BMH Nicosia

I served my National Service with the RAMC at BMH Nicosia from 1957 to 1959 during all the terrorist troubles so you can imagine it was quite a busy place to be at that time. I remember that we were all confined to camp for 3 months during the worst of the terrorist actions. All we had to do was play Bingo, which I vowed never to play again when I had finished my service out there! After this 3 months we were only allowed out in 3's and one of us had to carry a gun so we didn't go out a lot even then.





I was not there on the nursing staff but was in the Company Office as a Clerk. The hospital as far as I can recollect was about 1 mile south on the Larnaca road at the top of the hill on the left hand side. As I was in the Company office I had contact with all of the QARANCS as I used to print the cigarette coupons for everyone, we were rationed to 240 fags a week. I was quite a popular chap! I was also in charge of the fridge which we had in the office from which I used to sell to anyone who fancied a Coke or orange ice cold drink. These I used to purchase and sell, without any profit and just used the money to restock the fridge from the Gift Shop that was on the hospital site. Now and then we were called on to help administer an injection to any violent mental patients, our job would be to be to hold them down whist the nurse on duty did the injection. It was quite an experience at times.

Our accommodation was nissan huts, although I was fortunate to be able to move into a 4 man tent after a while which was a lot nicer than the huts. I think the Qaranc quarters were a bit better than ours and were at the other end of the site. Out of bounds to us as you would expect. A Qaranc Officer that I remember was Major Warrilow who was in charge of the nursing side of things. She was a lovely lady who would always pass the time of day with me.





We didn't socialise a lot with the nurses apart from having a couple of parties which were held in the Dental dept. It was at one of these that I had my first smooch, cor it was lovely. I can also remember Yana of "Climb up the wall" fame coming to entertain us one time. The show was held in the dining room, a large nissan hut, she went down a bomb as she was quite a sexy lady. Our toilets were Elsan chemical ones, I'm not sure what they were on the wards, or the QA quarters, but the wagon used to come round every day to empty them followed by a large cloud of flies, coo what a pong.

Anyway, after 9 months at Nicosia, I was promoted to Corporal and moved to a Newly built modern hospital in Dhekelia near Larnaca which was like moving to another world (More of Ron's photos can be seen on the BMH Dhekelia page). Mind you that's another story. I spent a weeks leave back in Nicosia just to go and see some of my old friends. I have been back to Cyprus for holidays and was told that the new hospital has now been demolished and has had a whole new garrison built on the site where it was. As for BMH Nicosia I've no idea what happened to it as it was in the Turkish part of the island after the Turks invaded it. The dividing line runs right through the centre of Nicosia itself. You can go on the roof of Woolworths and look over to the other side.

The hospital used to run a bus for us to a 'Guarded Beach' which was in the Northern part of the island, now the Turkish part. It was to a place called Kyrenia , where my wife and I visited the last time that we were on holiday there. My how things have changed from when I was first there. I remember that the sand was that hot that you couldn't walk on it, you had to run to get into the sea, which was like a warm bath. Also, a memory that will always stay with me was sitting on the cliff top overlooking the beach sipping Brandy sours. Coo, they were lovely.





I also remember playing a game of tennis or two with my mate the Pay Corporal against two of the nurses. One Mary Crawley came from the next town to me Nuneaton. I live in Coventry which is about 10 miles away. The other nurse was a Ann Ansell who moved to Dhekelia with us when we moved to the new hospital. She taught me to jive and was great company to be with. Some of the nurses used to follow us around after we formed a Skiffle Group. I used to play the Bass. A tea chest with a pole and a piece of string. You may remember them if you are from the Lonnie Donegan era. We also formed a Christmas Party in Dhekelia and performed on the stage in the new dining room. We had loads of fun doing that, and could hardly rehearse for laughing. Ah, happy times. The photo below is of the Qarancs dressed up was at Christmas when we had a comic hockey match.



The girls won, as you might expect. They are from left to right Gay ???, Grace ???, Ann Ansell, and Dusty ??? afraid I can't remember their surnames after all this time. Maybe someone who logs on to your site may recognize them?

In December 1950 I was admitted to BMH Nicosia after being involved in a road accident and stayed until March 1952. I was serving with the Royal Engineers. I was operated on By Lt Col Dempsey and the Ward Sister was Dorothy Armstrong. I cannot remember the exact position of the hospital but the Leper colony was close by. I owe my life to the Doctors and Nurses of the RAMC and the QARANC who were wonderful when I was in hospital in Nicosia, I am only sorry that I have never been in touch with any of them since.




I suffered from a ruptured liver and other injuries. The Red Cross flew my wife out to visit me as they didn't think I would make it. My wife stayed in the families ward of the hospital and she was there for six weeks as it was the time of the Suez crisis and all the planes were busy flying forces families home from Egypt.




Both my wife and myself are still quite healthy and celebrate our Diamond Wedding in April this year.