Recollections of a Veteran: Memories from Cyprus in the 1980s

thehistorysquad
26 Apr 202314:23
EducationalLearning
32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRIn this History Squad video, Kevin Hicks recounts his experiences as a British soldier stationed in Cyprus during 1981-1983. He shares personal stories, including policing Pergamos camp near the Turkish line, the excitement of a secret operation gone awry with the Royal Navy, and the discovery of a makeshift observation post built by local children. Hicks also reflects on the tragic history of the island, including meeting a victim of a massacre and sharing a peaceful moment with a young shepherd, highlighting the contrast between Cyprus's beauty and its painful past.

Takeaways
  • 🌐 Kevin Hicks shares personal stories from his time in the Army stationed in Cyprus during 1981-1983.
  • 📍 Cyprus is described as a beautiful island in the Eastern Mediterranean, divided by war into a Turkish zone and Greek Cypriot zone.
  • 🏝 Kevin volunteered to police Pergamos, a unique camp near the Turkish line on the eastern end of Cyprus, close to the UN line dividing the island.
  • 🚨 His duties included patrolling the camp and its surroundings, assisted by a German Shepherd named Mark.
  • 🚨 An incident involving a bomb blast at the camp escalated security measures and led to a serious, secretive reinforcement operation by the British Army.
  • 🛳️ A secret operation to reinforce the British Army with armored vehicles ended in chaos due to a failed landing on a jetty and coordination issues.
  • 🕵️ Kevin discovered an unauthorized observation post built by local children mimicking a military setup, which caused concern among Turkish authorities.
  • 💔 A sad story of a village massacre near where Kevin lived, highlighting the tragic history of violence in Cyprus.
  • 😢 Suleiman, a victim of the massacre, became part of the British Army family after losing his own in the conflict.
  • 🎶 Kevin shares a poignant moment of connection with a young shepherd boy, reflecting on the timeless beauty and peace of Cyprus amidst its war-torn history.
  • 🙏 The video concludes with a call to Kevin's Patreon supporters, emphasizing the community's role in enabling him to share his stories and create content.
Q & A

  • What was Kevin Hicks' role in the British Army in Cyprus?

    -Kevin Hicks served as a military police officer in Cyprus, responsible for policing the Pergamos camp, patrolling the outside, and working with both civilians and military personnel, including Turkish and Greek Cypriots.

  • Which years did Kevin Hicks spend in Cyprus?

    -Kevin Hicks was in Cyprus from 1981 to 1983.

  • What was the geopolitical situation of Cyprus during Kevin Hicks' service?

    -Cyprus was divided into a Turkish zone in the northeastern part and a southern western part inhabited by Greek Cypriots, with the division a result of wars and invasions by both sides.

  • What was the purpose of the British Army bases in Cyprus?

    -The British Army bases in Cyprus, known as sovereign base areas, were not part of any colonial business but were there as a point of presence and for security purposes.

  • What was the significance of the Pergamos camp?

    -The Pergamos camp was located at the eastern end of Cyprus, close to the Turkish line and the UN line dividing Cyprus. It housed over 300 people, including civilians and military personnel, and was a unique place due to its proximity to the conflict zone.

  • What happened during the secret operation to reinforce the British Army on the beach?

    -During the secret operation, a landing craft veered off course and smashed into a jetty, causing chaos and damage. Another landing craft collided with the first, and an armored fighting vehicle caught fire. The operation was intended to be a secret reinforcement but ended in embarrassment for the British Army.

  • How did the local children's play inadvertently cause concern between the British and Turkish forces?

    -The local children built a makeshift gun emplacement and observation post in the back garden of an 11-year-old boy's house, using sandbags and plastic guns. This caused the Turkish authorities to complain, thinking it was a real military operation, until it was clarified that it was just children playing war.

  • What tragic event from Cyprus' history did Kevin Hicks learn about from a local village?

    -Kevin Hicks learned about a massacre that occurred in a nearby village in 1974, where many people, including the family of a man named Suleiman, were killed. This event was a part of the larger atrocities committed during the Cyprus conflict.

  • What was the role of Suleiman in the Pergamos camp?

    -Suleiman, a survivor of the 1974 massacre, worked in the Pergamos camp and considered the British Army his new family. He had been a shepherd before the attack and had lost everything, including his home and family.

  • How did Kevin Hicks' encounter with a young shepherd reflect the peaceful aspects of Cyprus?

    -During a patrol, Kevin Hicks met a young shepherd boy who shared his food and played a flute to calm the sheep. This encounter, set against the backdrop of Cyprus' beautiful landscape, highlighted the peaceful and timeless aspects of the island amidst its history of conflict.

  • What was Kevin Hicks' final message to his viewers regarding his experiences in Cyprus?

    -Kevin Hicks expressed his appreciation for the support of his Patreon members and shared that he had many more stories and experiences from his time in Cyprus, including his involvement in the Hundred Years War, which he would be sharing in future videos.

Outlines
00:00
🎖️ Personal Stories from Cyprus

Kevin Hicks shares personal stories from his time in the Army stationed in Cyprus from 1981 to 1983. He discusses the divided nature of the island, his experiences policing a camp called Pergamos near the Turkish line, and the unique challenges he faced there, including an incident with a bomb that damaged the camp's sewage works and escalated security measures. He also talks about a secret operation involving the Royal Navy that ended in chaos and his unexpected involvement in it.

05:06
🕵️‍♂️ Policing and Unexpected Discoveries

Kevin describes his duties in policing the Pergamos camp, his daily patrols with his German Shepherd, Mark, and his encounters with both Turkish and Greek Cypriots. He recounts a humorous incident where local children's play was mistaken for military activity by the Turkish authorities, and another where he discovered a hidden observation post built by the children within the camp. He also shares a sad story of a massacre in a nearby village and introduces a local victim, Suleiman, who found refuge in the British Army camp.

10:09
🌾 The Shepherd Boy and the Cyprus Landscape

In a poignant conclusion, Kevin tells the story of Suleiman, a shepherd who survived a massacre and found a new family in the British Army. He reflects on the beauty and tragedy of Cyprus, a place scarred by war yet timeless in its peacefulness. Kevin's narrative is punctuated by a serene encounter with a young shepherd boy, an interaction that encapsulates the essence of Cyprus's past and present.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡Patreon members
Patreon members are individuals who financially support content creators on the Patreon platform. In the context of the video, they have a role in influencing the content of the History Squad's YouTube channel by voting on the topics for the videos. This keyword illustrates the interactive relationship between the creator, Kevin Hicks, and his audience.
💡Cyprus
Cyprus is an island country located in the Eastern Mediterranean. It is known for its beautiful landscapes but has a complex history marked by division and conflict, particularly between the Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots. The video discusses Kevin's personal experiences in Cyprus during his time in the Army, highlighting the island's divided nature and the British military presence.
💡British Army
The British Army is the principal land warfare force of the United Kingdom, and it has a significant role in the country's history and global military operations. In the video, Kevin shares his experiences as a member of the British Army, including his duties in Cyprus and interactions with both civilians and military personnel.
💡Pergamos
Pergamos is a camp in Cyprus where Kevin was stationed during his time in the British Army. It is described as a unique place near the Turkish line on the Eastern end of Cyprus, adjacent to the UN line that divides the island. The camp housed both civilians and military personnel, and it was Kevin's responsibility to police and patrol the area.
💡Turkish Cypriots
Turkish Cypriots are the ethnic Turkish community living in Cyprus, primarily in the northeastern part of the island. The division of Cyprus into Greek and Turkish zones has led to a complex political situation, with the Turkish Cypriots forming a significant part of the island's population. In the video, Kevin interacts with Turkish Cypriots during his service in Cyprus, highlighting the multicultural nature of his duties.
💡Greek Cypriots
Greek Cypriots are the majority ethnic group in Cyprus, predominantly residing in the southern and western parts of the island. The division of Cyprus has resulted in a tense relationship between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots. In the video, Kevin's experiences in Cyprus involve interactions with Greek Cypriots, reflecting the diverse cultural landscape of the island.
💡British intelligence
British intelligence refers to the United Kingdom's intelligence agencies responsible for the collection, analysis, and appropriate dissemination of information to help safeguard the country's national security interests. In the video, Kevin mentions that some of his activities in Cyprus related to British intelligence, indicating the secretive and sensitive nature of his work.
💡Ayatollah Khomeini
Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini was an Iranian religious leader and politician who was the founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran. His influence extended beyond Iran, affecting various conflicts and political situations in the Middle East. In the context of the video, Kevin recounts an incident where insurgents sent by Khomeini caused security concerns in Cyprus, leading to heightened military activity.
💡Dhekelia
Dhekelia is one of the Sovereign Base Areas on the island of Cyprus, which are British Overseas Territories. These bases are remnants of the British colonial presence and serve as strategic military locations. In the video, Kevin is called to Dhekelia for a secret operation involving the reinforcement of British forces, which ultimately becomes a chaotic and memorable event.
💡Shepherd
A shepherd is a person who tends to and protects sheep, often in rural or pastoral settings. In the context of the video, the shepherd represents a traditional and peaceful aspect of life in Cyprus, contrasting with the island's history of conflict. The encounter with the shepherd boy playing the flute exemplifies the enduring beauty and tranquility of the land.
💡Massacres
Massacres refer to the act of killing a large number of people, typically in a violent and brutal manner. In the context of the video, Kevin learns about past massacres in Cyprus, particularly those that occurred in 1974, which have left lasting impacts on the local communities. These events underscore the tragic history of the island and the personal stories of those affected.
Highlights

Kevin Hicks shares personal stories from his time in the Army in Cyprus.

Cyprus is described as one of the most beautiful islands divided by war.

Kevin volunteered to police a camp called Pergamos at the eastern end of the island.

Pergamos camp was a unique place, located right next to the Turkish line.

Kevin's duties included policing the camp and patrolling the outside with a German Shepherd named Mark.

An incident involving a bomb blast at the camp increased security significantly.

Kevin was involved in a secret operation to reinforce the British army with armored cars.

A failed secret operation led to chaos on the beach with landing crafts and armored vehicles.

Kevin discovered a makeshift observation post built by local children playing war.

The local children's play was mistaken for a military operation by the Turkish authorities.

Suleiman, a victim of a massacre, found refuge and considered the British army as his family.

Suleiman's story is a reminder of the atrocities committed during the Cyprus conflict.

Kevin reflects on the peaceful beauty of Cyprus, contrasting with its war-torn history.

A chance encounter with a young shepherd boy playing the flute symbolizes the timeless nature of Cyprus.

Kevin shares a meal with the shepherd boy, highlighting the hospitality and simplicity of the local people.

The video concludes with a call to Kevin's Patreon members, acknowledging their support.

Kevin's stories provide a personal perspective on the complex history and culture of Cyprus.

The video is a mix of personal anecdotes, historical context, and cultural observations.

Transcripts

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