Cyprus-Forum.com

[Oracle]

Ian ... These three people died on the same day (4th November 1956). I wonder if you searched for their details you may come up with more about your uncle. Such as the location.

Pte Malcolm Alan Cook (Royal Norfolk Regiment) Age 18
Cpl Richards John Chittock (Royal Norfolk Regiment) Age 22
Signalman Kenneth Henry Spragg (Royal Signals) Age 20

[IanBrettCooper]

Thanks,

I did notice that. I took a quick look, but it seems that the four men were killed in three separate incidents in different areas of the island. The only men to be killed in the same incident seem to have been the Norfolk Regiment guys.

[Oracle]

Well, how about looking at the two or three recorded as dead, one or two days after, in case they were wounded in the same incident (Nicosia or Paphos) and died a few days later.

Also, if four men were killed on the one day (even if separate incidents) you would think the British press, a day or two later, would have reported this significant casualty. Can you search the UK newspaper archives?

[IanBrettCooper]

Good points. I'll see if I can check into those ideas. Thanks.

[Pax]

You may have already tried this, but the single place likely to have most details will be the National Archive where there is specialist (free) help in tracing the records of service personnel. See http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/records/looking-for-person/britisharmysoldierafter1913.htm?WT.lp=rg-3114 If you can go there in person then the archive staff are incredibly helpful even ifyou've only got snippets of information.

[Gasman]

sites like:

http://www.britains-smallwars.com/cyprus/war.html

have lots of info relevant to that time.

And lots of photos too - showing British servicemen over here at the time.

My Uncle was here too. He survived but doesn't have any happy memories of it.

If you know his regiment, you might be able to trace people who remember him.

[YFred]

sites like:

http://www.britains-smallwars.com/cyprus/war.html

have lots of info relevant to that time.

And lots of photos too - showing British servicemen over here at the time.

My Uncle was here too. He survived but doesn't have any happy memories of it.

If you know his regiment, you might be able to trace people who remember him.

Surely MOD in UK must have all the details he needs?

[Gasman]

Yfred, he already has all this info:

Here's what I know so far:

Rank:Warrant Officer 2nd Class. Service No:7886971.

Company:A (HQ Company) Cyprus H district / 6 Regiment, Royal Tank Regiment, British Army.

Date of Death:4 November 1956. Killed in Nicosia (or perhaps in Paphos) when an electronically operated bomb blew up his vehicle. He was 36 years old. He is buried in Wayne's Keep Military Cemetery, Nicosia. Grave or Memorial Reference:Plot 23 Row C Grave 7.

I was assuming what he wanted was, well, perhaps more 'personal' stuff? Perhaps some people who knew him? Exactly how he was killed? Who killed him? How it was reported (if it was) at the time?

Not sure he'll get that sort of info from the MoD.

[YFred]

Yfred, he already has all this info:

Here's what I know so far:

Rank:Warrant Officer 2nd Class. Service No:7886971.

Company:A (HQ Company) Cyprus H district / 6 Regiment, Royal Tank Regiment, British Army.

Date of Death:4 November 1956. Killed in Nicosia (or perhaps in Paphos) when an electronically operated bomb blew up his vehicle. He was 36 years old. He is buried in Wayne's Keep Military Cemetery, Nicosia. Grave or Memorial Reference:Plot 23 Row C Grave 7.

I was assuming what he wanted was, well, perhaps more 'personal' stuff? Perhaps some people who knew him? Exactly how he was killed? Who killed him? How it was reported (if it was) at the time?

Not sure he'll get that sort of info from the MoD.

He is also unlikely to get it here too. The MOD must have made a full report on all the details at the time. Probaply sitting in Kew Archives.

[IanBrettCooper]

I was assuming what he wanted was, well, perhaps more 'personal' stuff? Perhaps some people who knew him? Exactly how he was killed? Who killed him? How it was reported (if it was) at the time?

Not sure he'll get that sort of info from the MoD.

Exactly. The MOD usually has details relating to army service, and if it's available I can get that. I'll probably have to pay someone to do a proper search, as I'm located in the US, so that will most likely have to wait until I have funds to spare for it, or until I take a trip to London.

But what I'm more interested in are the circumstances of his death, or photos or newspaper reports. Often I find that there are people on sites like this who are amateur historians. Sometimes they will have a news clipping or other info that can tell a lot more than a dry official document.