks both fought at very close comradeship which was continued after the war.Documentary makers interviewed living 6 veterans and some of relatives of veterans which were killed in th War/POW camps or passed away in recent years;the result is very good many interesting personal account and stories.
One veterans told that he managed to escape from a POW camp near Hannover,suffering from ill and knocked a German house's door.The German woman opened door and saw his POW uniform and than called his husband,an SS Colonel.The Turkish volunteer and SS Colonel had conversation in Turkish;SS Colonel asked "are you Turk or Greek?",volunteer replied him "I'm a Turk" in Turkish and SS Colonel showed very close hospitality because of he had fought in Turkey knowing Turks very well.Stories goes on...
One of my friend told me that their story is going to be published in book format;hopefully also in English so non-Turkish will be able to read that forgetten story.
http://www.cnnturk.com.tr/OZEL_DOSYALAR ... erid=71302
- Mehmet Fatih
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- Mehmet Fatih
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Hey, i am not an anti-Greek.But this is exactly what the Turkish veteran said.Annelie wrote:I know what you said but why did the colonel say that about the Greeks?He said "If you were a Greek, i would kill you like a dog."
Wish the series comes to North America.
The channel which broadcasted this doco is CNN Turk.It is a branch of American TV station CNN.So you will probably see it.
Regards
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By the end of 1944 some 10,000 Cypriots were serving in the British Army. Around 8500 with the Cyrpus Regiment and a further 1500 in the Cyprus Volunteer Force. The latter provided some 300 men who eventually served with the Cyprus Regiment in Italy.
5 Cyprus Regiment Pack Transport Companies served with the Polish forces at Cassino and the Gothic line battles in Italy.
Source: The British Empire and the Second World War by Ashley Jackson
Regards
Andy H
5 Cyprus Regiment Pack Transport Companies served with the Polish forces at Cassino and the Gothic line battles in Italy.
Source: The British Empire and the Second World War by Ashley Jackson
Regards
Andy H
Re: Cyprus Regiment
Does anyone know the name of this documentary in Turkish? I'd like to try and find it to watch.
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Re: Cyprus Regiment
The main fighting force of the Regiment was its 1st Infantry Battalion but that remained on the island as part of the garrison (during 1941-1943 an infantry division - examples including the British 50th and Indian 4th - was also stationed there) as the CW knew that the Germans could use it as a staging point from Crete to Syria. There was also a Cyprus Coast Battery at Famagusta with two 4" guns, also part of the Cyprus Regiment.
But the bulk of the men were in support units and the casualties mainly in the 1001st to 1011th Pioneer Companies lost in Crete (note that at this stage of the war they were unarmed). In contrast the Cypriot Pack Group (618th to 622nd Mule Companies) were armed and served in Italy, usually supporting the II Polish Corps.
But the bulk of the men were in support units and the casualties mainly in the 1001st to 1011th Pioneer Companies lost in Crete (note that at this stage of the war they were unarmed). In contrast the Cypriot Pack Group (618th to 622nd Mule Companies) were armed and served in Italy, usually supporting the II Polish Corps.
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Re: Cyprus Regiment
I, too, thought the Cypriot contribution to the Greek campaign was in the form of pioneers.
Cypriot and Palestinian Pioneers were left behind during the evacuation in disproportionate numbers.
I have always wondered whether this was because they were regarded as more expenable than British or Dominion troops.
There is the faint whiff of a possible scandal in this, but I have nothing more than circumstantial evidence for it.
Anyone?
Cheers,
Sid.
Cypriot and Palestinian Pioneers were left behind during the evacuation in disproportionate numbers.
I have always wondered whether this was because they were regarded as more expenable than British or Dominion troops.
There is the faint whiff of a possible scandal in this, but I have nothing more than circumstantial evidence for it.
Anyone?
Cheers,
Sid.
Re: Cyprus Regiment
Hi SidSid Guttridge wrote:I, too, thought the Cypriot contribution to the Greek campaign was in the form of pioneers.
Cypriot and Palestinian Pioneers were left behind during the evacuation in disproportionate numbers.
I have always wondered whether this was because they were regarded as more expenable than British or Dominion troops.
There is the faint whiff of a possible scandal in this, but I have nothing more than circumstantial evidence for it.
Anyone?
Cheers,
Sid.
Disproportionate to what exactly?
Given that they were the Army's manual labour, I would imagine that they would be heavily involved in the evacuation process, either at the docks or on the beaches!
Regards
Andy H