Absence with leave

Hi All,

Sorry for missing parades ect over past three weeks but I have just had two weeks furlough in Cyprus. Been trying to find my old camp from the 1950's. Could have sworn I left my lighter on the table. If so it's now under a 5 story block of flats.
Hope you are all well

jimsigs1

Nice to have you back Jim ..Hope you enjoyed it.

That lighter is long gone, Jim....if it's not nailed down, the Cypriots figure it's up for grabs!

It probably had run out of fuel anyway

jimsigs1 wrote:

Hi All,

Sorry for missing parades ect over past three weeks but I have just had two weeks furlough in Cyprus. Been trying to find my old camp from the 1950's. Could have sworn I left my lighter on the table. If so it's now under a 5 story block of flats.
Hope you are all well

jimsigs1

Which camp was that Jim ?

I did a similar pilgrimage when I was staying in Larnaca. I went to take a look at Ziyyi (pronounced "Ziggy") camp, where I'd been with QOH as UN Force Reserve.

The camp was still there, full of Greek Rambos but the sleepy little Turkish fishing village of my memory had disappeared under blocks of flats.

Hi Brum,

My camp in the 1950's was a mile from Famagusta centre, just past the roundabout which had a junction. One road went to Salamis and the panhandle, one went to dhekelia and the other road was the road to Nicosia. Our camp was just a little way along the Nicosia road. Then at 2 mile point was 2 Wireless Regt and at 4 mile point it was 625 Ord Depot. Sorry BAORers for digresing to Cyprus.

Jimsigs1

jimsigs1 wrote:

Hi Brum,

My camp in the 1950's was a mile from Famagusta centre, just past the roundabout which had a junction. One road went to Salamis and the panhandle, one went to dhekelia and the other road was the road to Nicosia. Our camp was just a little way along the Nicosia road. Then at 2 mile point was 2 Wireless Regt and at 4 mile point it was 625 Ord Depot. Sorry BAORers for digresing to Cyprus.

Jimsigs1

I visited FamaG a few years back. I'd never seen so much barbed wire in my life, damn shame.

Talking about AWOL, can I put in a leave pass from 1 October to 30 November?

Off travelling, cruising..Greek Isles, the Med, Transatlantic, Panama Canal.
Ships:Ruby Princess/Coral Princess.

Into Rome and out of LA.

SKI - Spend Kids Inheritance.

Beachley Boy wrote:

Talking about AWOL, can I put in a leave pass from 1 October to 30 November?

Off travelling, cruising..Greek Isles, the Med, Transatlantic, Panama Canal.
Ships:Ruby Princess/Coral Princess.

Into Rome and out of LA.

SKI - Spend Kids Inheritance.

Wish I was rich! Leave granted and enjoy yourself.

Hope he`s rich enough to bring us all back pressies

Gordon. wrote:

Hope he`s rich enough to bring us all back pressies

Not rich mate, but I prepared for my retirement, a man who does not drink, smoke or goes out with bad women always has a quid.

Price some of these cruises. www.cruise1st.com (my agent)Some bargains out there. I book through Cruise1st Australian office.

SKI - Spend Kids Inheritance.

Thanks for the leave pass.

PS I will be over in UK next May.

Quote :

Not rich mate, but I prepared for my retirement, a man who does not drink, smoke or goes out with bad women always has a quid.

What does this tell us about Teabag

Gordon. wrote:

Quote :

Not rich mate, but I prepared for my retirement, a man who does not drink, smoke or goes out with bad women always has a quid.

What does this tell us about Teabag

Well, he probably drinks a bit but not when he has work the next day which is every day during school term. I gave up smoking three years ago but have recently started again. Rather the fags kill me than stress! As for bad women, if you point me in the right direction Iwill try to oblige. I'm solvent, own my house outright and it wouldn't bother me if the washing machine broke down and i had to go and buy a new one tomorrow. I'm just not rich sadly but at least I'm not one of those boring gits who say they don't drink, smoke or go with bad women! Have a nice cruise and don't get seasick!

Teabag wrote:

Gordon. wrote:

Quote :

Not rich mate, but I prepared for my retirement, a man who does not drink, smoke or goes out with bad women always has a quid.

What does this tell us about Teabag

Well, he probably drinks a bit but not when he has work the next day which is every day during school term. I gave up smoking three years ago but have recently started again. Rather the fags kill me than stress! As for bad women, if you point me in the right direction Iwill try to oblige. I'm solvent, own my house outright and it wouldn't bother me if the washing machine broke down and i had to go and buy a new one tomorrow. I'm just not rich sadly but at least I'm not one of those boring gits who say they don't drink, smoke or go with bad women! Have a nice cruise and don't get seasick!

General TEABAG, Sir, I promise to get seasick, drink grog, smoke, grab every woman I can on the ship, in the true tradition of a British Solider (and Aussie Copper)
Plus, the Greeks need some Euros into their economy.

Quote :

Greeks need some Euros into their economy

Stay clear of the riots Les

Gordon. wrote:

Quote :

Greeks need some Euros into their economy

Stay clear of the riots Les

Thanks Gordon, are we live ? Yes we go to Athens, hope the natives settle down mate.

Beachley Boy wrote:

Teabag wrote:

Gordon. wrote:

Quote :

Not rich mate, but I prepared for my retirement, a man who does not drink, smoke or goes out with bad women always has a quid.

What does this tell us about Teabag

Well, he probably drinks a bit but not when he has work the next day which is every day during school term. I gave up smoking three years ago but have recently started again. Rather the fags kill me than stress! As for bad women, if you point me in the right direction Iwill try to oblige. I'm solvent, own my house outright and it wouldn't bother me if the washing machine broke down and i had to go and buy a new one tomorrow. I'm just not rich sadly but at least I'm not one of those boring gits who say they don't drink, smoke or go with bad women! Have a nice cruise and don't get seasick!

General TEABAG, Sir, I promise to get seasick, drink grog, smoke, grab every woman I can on the ship, in the true tradition of a British Solider (and Aussie Copper)
Plus, the Greeks need some Euros into their economy.

That's more like it. Can't let the side down, can one?

Teabag wrote:

Beachley Boy wrote:

Teabag wrote:

Gordon. wrote:

Quote :

Not rich mate, but I prepared for my retirement, a man who does not drink, smoke or goes out with bad women always has a quid.

What does this tell us about Teabag

Well, he probably drinks a bit but not when he has work the next day which is every day during school term. I gave up smoking three years ago but have recently started again. Rather the fags kill me than stress! As for bad women, if you point me in the right direction Iwill try to oblige. I'm solvent, own my house outright and it wouldn't bother me if the washing machine broke down and i had to go and buy a new one tomorrow. I'm just not rich sadly but at least I'm not one of those boring gits who say they don't drink, smoke or go with bad women! Have a nice cruise and don't get seasick!

General TEABAG, Sir, I promise to get seasick, drink grog, smoke, grab every woman I can on the ship, in the true tradition of a British Solider (and Aussie Copper)
Plus, the Greeks need some Euros into their economy.

That's more like it. Can't let the side down, can one?

KENOATH

jimsigs1 wrote:

Hi All,

Sorry for missing parades ect over past three weeks but I have just had two weeks furlough in Cyprus. Been trying to find my old camp from the 1950's. Could have sworn I left my lighter on the table. If so it's now under a 5 story block of flats.
Hope you are all well

jimsigs1

Wish I'd known Jim, we could have met up for a Keo/Efes. Have you visited the Round Tower in Kyrenia, there is a book inside which is signed by quite a few guys from 2nd Wireless Regiment (amongst others)?

[quote="Shelldrake"][quote="jimsigs1"]Hi All,



Wish I'd known Jim, we could have met up for a Keo/Efes.


Funnily enough, there's an Italian restaurant in our village that sells Efes.

They're Turks really but half the buggers 'round here can't tell the difference !

Hi Shelldrake,

Pity we didn't meet up. Whilst there in Kyrenia, I visited the Brit Memorial to the 300 odd Brit squaddies who died in Cyprus between 1955 & 1959. As you know I was there 1955 to 1957. I visited Nicosia and went through the Green Line Border. Didn't realise that I was in Ledra Street. We called it in my day 'Murder Mile'.

Here's a picture I took of the Brit Memorial :
Sorry for the size but you can at least pick out the Corps & Regiments etc.

Ledra Street, 1955/56, not a good place to be especially in uniform. I worked at CSO's (Ciphers) Branch right across the road from GHQ MELF and travelled the road from Nicosia to Kykko Camp twice daily .. sure had to keep your wits about you and a finger on the trigger.
SGT Hammond RAOC killed in 1958 was a friend of mine when he was a Cpl. May he rest in Peace, his little boy who was with him when he was killed (they were buying an ice-cream) would be 56 now.

Len (Ciphers)

Hi Ciphers,

Great Memories etc. I purchased a Triumph Speed Twin (ex Police bike) in 1956 whilst serving in Famagusta. Toured most of the Island on the bike except one or two out of bounds places like Paphos (no go area). Sometimes, my touring when off duty was curtailed due to various types of curfew which were imposed from time to time.

Here's a picture of me and the bike



and here is a picture of the time of Ledra Street



Jimsigs1

Ciphers,

Here is a picture I took of the Brit Memorial showing your friend, Cpl (later Sgt ) Hammond.
Hope its clear enough.

Jimsigs1

[quote="jimsigs1"]Hi Shelldrake,

Pity we didn't meet up. Whilst there in Kyrenia, I visited the Brit Memorial to the 300 odd Brit squaddies who died in Cyprus between 1955 & 1959. As you know I was there 1955 to 1957. I visited Nicosia and went through the Green Line Border. Didn't realise that I was in Ledra Street. We called it in my day 'Murder Mile'.

Here's a picture I took of the Brit Memorial :
Sorry for the size but you can at least pick out the Corps & Regiments etc.

I expected to see a lot of Gunner names on the memorial, Sappers too, a lot of RASC, of course. What I did not expect to see was that great list of RAF dead.

Working as they were, on guarded locations, how did they get so many killed ?