The British and Cyprus: An Outpost of Empire to Sovereign Bases, 1878-1974

by Mark Simmons

Overview

This is the story of the British involvement with the island of Cyprus over 100 years. Since World War I, Cyprus has played a key role in British defense strategy. After the withdrawal from Egypt, the island became the British Middle East headquarters. Britain retains two sovereign bases on the island, and it has become a favorite with UK tourists. Much of the tale is oral history, told in the words of the people who served the British Crown on Cyprus, civil and military; many relate their experiences first hand. There are fascinating accounts from Royal Marine Commandos, and soldiers of the Parachute Regiment along with other Army units, and the thoughts of sailors and airmen, and civilians of the Colonial Service and those who served in the Cyprus Police, of service wives and writers, most not published before.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780750960700
Publisher:	The History Press
Publication date:	11/01/2015
Pages:	246
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.60(d)

About the Author

Mark Simmons gained the Green Beret and passed the Commando course to serve in the Royal Marines. He has written some 125 feature articles mainly on naval/military and travel subjects. He is a correspondent for Warships International Fleet Review magazine, and he runs an internet bookshop Rowan Oak Books. He is the author of The Battle of Matapan 1941, The Rebecca Code and Agent Cicero.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements 9

Glossary 13

List of Abbreviations 15

Introduction 16

1 The Early Years 25

2 The First World War 39

3 Crown Colony: The Interwar Years 45

4 The Second World War 55

5 The Gathering Storm 1947-1954 67

6 A Corporal's War 1955 83

7 1956 Clearing the Forests 98

8 1957 Stalemate 125

9 1958 Bloody Civil War 142

10 1959 Agreement in Room 325 165

11 Anywhere's Better than Here 1960-1973 175

12 Unfinished Business 1974 188

13 Bellapais 2000 and Waynes Keep 2004 199

Afterword 210

Bibliography 219

Index 222