2 R IRISH deploy to UNFICYP

Event
Thu, 05/30/1985 - Sat, 12/14/1985
2 R IRISH UNFICYP deployment in Cyprus 1985.
2 R IRISH UNFICYP deployment in Cyprus 1985.

The UNFICYP (United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus) was set up by UN Security Council resolution 186 on 4 March 1964 to prevent fighting between the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities. Its mission expanded in 1974 following the overthrow of President Archbishop Makarios III by Nikos Sampson, a former EOKA fighter, and his supporters who favoured union with Greece. The Turkish reaction was to declare protection for the Turkish Cypriot community and prevent any Greek union by invading Cyprus and establishing control over the northern part of Cyprus. UNFICYP, since the de facto ceasefire in August 1974, had supervised the ceasefire lines, provided humanitarian assistance, and maintained a buffer zone between the opposing forces. The UN in Cyprus also supported the fullest possible resumption of normal civilian activity in the buffer zone with a particular emphasis on farming, where safe and agreed by all parties. This was a major effort in the Ovgos Valley area.

The 2nd Battalion The Royal Irish Rangers, based in Connaught Barracks, Dover flew from RAF Manston in late May 1985. The tour in Cyprus was for six months. BHQ (Battalion Headquarters) deployed for the full period as the Headquarters of UNFICYP Sector 2, the sector always manned by the British Contingent (BRITCON). The Commanding Officer, Lt Col R D O’Lone, was based with BHQ at St David’s Camp, a former British camp for holding EOKA prisoners, located some 8 miles west of Nicosia. C and Support Companies spent the first three months on the line in Sector 2 and then three months in an IS (Internal Security) role in the UK ESBA (Eastern Sovereign Base Area) based in Alexander Barracks, Dhekelia Garrison. The two company frontage along the Sector 2 area of the UN Buffer Zone, between the southern Greek Cypriot and northern Turkish Cypriot Regions, stretched from Morphu to Nicosia. C Company, followed by A company, were the Western Company based in the Box Factory in Astromeritis, 25 miles west of Nicosia. Support Company, followed by B Company, were the Eastern Company based at UNFICYP Post Bravo 18, some 5 miles west of Nicosia. The buffer zone varied in depth from several yards to just over 3 miles. The company tasks involved observation by patrolling the buffer zone and manning the OPs (Observation Posts). Many of these OPs were on top of elevated water storage cisterns. All were marked with a very large blue UN symbol. The Sector 2 element of the battalion was also supported by a detachment under command from 9 Parachute Squadron The Royal Engineers.

The ESBA IS role began with a two week intensive IS training period culminating in test exercise Ex BUGLE CALL. A and B Company were first into the ESBA role and had a further training experience when the British Forces Cyprus held Ex VENUS ROCK across both Garrison areas. One element of the exercise involved A Company withdrawing by C130 Hercules from a defensive location on ESBA’s Kingsfield Airfield to RAF Akrotiri and then by support helicopters to Episkopi Garrison where they arrived in time to join 1 Scots Guards for the exercise’s final Battle Group attack.. The ESBA IS role also included patrolling the route to 9 Signal Regiment Ayios Nicholaos and manning the Garrison Entry Control Point at the ‘BLACK KNIGHT’ crossing. The latter was much used by the many Eastern Bloc/Warsaw Pact diplomatic vehicles which came under particular scrutiny as they transited the ESBA, often in suspicious circumstances. When C and Support Company assumed the IS role they enjoyed self run Company tactics training and team live firing at the Akamas field firing areas at the south-west end of the island.

The award of the United Nations medal to the majority of 2 R IRISH was unusual in one simple respect; it was the first medal awarded to the battalion since the Rangers had been formed. This was because 2 R IRISH had not experienced an Op BANNER tour in Northern Ireland. They would do so in 1990.

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