FOR the first time this year, Turkish Cypriots were commemorated simultaneously in London and Kyrenia at the Remembrance Sunday ceremonies organised by the Royal Legion for those who served in the British Army in World War II and other conflicts.
Across the country as well as overseas a minutes of silence took place on Sunday 11 November at 11 am, at the memorial service which took place at the Wood Green War Memorial, a wreath was laid in memory of Turkish Cypriot soldiers.
Before the memorial service took place a multi-faith service was held at Church Hall of St. Michael’s Church which included members from the Turkish speaking communities.
The latest research suggests that up to 200 members of this small island community died for freedom, and their graves are strewn across Europe, from Poland to Italy and Egypt.
Up to 5,000 Turkish Cypriots are believed to have enlisted in the Cyprus Regiment, in addition to the many women who joined the Women’s Royal Army Corps, or became nurses.
On a brief visit to Cyprus in 1943, Winston Churchill praised the “soldiers of the Cyprus Regiment who have served honourably on many fields from Libya to Dunkirk.”
Hastily assembled in 1940, the Cyprus Regiment was initially led by British Army Officers; but as the conflict wore on, Turkish Cypriots, together with their more numerous Greek Cypriot brothers-in-arms – were promoted as Officers and NCOs, until finally, the Regiment got it first non-British Commanding Officer, Lt/Col Ömer Faik Müftüzade OBE, QGM.
