Page 134 - Who Was Sapper Brown

‘The Restoration of Famagusta War Graves /

Civilian Cemetery’, 2010

The idea for this restoration project was the brainchild of the Welfare Officer of the Royal Naval
Association (RNA) Eastern Cyprus Branch, following a visit to this cemetery and its Naval graves with

Ann Kelly, from the local voluntary cemetery committee. The cemetery needed substantial repairs which
were beyond the capabilities of this committee. The RNA Branch, the Regimental Sergeant Major of the

Joint Service Signals Unit (JSSU) based at Ayios Nikolaos, and Warrant Officer (WO1) Bob Munsen,
then the only serving member of the local branch of the Royal Engineers Association (REA), all pledged

their support.

The Royal Engineers Association launched an appeal at the Ayios Nikolaos Warrant Officers’ and

Sergeants’ Mess in early 2010, and Sergeant (then Corporal) Mike Dalkin RE, was appointed to run
the restoration project. Funds were generously donated by individuals as well as the RNA, the REA, the

Warrant Officers and Sergeants’ Mess, the Corporals’ Mess and the JSSU.

During the course of one busy week in late 2010, willing expatriates and helpers from the Royal Navy,
Army and Royal Air Force serving with the JSSU brought in some 15 tons of cement and other materials,

re-cemented the graves, placed gravel around each one, rendered and repainted the inside walls of the
cemetery, and lined the walkways.

Finally they erected a bronze memorial plaque ‘In memory of those who lost their lives in service of their
country’ just within the entrance of the cemetery, for all to see and remember. An interview with key

members of the restoration project was broadcast and is available online.11

Over the next few weeks, working one day a week, the Royal Naval Association pressure washed all the
graves and rebuilt several of them, laid some 26 metric tons of stone chippings over the whole area, and

fixed and repainted the cemetery gates (see photo).

The overall result of this restoration project is aesthetically very pleasing, and shows how much can be
done in relatively short time when there is goodwill and a can-do attitude.

Cemetery gates restored and painted by the Royal Naval Association

11 Famagusta Military Cemetery restoration project audiotape http://audioboo.fm/boos/379982-famagusta-cemetery-
restoration/embed#undefined

124