Summer 2025 11 The Sqn en route to Mt. Olympus, camels were not part of our convoy! Which can be seen coming behind. Convoy planning left much to be desired, as for the first one thirteen escort vehicles turned up to escort three trucks! Next time three escorts for about nine trucks. Scenes at Famagusta docks preparing to escort convoy, perched on the landrover, Bernie Newcome, Terry Hillier and Jim (Zola) Paterson. Planning for these events was again problematic as often we would arrive at the docks to find ammo carrying vessel still at sea, requiring us to find billets at Ayios Nikolaos. The squadron provided a close protection detail for the AOC when he was mobile. Close meant close, no more than six feet away from the vehicle in front! Landrovers were black with the white winged wheel logo. The reserve vehicle had been pressed into service for a docks escort run and can be seen in the centre photo. Ceremonial occasions had resumed after the squadron’s arrest of Archbishop Makarios at the airport, which proved to be a gateway to peace as the EOKA campaign of violence ended bringing with it a declining need for security patrol and, seeing the resumption of ceremonial events ie the Queens Birthday Parade. As the senior Regiment unit on the station, it provided the Guard of Honour, before marching off, leaving the Parade to carry on. I was never up to GoH standard and enjoyed the lowly role of pre-Parade ‘boots duster’! Opportunities to leave the station came our way, allowing myself and a few others to visit Nicosia on Good Friday 1958. Combined Service Entertainment (CSE) artistes were very soon visiting the troops and the squadron escorted these to and from RAF bases dotted around the island, on one such occasion, on detachment at Cape Greco, Rosemary Squires (later known as the ‘Jingle Girl’) gave a truly electrifying performance of the Peggy Lee hit, ‘Fever’. to a packed marquee of all ranks. Up and coming Rank starlet, Vera Day was another sight for ‘sore eyes’! Squadron Club With peace pro-active duties declined, but training emerged and off duty airmen were kept busy with the construction of wooden accommodation to replace tents. Two year serving artisans did the building with the ‘intellectuals’ rendering empty packing cases, from the helicopter squadron, into suitable building material. A squadron club was built and opened itself to airmen and NCOs. This soon became a very popular. Summer passed and in late September I left transit camp on Nicosia to depart for Hendon, Innsworth and Demob, not without one last panicky moment as I realised, on getting to departure, my documents were still under the bed at the transit camp! A rescue rush ensued and I made the flight. Phew! Albert Weager GSM former 5033179 SAC Weager A Bernie Newcome, Terry Hillier and Jim (Zola) Paterson Scenes at Famagusta docks preparing to escort convoy
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