The actions in Cyprus were never classified as active service. Unlike other small wars like Korea, the Gulf war and the Falklands. We never came face to face with the enemy, although I am quite sure we would have been up to the job. Instead we were involved in a guerilla war where you fought an invisible enemy, well trained in stealth, cunning and sudden hidden attacks helped at times by a civilian back up.

The answer was to disrupt their movement by constant patrolling, try to keep them constantly on the move, village searches and total vigilance in trying not to set too many routine patterns in our movements. It was the latter which could cause the problems. At times I am sure the patrols felt they were chasing their own tails yet it was this constant action and harrassment that helped to curtail the incidents.

You may feel that this account is rather light hearted at times, but that is a great characteristic of the average Scot, that we always remember the good times and relegate the bad times to the back of our minds. This is what is known in novels as Laughing In The Face Of Adversity.

I became a fully paid up member of the hey jimmies at 8 am on the 3rd of January 1955 when I reported to Maryhill Barracks along with a motley crew of some 100 conscripts, regulars, re-enlistments, and a few who had been persuaded by some Baillie that 3 years in the army was better than 3 years in borstal. We were mainly made up of tradesmen, clerks, semi-skilled and unskilled young men. We even had three potential officers Chris Helm, Nick Mason and Doc Cunningham who were destined for the O.T.C. but would join us later at Bulford.

After being documented, sheared and issued with our kit which fitted where it touched, we were split up again into 3 platoons then introduced to our living quarters and instructors for the next 12 weeks. Ahead of us lay 6 am reveille, cold water shaves every day and one bucket of coal to heat a large barrack room at night as we bulled our boots. I think we may have become the great unwashed if we had been allowed to until we moved into newly converted blocks four weeks later. Melrose block paradise, 4 man rooms, showers, constant hot water after the igloos we had been in.

No choice of menu, take it or leave it food which on the whole was good and just sufficient, after a day or two there wasn't much left on any plate. I think the biggest shock to the system came on pay day where we were made aware that as national servicemen we were entitled to 15 old shillings per week, 7/6 of which was sent to our mothers. To tradesmen like myself who had been earning in the region of 10 pounds per week this was penury. Some of the junior officers who took pay parade seemed to think it was worth a general salute not just a salute. The next 12 weeks were spent under the watchful eyes of the company commander CAF McKenzie, Lt Smith, Sgts Blackwood and Laird, and various corporals with the depot Rsm Mr Gaffney ever hovering in the background.. We formation marched until we were reasonable and then moved on to arms drill. We became proficient with the Lee Enfield, the Bren and Sten guns, the 2 inch mortar and hand grenades with regular visits to the ranges at Dechmont.

Kit inspection every Saturday morning, we bulled our boots, buffed the floor, squared off our kit, dusted every visible place, slept on the floor if we slept at all so as not to disturb anything. Except Alec ('the blob') McDonald who probably had the right idea and went to his bed. All to no avail, nothing was ever satisfactory, Lt ( 'Dusty') Smith could have found dust in a fine chemicals plant clean room and Sgt Blackwood certainly knew how to unmake a bed kit layout. The one thing it did do was bond us into a unit. We finished our training with 5 days field training at Greenfield camp above Garelochead, 5 days in the worst blizzard to hit the west of Scotland in 79 years and big CAF had us running about in the snow to see how cold and wet we could get whilst the sheep sheltered behind the dry stane dykes. The last day we marched as a unit from Greenfield through Glen Fruin to Balloch (via Cameron House, the home of Telfer-Smollet - the HQ company commander, who later stood unsuccessfully for parliament and later became the Lord Lieutenant for the county) then on to Drymen some 22 miles. We suffered because most of our kit was still wet and if it hadn't been for the new pals we made all keeping one another going I don't think a lot of us would have made it.

Transport was waiting for us at Drymen and we set off for the barracks, we stopped at the White Bridge at Killermont where 2 pipers were waiting to take us approx the last 2 miles to the barracks, we must have been a sorry looking lot the state our feet were in.

In 12 weeks big CAF Lt Smith and Sgt Blackwood had knocked us into a reasonable shape and functional unit. I always felt, however, that the person most responsible was Sgt Jimmy Blackwood. Next a long weekend at home then off to the Battalion at Bulford Barracks, near Salisbury.

We left Maryhill with a mixture of excitement and trepidation as to what lay ahead of us. At Bulford, 4 weeks further training while we were assessed as to which company we would go. Finally we were assigned to which company we would go to, H.Q. Coy, A, B, C, rifle companies or Support, Coy medium machine guns. Some including myself went to Signals platoon along with John Moore and John Walker. Davie Hughes, Les Gray and Ollie Phin went to Pioneer Platoon. Bob Chambers went to B coy and Hugh Quinn went to be a batman, all with H.Q. Coy. Some others who I do not recall off hand with hotel experience also went to the Officers mess as waiters or batmen and a few trained cooks.

The remainder went to rifle companies and support company. The main part of the battalion stayed at Gordon barracks Bulford while A coy went to Bulford Fields and B coy went to Parkhouse A.

Training continued at Bulford but in a more slightly relaxed manner. Small arms training, guard duties, regular exercises on Salisbury Plain both regimental and brigade and our first real taste of military discipline. Discipline was not confined to other ranks, NCO's were regularly demoted for misdemeanours and just as regularly made up again. It even applied to officers. There was one young 2nd Lt a chap from Partick who always seemed to be the orderly officer for whatever tricks he got up to. People served various terms of CB which was difficult because they did the fatigues and answered the bugle calls which made it hard to keep their kit up to standard which could legnthen the CB. So unless you were disliked your kit would be kept by your mates doing a little bit each for you.

Discipline also had it's funny side. I remember George McGovern who I grew up with threatening to murder the boy soldier who had reported him to the orderly officer for taking an extra slice of swiss roll at dinner. George got 14 days detention for stealing another mans rations. On the subject of food, a whole cheese for some reason was left outside the cookhouse one night, mysteriously it disappeared. Although every locker was searched no trace of it was ever found. It was rumoured that it was eaten by a bunch of 10-12 stone mice.

Signals training was interesting under Captain Oatts (who was later replaced by Capt ('Flash') Scobie), we were also joined by Lt Anderson.and Sgt Wallace, Attending to daily training and goodwill were Sgts Hopewell, Wallace, Underwood, and joined by Sgt Weir as Sgt Hopewell was to move to B coy as Csm shortly after we arrived in Cyprus. Low key morse was being run down as field radios were improving, although by todays standards they were antiquated. Battery pack radios which were good for up to 3 miles max. Battery operated stationary or vehicle mounted radios which might get you up to 10 miles on a good day but were totally useless at night We also got cable laying, jointing and telephone maintenance repair. I know at least 2 ex-signallers who worked with the Post Office after demob.

Battalion formation marching increased to almost 5 days a week as we were to be presented with new colours by Princess Margaret. Full dress rehearsals, lots of extra bulling of kit for the big occassion, nobody excused. Csm Stobie was in charge of this and he used to round up any ranks of other units or corps who were unaware they were supposed to stop and stand to attention when a regiment and band were parading and march them with us back to the barracks. These guys would end up going a couple of miles in the wrong direction. Fortunately all went to plan. More fun after the presentation the signals platoon had been given the job of supplying the waiters for the visit of the Princess to the sergeants mess. There were 2 Chelsea Pensioners brought up for the occasion and we were told to give them whatever they wanted.. Every order was recorded and the mess sergeant discovered the next day that the pensioners had drunk 38 whiskies. Fortunately he had not noticed the waiters staggering about at the end of the night.

One NCO I vividly remember was the Provost Sergeant, Sergeant Moodie. He was one of the hardest men I have ever run across. When he went into shirt sleeve order I swore it wasn't hair growing out of his chest but barbed wire.

Recreation.

Salisbury was a typical garrison town of that time. Not a lot to do but we were in scrumpy land and believe me that was a new experience. 9 old pence a pint and lethal, most of us were 2 pint bandits. It was a good job we were still suffering from drastic shortage of funds or some may have finished up blind the stuff was so potent. One of the highlights of our stay should have been the opening of a new NAFFI building by Princess Alexandra, she officially opened it at 12 noon and by 5 pm we were barred. I never saw the inside of it, there was nothing new about that as we were already barred from the Glasgow NAFFI.

By this time I was the Signals platoon clerk with the perk of 1 stripe and 5 stars, my finances were a bit better.

With the Xmas promotion to corporal and forthcoming overseas allowance to come in Cyprus things were financially getting better. Off for Xmas and New Year at home, goodbye to Bulford Captain Oatts who got his majority, and Sgt Wallace who was returning to a rifle company when he went to Cyprus, So off with Captain Scobie, Lt Anderson and Sgts Weir and Underwood to Cyprus January 1956.

While we were at Komi Kebir, HQ and B companies assisted in the construction of the camp at Dhavlos. Camps ready, weather improving, we moved on. HQ B&D Companies to Dhavlos, Spt Company to Bhogas, C. Company to Kantara, and A. Company to Mersiniki. M.T. platoon had their work cut out moving equipment and personnel about on dirt roads (still in the rainy season). A few vehicles went over the side but thanks to the skill of the drivers there were no casualties.

Life at Dhavlos once set up settled into routine. Brigade network set up using the new C41 VHF radio's, which where generator powered and had great range and reception during the day, but again useless during the night which was blamed on the ionosphere. Radio code was simple ie. Sunray, Sunray minor, Pronto etc. and I do remember some officer asking to see some Sunray. Quick as a flash he was asked if he thought this was a <*******> television set. He must have been pretty senior because within the hour every on duty operator was questioned as it was obviously a Jock voice. Could have been the Gordons?

Dhavlos was probably the best camp, off the road in a bay, daily swimming without travel like the rifle companies to a beach. Duties carried on, constant patrols by B & D companies accompanied by one signaller. As these were foot patrols it was hard on the signaller as he had the backpack radio as well as his personnel kit. A tough bunch the signallers. H.Q. carried on it's roll to co-ordinate the Battalion which although split up was still one unit. Training still carried on, drills and guards, military discipline although sentences changed to loss of pay dealt with on detatchment by the Company Commanders. I only recall one serious case requiring Commanding Officers Orders, the sentence 56 days detention which was done at Waynes Keep M.C.E. Not a very nice place to spend the best part of 2 months.

Signals platoon continued carrying on under the scrutiny of Captain Bill Scobie and Sgts Weir and Underwood who kept everyone on our toes (Sgt Hopewell had deserted us for B coy as Csm). I stayed at HQ cpl McDougal went to A coy. Cpl Stewart went to Spt coy and Cpl Sutherland went to C coy) As we advanced into the summer and the higher temperatures we changed into shirt sleeve order and had the Spanish siesta break from 1pm - 5pm with the exception of the guards, duty signaller and some other essential personnel. We therefore would put this time to our own good use swimming or just lazing about. I remember trying to explain to Alan Muir how a ship could float in practically no water. Alan was a compositor and had apparently sold off 2 licensed grocers his father had left him so that he could go see the Hearts every Saturday. If he is still kicking about he will be over the moon and waiting to book his tickets for Europe. Life carried on with general duties until March '56 when the decision to put Archbishop Makarios into exile was made. All units on the island were put on standby incase of any serious repercussions but the event just passed over. The next major event was a visit by General Harding who was the governor of the island at that time. You can imagine the bull that went on for that visit.

In April I was seconded to C Company to relieve Cpl Jimmie Sutherland who I had known very well prior to call up and who unfortunately died quite young. Going to a rifle company was a different kettle of fish compared with the relaxed haven of H.Q. Company.

Charlie coy was set in the hills, 2000 ft above Dhavlos. Situated in a natural spring area which had been made into a concrete covered reservoir. The camp also controlled a 4 way road junction which could present escape routes in these directions. A large taverna sat adjacent to the crossroads although this was unfortunately out of bounds (more about that later). Bren gun fixed lines had been set up which could lay down a beaten zone across the road junction

Shortly after the camp was set up Capt Pender took over from Major Hendry (who went to A coy) ably assisted by his officers, Ltns Orr, Cunningham, Boyd, Eekhout and Borton. More than ably assisted by Csm Shortt (favourite saying, 'the barbers children are starving') and his NCO's Sergeants Adair, Isherwood, Cope, Glencross, Tran, Black, McGuire and McLeish, along with various others. He had a ready made parade ground on top of the reservoir and put it to good use.

Every detatchment had its own small NAFFI which supplied the main essentials, toiletries, cigarettes, beer 2 bottles a night (so if you were a tee' totaller you would be very popular), sweets, soft drinks etc. The company also had signals and m t detatchments (battalion supplied), also 1 pay corp and 1 rasc corp, 1 medic corp, and 1 catering corp. Usually they were all excused duties but Csm Shortt liked to remind us that we were with a rifle company, not skiving at HQ company, as if we would? Csm Shortt was an old regular soldier and when seen without his shirt had the most magnificent tigers leaping up onto his shoulders.

Entertainment at Kantara was almost non-existant due to its location. However moral was always good (you can't keep a good jock down). There were some good turns ie. we had a Frank Sinatra, a Perry Como, a budding Andy Cameron, also our share of chancers but they all helped to keep things together. The highlight of our entertainment was our tombola ably run by Mr Shortt (I think he had missed his vocation), an odd film show once a week and swimming trips to the coast at HQ at Dhavlos. I do not remember any entertainers coming while I was there. One swimming party got stoned going through a village. I remember it was Sunday. On the way back it got stoned again, only this time the stones seemed to pass over the transport, and hit some locals sitting outside the tavernas and breaking a lot of windows. Guess who got the blame for that? Other incidents took place with injuries but fortunately no more serious incidents.

Back to the Taverna.

The taverna was some 50 yards from the guardroom at the entrance to the camp and had a landline which could be hooked up with a field telephone and give us a connection to HQ at Dhavlos. One of my duties was to check this weekly, which I always did on a Sunday afternoon. I always went by myself which in hindsight was very stupid as it was routine that got a lot of people killed. However I always took the spare valve box of the C41 radio which comfortably held a half bottle under the top layer of valves (this was my introduction to Ouzo).

This was a secret I kept to myself for over 40 years until I told Willie Furey one night. He gave me a row for not telling him then. It helped me through the nights as I always did the night shifts as I did not do patrols.

I really enjoyed my time at C coy, a great bunch who I had a lot of good times with. The sad times were still to come. So once again I was on the move, this time to A coy at Mersiniki.

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Able Company. Mersiniki.

I moved to A coy in June '56 and stayed with them until we left on January 4th '57. Relieving Cpl McDougal who returned to Dhavlos. A coy always considered themselves the best coy in the battalion and I must admit the longer I was with them the more brainwashed I became. I made many good friends at A coy which have endured to the present day. A coy ws situated at Mersiniki in a forestry commission camp. On the plain close to Lefkoniko and a main road to Famagusta.

Commanded by Major Ottewell, a Canadian, Adj Cpt Donnelly and his junior officers Ltn's Best, Helm and Mack (not to be confused with Willie Mack the cook) Major Ottewell was later replaced by Major Hendry. Csm Stobie left for HQ coy and was replaced by Csm Sievewright who along with Csm Ramsay, sergeants Kindness, Kenyon, Hutcheon, Milligan, Breslin who left for HQ as Provost Sgt and Sgt Tervett who left for C coy and various other sergeants and corporals capably looked after us and our welfare. The camp was well situated for our purpose and the terrain was reasonably flat. There was a fair amount of activity in the area and the patrols were kept at it. Patrols continued around Mersiniki and at least the terrain was much flatter there. However we were now moving into the high summer and the temperature was sometimes hitting 35 deg C, so it was no joke chasing about in that heat.

A coy also had the job of guarding and patrolling the area of Trikomo monastery for reasons which I don't recall. Various incidents occurred while I was at A coy. A swimming party was attacked as they drove through the Lefkoniko pass a bomb was thrown from the top of a bluff with no injuries probably because the transport was moving at pace. Fire was directed at an area and when a party reached the spot blood was found but the injured had been removed. Another swimming party was bombed while in the water, fortunately it landed in a stream close to where Lt Helm was sitting reading a book. He was covered in mud but again fortunately no-one was injured. Both these incidents were more than likely caused by the routine of the bathing pattern. This was a great sadness later. Signals Platoon at A coy were represented by myself, Charlie Shanks, Speedy McDowell and John Pollard.

All the companies had their own football teams and the competition was great. The teams were not all other ranks some companies fielded players right up to Csms who could take it as well as give it.

Around the 4th of January we made our way to Famagusta to board the S.S. Dilwara on the first stage home. Famagusta bay is very shallow so the shipping sits well out in the bay, so the first experience of sailing for most of us was a small boats that ferried us out to the ship, the climb aboard in full FSMO was something else. Fortunately no-one ended up in the sea. Accommodation on troop ships is very cramped, not bunk beds but at least 4 tiered. Well fed, no duties I don't recall any alcohol being available, probably just as well. Most of our time was spent resting, gambling or seagull watching. We came home with one of the Para Battalions and met up with numerous lads who had been drafted with us but had opted for the Paras and had been accepted, plus various people we had known prior to our army service.

We had one stop at Algiers on the road home to take on water and it was obvious the fighting that was going on between the settlers and the French government by the amount of action we could hear going on during our short stay there.

Apart from some rough weather passing through the Bay of Biscay our trip was quite uneventful and we docked at Southampton on the 17th of January. After being well turned over by customs we left by train travelling overnight with some stops for feeding and watering we arrived in Edinburgh and Redford Barracks. We didn't stay long there and then moved on to Glasgow Queen Street Station. Transport was waiting to take us and our kit for an over night stay at the barracks. They certainly took our kit and with exception of those living outside Glasgow I am sure the rest of us went home. Next day the 19th I remember well, we were given our release papers, payed plus leave pay up until 22nd February our final release date. Actually we were held over for 7 weeks but at that time we could be held over for 3 months. I don't recall anyone objecting, we were all too glad be home. Dismissed with our kit and told to report to territorial service which I must admit I never did, we parted company with HM forces.

The organisation it takes to co-ordinate the movement of a ship load of troops is considerable particularly when they are going to various locations, yet as I recall it all seemed to go reasonably well. In later life when I worked for the offshore branch of my company we were always glad to have ex-forces people on our admin and movements staff.

Myself and a few of the old A coy lads continued our friendship after demob , we would meet every Friday and Saturday night in our favourite watering hole, the Grand Hotel bar at Charing Cross. Then as was the case we were picked off one by one by the fairer sex. (I wonder how many wives know they have been married to trained killers for 40 odd years?) We still kept in touch but our meetings got fewer as we became more under their control. However some of us still keep in touch to this day.

Fortunately employment was readily available then, we were still in the post war house building boom, we still had a shipbuilding industry, the steel industry was being rebuilt, and refineries where being built all over the country. I myself moved into the construction industry and as I progressed through the company I always remembered the words of a well known senior detective, Joe Beattie, who I got to know very well after he retired, "DON'T FORGET THE MARYHILL BOYS." I was in the fortunate position to give employment to ex-HLI old pals who were trades men both onshore and offshore and I can honestly say I was never once let down.

In conclusion I would like to thank George Ward, Willie Furey, and Frank Scanlon for their input to this article, also Sandy and the staff at the Regimental Museum in Sauchiehall Street for their help in accessing the Battalion Chronicles and apologise to anyone who feels they should have been mentioned, if this gets printed.

Alex (Alistair) Cameron.