The Sunday Post (Inverness)

Anniversar­y of ‘forgotten’ Cyprus Emergency

-

Heartbroke­n pals gave up a month’s wages and neighbours rallied round with collection­s to meet the repatriati­on costs.

“On the day of the funeral, everything came to a halt in Maryhill.

“The shops closed and people took the time off work to be there. When my mother went to the undertaker­s to see the coffin, the grief was such that she fainted. “It was terrible, just terrible.” A manhunt on the island led to the arrest of two suspects but they were found not guilty and Matt’s killers were never brought to justice.

Margaret’s memories of the big brother she adored are undimmed.

“Matt was the blue-eyed boy. He was full of fun. My other brother Ollie and him were so close.

“They were Partick Thistle supporters and they used to love going to the games together. Like my mum, he never got over the loss.”

The family’s grief was compounded by having lost Matt on an overseas duty which they never understood.

“It’s like it was the forgotten conflict,” says Margaret. “They called it the Cyprus Emergency but it was just never spoken about. You heard about people losing their lives serving elsewhere and you knew what it was about, but not this.

“People said the troops were there as peacemaker­s but I just don’t understand what Matt was doing there at all. That made it so much worse.”

Today will see the unveiling of the rock bearing the names of each of the 371 servicemen as well as 21 British police officers who also lost their lives.

Around 250 colleagues who also served will be alongside the relatives at the 150- acre woodland site which is home to more than 320 memorials.

Currently the only memorials for the Cyprus Emergency are in the old British cemetery over in Kyrenia. The Memorial Rock, from the Troodos Mountains, will be the first on UK shores.

“It’s going to be an emotional day for me,” admits Margaret, whose Broomhill home is still full of photograph­s, letters and other paperwork.

“Apart from Ollie’s wife I’m the only one left in the family now.

“Matt has never been forgotten by us, but at least after all these years there is something permanent marking him.”

And Matt’s service is also due to be fur ther commemorat­ed with Margaret being told by the MoD that she will be presented with the Elizabeth Cross.

It’s given to next of kin of service personnel killed in action or by terrorist attack since the Second World War and she’s awaiting a date for it to be handed over.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United Kingdom