'Losing my friend was the hardest part of the war'.Byline: George Psyllides LOIZOS DEMETRIOU was 23 when he joined the British army The British Army is the land armed forces branch of the British Armed Forces. It came into being with unification of the governments and armed forces of England and Scotland into the United Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. to fight against the axis powers in 1940. He volunteered for the Cyprus Regiment of the British army just after Greece was attacked in 1940. "We wanted to serve anywhere the army sent us," Demetriou told the Cyprus Mail. "We did not have a choice in those years." Demetriou served with the Eighth Army in Egypt, Palestine and Iraq and spent a year being trained as an officer in Britain. Around 20,000 Cypriots -- Greek and Turkish -- served on the side of the allies during the Second World War. Some 10,000 living abroad -- Britain, Australia and the US -- were also drafted. "I lost my friend and schoolmate in the battle of El Alamein Noun 1. Battle of El Alamein - a pitched battle in World War II (1942) resulting in a decisive Allied victory by British troops under Montgomery over German troops under Rommel Al Alamayn, El Alamein [Egypt]," Demetriou said. "It is the most difficult moment that I will never forget." More than 600 Cypriots were killed, buried in 56 military cemeteries in 16 different countries in Europe and the Middle East. Some 2,500 Cypriots were interned in concentration camps where at least 35 died from deprivation and ill-treatment, while some were executed. According to the Cyprus Veterans Association, during the allied retreat from Greece and Crete, the Cyprus Regiment lost some 2,500 men, most taken prisoners of war. About 1,000 Cypriot women also enlisted voluntarily to the Auxiliary Territorial Service The Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS; often pronounced as an acronym) was the women's branch of the British Army during the Second World War. It was formed on 9 September 1938, initially as a women's voluntary service, and existed until 1 February 1949. and Women's Auxiliary Air Force The Women's Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF), whose members were invariably referred to as Waafs (pronounced IPA: /ˈwæfs/), was the female auxiliary of the Royal Air Force during World War II, established in 1939. and served in the Middle East as drivers, mechanics or for office duties. Cyprus yesterday marked Remembrance Day, honouring Greek and Turkish Cypriots who fought in the world wars and those killed. A service was held and government officials and diplomats laid wreaths at the memorial of fallen Cypriots in Nicosia. "We feel proud for Cyprus' offer to world history and world civilisation," President Demetris Christofias said in a speech read by the government spokesman. "We understand the burden of this legacy and the obligation to prove worthy." Copyright Cyprus Mail 2009 Provided by Syndigate.info an Albawaba.com company |
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