HC Deb 20 February 1964 vol 689 cc1385-6
29. Mr. Barnett

asked the Secretary of State for Air if he will make a statement about the circumstances in which four Royal Air Force policemen in Nicosia were ordered to enter the city unarmed and with no senior noncommissioned officer in charge on Christmas Eve, 1963.

The Under-Secretary of State for Air (Mr. Julian Ridsdale)

These men, who were corporals, were sent in to try to evacuate the wife and six children of an airman who had been wounded earlier in the day. The rescue attempt was delayed as long as possible in the hope of a cease-fire coming into force. The party came under fire before it could find the family and was immediately recalled by radio. On the way back, the party came under fire again and three members were wounded. The civil police and hospital authorities were unable to help and they were rescued by a Royal Air Force ambulance under escort.

I regret very much that casualties should have been incurred but I am sure that all concerned were doing their best under very difficult circumstances.

Mr. Barnett

In thanking the Under Secretary for that statement, which will go some way towards reassuring the parents and families of the airmen concerned, may I ask him to look further into the question of why this Land Rover went with no arms and, therefore, the airmen concerned were unable to defend themselves? Secondly, they were sent after dark, and thirdly, why was no senior n.c.o. or officer in control of the party?

Mr. Ridsdale

It is easy to be wise after these events. This happened at the beginning of the troubles. The arming of policemen is a matter for decision by the local Royal Air Force authorities, but I think that the carriage of arms would undoubtedly have aggravated the incident, which occurred in the no-man's-land between the Greek and Turkish lines. The announcement of a cease-fire had been expected and the operation was delayed for this reason. Manpower resources were fully extended at the time and it was not surprising in the circumstances for a junior n.c.o. to be put in charge of the party.