Colonial Police Colonial Police during Cyprus EOKA conflict

[Nemesis]

35 minutes ago, bigjarofwasps said:

Did we ever get to the bottom of whether a Sergeant Warder was in the Police or the Prison service? 
 

There’s an example currently up for auction if anyone’s interested?

 

I would have thought the Prison Warders would have been administered by the security services 

Regarding the medal the naming on the medal should show a prison service number ,rank WDR initial and Name. Nothing else. 

other scarce ranks on GSM Cyprus .  CSC ( Cyprus Special Constabulary )

PS for Police Sergeant usually used for the British Civil Police sent from the UK to assist in the troubles.

I have seen medals with a four digit number Rank initials and Surname and nothing else

We will have to wait until the rolls become available then we might get an idea where a person was stationed

 

 

[Dave Wilkinson]

I'm not quite sure what you mean when you refer to the security services. The term security services usually mean MI5 or MI6. I'm fairly confident that they would have no connection with the prison service. In many (but not all) British Colonies, the Prison Service often came under the management of the Commissioner/Chief of Police. Insofar as Cyprus is concerned I can confirm that the police and the prison service each had their own distinctive cap and collar badges. That was also the case in Palestine, where I can confirm that the Commissioner of Police did command both organisations. In all probability that was also the case in Cyprus.

Dave. 

[Nemesis]

18 minutes ago, Dave Wilkinson said:

I'm not quite sure what you mean when you refer to the security services. The term security services usually mean MI5 or MI6. I'm fairly confident that they would have no connection with the prison service. In many (but not all) British Colonies, the Prison Service often came under the management of the Commissioner/Chief of Police. Insofar as Cyprus is concerned I can confirm that the police and the prison service each had their own distinctive cap and collar badges. That was also the case in Palestine, where I can confirm that the Commissioner of Police did command both organisations. In all probability that was also the case in Cyprus.

Dave. 

Yes I agree. It was probably managed by the police , Security Services is more leaning towards MI5 etc. Have you read the book “ Policing EOKA “ quite a good read. I will dig it out and see if it mentions the Prison Service

[dpk]

I am a retired Western Australia Police Force officer and I know that members of Australian State and Commonwealth police forces served in Cyprus under the auspices of the United Nations. They were also (retrospectively) eligible for the Police Overseas Service Medal which is an Australian national award introduced in 1991.

 

[dpk]

Hi All,

I know that Australian Police Officers also served in a policing role in Cyprus. Not sure if they were seconded to the Cyprus Police or part of a United Nations deployment. Several men in my own force served there, I don't recall any of them wearing ribbons for the GSM but that is not definite- they may have either a GSM or possibly a UN Medal.

[Nemesis]

The Australian Police in Cyprus were under the UN. The ones I knew between 1973-1975 were based in Limassol at Polymedia . I dont know how many bases in total the UN Police had in Cyprus. 
see link. https://apnews.com/article/be83183a4a55443daaed13c15ba93472

[bigjarofwasps]

There’s a Police/Prison Officer

Cyprus Campaign, general service medal currently on EBay, which might be of interest?

 

144086076677

 

(I’m not the seller)

[bigjarofwasps]

On 27/06/2021 at 16:46, bigjarofwasps said:

There’s a Police/Prison Officer

Cyprus Campaign, general service medal currently on EBay, which might be of interest?

 

144086076677

 

(I’m not the seller)

 

Final price £93.01 + postage and packing. Not an unreasonable amount I thought? 

[Nemesis]

Can anyone help with a Cyprus GSM named Inspr A Gibb.

I have checked him against the Police roll in Cowleys book on the United Kingdom Police Unit to Cyprus 1955-1960 sent to assist in the Emergency. Theres no sign of him there.

I don't think he will be in the Prison Service as the rank is not right for that department

Could he be Local Police?

Could he be Colonial Police ?

Does anyone know where else to look.

thanks

Max

Edited July 6, 2022 by Nemesis

[Dave Wilkinson]

40 minutes ago, Nemesis said:

Can anyone help with a Cyprus GSM named Inspr A Gibb.

I have checked him against the Police roll in Cowleys book on the United Kingdom Police Unit to Cyprus 1955-1960 sent to assist in the Emergency. Theres no sign of him there.

I don't think he will be in the Prison Service as the rank is not right for that department

Could he be Local Police?

Could he be Colonial Police ?

Does anyone know where else to look.

thanks

Max

You could possibly try the current Sovereign Base Areas Police in Cyprus. They were established in 1962 and he may well have served with them. They may have some records that will assist.  There were other British Police Forces which existed in Cyprus viz:-

 

War Dept. Police (Cyprus) 1960-64.

Army Dept. Police (Cyprus) 1964-1968

and Army Depot Police (Cyprus) 1968-1995

I suspect that the historical records for those three forces may be held at Kew under a MoD Reference.

 

I hope this is helpful.

 

Dave.

 

[Nemesis]

4 hours ago, Dave Wilkinson said:

You could possibly try the current Sovereign Base Areas Police in Cyprus. They were established in 1962 and he may well have served with them. They may have some records that will assist.  There were other British Police Forces which existed in Cyprus viz:-

 

War Dept. Police (Cyprus) 1960-64.

Army Dept. Police (Cyprus) 1964-1968

and Army Depot Police (Cyprus) 1968-1995

I suspect that the historical records for those three forces may be held at Kew under a MoD Reference.

 

I hope this is helpful.

 

Dave.

Thanks Dave  i will see what can be done. If I find out anything usefull I will post the info here.

thanks

Max

 

[Nemesis]

Duplicate Issue of Medals

 

General Service Medal 1918-1962 Bar Malaya Awarded to 4011014 Cpl WA Titmarsh RAF. Issued 1st May 1953.

With medal transmission slip in box of issue

General Service Medal 1918-1962 Bar CYPRUS awarded to 1876 Police Sergeant WA Titmarsh. In box of issue.

 

William Arthur Titmarsh was awarded the General Service Medal with Clasp Malaya as a Corporal in The Royal Air Force. It may well be that he was a National Serviceman.

 

At some point William became a Constable in the Metropolitan Police. He volunteered to go to Cyprus to assist the local powers in policing the Island during the EOKA Terrorist campaign. He served in the Island from 5th of March 1956 to the 4th of December 1957. All volunteers with the rank of constable were elevated to the rank of Sergeant whilst in Cyprus

The UN Cyprus medal was with the group when purchased. The UN Cyprus Medal was issued from 1964 to present day, so it is unknown why it was in with the other two medals.

Clearly the Malaya and Cyprus GSMs are to the same man, but were a duplicate issue.

Edited August 14, 2023 by Nemesis

[Nemesis]

In the photo here is a group of medals which may be of interest to the members on this forum. 

1939/45 Star, The Atlantic Star, Defence Medal, 1939/45 War Medal, General Service Medal Clasp Cyprus awarded to 2536 Sergeant E.L. Austin.

Edgar Lemon Austin was born on the 16th of April 1925 at Aldershot.  He served in the Royal Navy during the Second World War for three years and six months. He joined the Hampshire Constabulary on the 3rd of October 1952 aged 27. On the 3rd of January 1953 was posted to Romsey and transferred to Ringwood on the 10th of August 1954.

Sergeant Austin was seconded for service in Cyprus on the 1st of November 1957 returning on the 5th of October 1959 to Ringwood.

He was posted to Gosport on the 16th of April 1962

He resigned on the 21st of May 1962.