25th Anniversary — 1st Australian Contingent AFP’s PEACE MEN
On a hot Mediterranean morning in 1964, 40 Australian police officers stepped onto the island of Cyprus in a history-making event which became part of one of the most successful United Nations operations yet. They were the First Australian Police Contingent of the United Nations Peace-Keeping Force in Cyprus. Their task was to help keep the peace between the island’s two conflicting peoples — the Greek and the Turkish Cypriots. Their dedication, and that of subsequent contingent members, has made the operation a milestone in Australian and international policing history. Thursday, 25 May 1989 marks the 25th Anniversary of their arrival on Cyprus.
HEN Sergeant Laurie Con nolly and Senior Constable WJohn Vandcnbcrgh, of the Australian Commonwealth Police, landed at Nicosia Airport in mid-May, 1964, they had no idea just what new ground they would be breaking in the name of Australian policing. They were the advance parry for the first Australian contingent to the United Nations Civilian Police (UNC1VPOL) in Cyprus. “It was like walking into a military zone,” said Laurie Connolly last week, recalling the day clearly. “We landed almost unannounced and spent the first couple of hours finding out where we were supposed to be. “Our nearest official Australian contact was the Charges d'Aflairs at The Prime Minister, Mr Hawke, is introduced to members of the 26th Contingent our Athens Embassy. But we finally by Commander Alan Bird, during a visit to Cyprus in January 1987. From left, got settled into temporary lodgings to are: Sergeants Ken Baker and Peter DcBritte, Superintendent Bill Kirk and Sergeant begin our main task of making contact John Davies. with other police groups.” Today, the 20 members of the 29th “The Greeks felt an affinity to us “For a time it was a live and learn Contingent arc carrying on the work because so many Greek relatives have experience for us. We were equipped that began with that first Contingent; migrated to Australia and settled with a fleet of old British Mark 1 work which over the years has earned happily,” he added. LandRovers which had been moth the Australians the reputation of being “It made our job so much easier, balled since Libya had gained its the most popular and effective group although there were still some very independence.” of United Nations representatives tense times. In the early 1960s, few Australians involved in the Cyprus peace-keeping “We mainly supported the Irish knew Cyprus as anything more than operation. Army contingent and got along an island that offered visitors a taste “The members of the first contin famously with them. Our main duty’ of simple Mediterranean culture and gent landed at Cyprus at 6.50 am on was to inquire into and try to settle holiday living. 25 May," Laurie said. "They walked disputes between the two sides. We But Christmas, 1963, saw the off the plane and were taken to their had no power of arrest. We always island’s population on the brink of war; initial accommodation to begin what found we were able to negotiate a a war over culture and territory. was to become a new experience for solution to all disputes we came It was the time of ENOSIS, when most of them. across.” Greek Cypriots who comprised just “We were well-respected from the Commander Bob “Doc” Gillespie, over three-quarters of the island’s start,” he said. "The respect of the of AFP Brisbane, was one of those who population sought union with Greece, Turks for Australians goes back to the made up the first contingent. a move resisted by the Turkish First World War, when the "Diggers” “As the plane flew over Cyprus, 1 Cypriots who made up just under a and Turkish troops met in the bitter remembered thinking it was an island fifth of the total population. Gallipoli landing. The respect which in the middle of the ocean,” he said. The Cyprus Government appealed grew out of that battle remains to this “Summer was coming on and it was to the UN for assistance and in March day. all very dry. 1964 the UN Force in Cyprus Platypus 26, July 1989 / 25th Anniversary — 1st Australian Contingent
(UNFICYP) began military opera tions to dampen down the fighting between Greeks and Turks. The two communities were segre gated along specified lines, but it was quickly realised that military compo nents weren’t equipped for the job of liaising with the communities, keeping the peace between Cyprus and Tur kish Police Forces, and investigating deaths and crime. A United Nations police presence was considered to be the best solution. UNCIVPOL was the result of an appeal for UN member countries to provide civilian police to carry out a purely liaison and oberver role in the tense situation. The Australian Government decided to make 40 police available. In the interests of sharing the com mitment and avoiding depletion of the small Commonwealth Police Force, the States were approached to contribute. New South Wales and Victoria each tension; finding their ‘home’ for the investigators and reporters and it is agreed to supply 10 members, includ next 12 months was no small feat. An necessary to carry out these functions ing an officer, South Australia five, Austrian contingent hail already been within the limits of diplomacy and tact including an officer, the Common in operation since 14 April, with a At first, UNCIVPOL insisted that wealth three, including an officer, Swedish team arriving on 5 May. New all members should be armed on duty. Queensland five, Western Australia Zealand’s contribution to the force had The Australian contingent recognised three, Tasmania two, and the A.C.T. landed five days before. early that their .38 calibre revolvers and Northern Territory each one. The Australian UNCIVPOL had were of little help in their work and Each member was to be appointed been allocated the Famagusta and preferred not to wear them. Special Constable under the Com Larnaca Districts as its area of “W'e wore arms for the first few monwealth Police Act. responsibility, almost one-third of the weeks and then decided to give them The urgency of the operation was island in all. One compensation was away,” Doc Gillespie said. “After all, indicated by the fact that selections that the area contained some of the the combatants were wandering were made, passports issued and island’s most modem hotels, and these around with submachine guns. We felt health formalities completed within provided very agreeable accommo outgunned by everyone else.” four weeks. Members received dation for members. Their stand was justified by a later instruction in the social and cultural official decision to delegate firearms problems which they were likely to policy to contingent commanders. encounter and were briefed on their Versatility As Jim Hamilton wrote: “We have UN role. At Canberra’s Duntroon relaxed the original instruction for the Military College they were shown how As Inspector Hamilton later wrote: compulsory carriage of weapons while to handle booby traps and explosives, “Upon the arrival of UN civilian on duty. This is left to the individual and trained in pistol shooting and police there was no precedent and a and to the Commander. The relaxation driving four-wheel drive vehicles. quick degree of adaptability was is not practised by other police Dressed in blue serge uniforms necessary. The Australian Police elements to the same extent as the carrying Commonwealth Police moved into this situation very well and Australians, but no Australian Police flashes, the group, lev! by Inspector quickly showed their versatility in man has been confronted with a Jim Hamilton, of the Commonwealth carrying out investigations.” situation requiring the use of his Police, supported by Inspector Frank In the first six months of duty, personal arms to overcome. W'e feel Holland, of the Victoria Police, flew UNCIVPOL throughout Cyprus in many instances that unarmed out of Australia aboard the first Qantas conducted 44 major inquiries into policemen travelling in distinguishable 707 flight to land on Cyprus. incidents, including 20 cases of vehicles (painted white with UN The NSW’ members were headed homicide and attempted homicide. markings) known to opposing factions, by Inspector Bill Hansen, and the There were 17 cases of shooting from tend to relax tension in villages and South Australians by Inspector Harry passing vehicles. areas more so than having armed Brcuer. “. . . As police officers we have no military personnel patrol with a They arrived at Nicosia, closely powers of authority similar to that continued show of force.” followed by a Danish contingent, amid exercised at home,” Jim Hamilton Tension was growing as the possi an atmosphere of uncertainty and wrote. “W’e merely act as observers, bility of an invasion of the island by 2 Platypus 26, July 1989 both Greek and Turkish forces loomed criminals and bring them to justice.” contribution in the provision of some anil the work of the mediators became But in spite of the early tension, 30 contingents involving service by difficult. Cyprus settled down to the routine of close to 700 police officers is a Laurie Connolly’s diary of January UN civilian police helping citizens of remarkable achievement. 1965 lists some typical incidents: both communities overcome the “I believe that most members who “Turks let flocks graze in fields.’’ problems of ‘no-go’ zones, restricted served in Cyprus teamed a lot about "Greeks prevented from cultivating activity and ‘farming only’ areas. policing, living in and dealing with fields near Turkish fortifications.” In 1975, the 12th Contingent communities who have experienced “Greeks had shot up a Turkish numbers were reduced to 16. It was upheavals generally beyond an Aus village.” the last time police from the States tralian’s recognition or understand "Both Turkish and Greek Cypriots were involved in the peace-keeping ing,” he said. “If nothing else it taught were very poor and very hard role. The following year the Contin them to have compassion for people working," Laurie said. “There were gent again consisted of 16 members, who, far worse off than many of us no problems from cither side with any but this time from the Commonwealth have ever been or are ever likely to of the UN forces, although a British Police only. be, can continue with life in a cheerful, Major and his driver disappeared and uncomplaining manner. no trace of them or their vehicle was With the formation of the AFP in “In the early years, members of ever found. An extremist group was 1979, the tradition continued with its AUSTCIVPOL worked in an atmos suspected.” officers serving in Cyprus. phere of open hostility between ethnic The change set the pattern for the groups and attended many incidents next few years, although numbers of a violent nature. On many occasions New Issue varied from 20 to 22. they too met with hostility and Superintendent Dick Allatson, sometimes physical assault and verbal The weather, too, warmed up as the whose introduction to Cyprus came abuse. It is a tribute to their profes members began to feel the effects of with the British Army forces during sionalism, tact and discretion that such the July and August heat — the the 1957-59 EOKA period, has had incidents did not escalate and were in island’s hottest months. three terms as Commander AUST- most cases quickly defused and settled “Our navy-blue serge trousers and CIVPOL. He believes Australia's amicably,” he said. black boots were totally unsuited to the hot, dusty terrain,” said Doc Gillespie. “We waited about four Ill