Edwards, Murray: my United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus recollections (March 12, 2013)
Interviewer: Dunn, Kymberly
ABSTRACT: Major Murray Edwards' experience in Cyprus during 1964 as first a watch-keeper and then an Economic Welfare Officer. Given literally overnight notice, he left to Cyprus as part of the first contingent. He began as a watch keeper in Cyprus and was later notified that he would be the economic welfare officer for the region. He negotiated between the two sides, Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriots. He was in charge of bringing aid to both sides. He details his experiences in trying to negotiate between the two sides and the difficulties that it brought. At the end he evaluates the success of the peacekeeping mission. 00.00-03.06: Introduction of the Cyprus conflict 03.06-03:58: Events Christmas Eve 1963 03.58-04.47: Establishment of the UN Force 04.47-05.49: Turkish Invasion and Results (Turks as a Stateless People) 05.49-06.24: Preparation for Cyprus 06.24-07.13: Canadian control of the Nicosia Area 07.13-07.31: Duty as a watchkeeper 07.31-09.41: The Van Doos finding a Turkish body and negotiating a burial 09.41-10.37: Turkish Villages being fired on for receiving supplies 10.37-13.09: Becoming Economic Welfare Officer for the Island 13.09-13.56: An Irishman making a joke 13.56-14.45: Description of some of the duties as Economic Welfare Officer 14.45-17.36: Arranging aid for a Turkish Village 17.36-18.38: Negotiations and Greek feelings 18.38-19.33: Locating artillery on a Greek farm, getting fired on, making peace 19.33-21.40: Outbreak of anthrax, getting a vaccination for a Turkish village surrounded by Greek control 21.40-22.12: Frustration between the Greeks and Turks 22.12-23.21: Greeks and Turks insulting each other, conflict and apologies 23.21-24.02: Dealing with tension and hostilities 24.02-24.52: Duties of negotiation, working alone, building up contacts. 24.53-26.01: General Tedlie's sense of humor when diffusing Turkish demonstrations 26.01-26.47: Preparedness for Economic Welfare Officer 26.47-27.24: Tragedy of the two sides being unable to communicate 27.24-28.28: Relations with the Greeks and the Turks 28.28-29.01: Necessary Aid to the Turks 29.01-30.09: Generation divide 30.09-31.10: Displaced persons 31.10-32.03: Leisure time 32.03-32.20: Full time job as Economic Welfare Officer 32.20-33.33: Cosmopolitan Headquarters and relations 33.33-33.53: Importance of duties 33.53-35.07: Extension requested by New York, Ottawa declined, reasoning explained 35.07-36.10: Replacement arrival, unable to train before abrupt departure 36.10-38.38: A Major goes missing 38.38-39.04: Violence against the peacekeepers 39.04-39.45: Ending thoughts on Cyprus at the time 39.45-41.03: Explanation of situation in Cyprus at the beginning 41.03-41.12: Peacekeeping Training or lack thereof 41.12-41.53: Evaluation of Cyprus mission 41.53-42.25: Canadian participation 42.25-42.48: Success of negotiations 42.48-48.17: Conclusion and Final thoughts Suggested Clip(s) for Archive: 7.31-9.41: The Van Doo's went out and found a decomposing body that was identified as Turkish. Negotiations had to be arranged with the Greeks on burying the body. The Greeks covered the body with dirt which meant it could not be moved for 7 years. Major Edwards negotiated the removal of the body. CBC asked for permission to go with the ambulance, they were told not to, went anyway, and were fired on. 18.38-19.33: They had been searching for artillery on a farm with the aid of the RAF. The fanner decided to fire on them and when he realized what he had done he apologized profusely. In return he gave them fresh fruit. One of the medical officer sshowed the men how to get alcohol into the fruit. 24.53-26.01: General Tedlie had to diffuse a demonstration of young Turks. He showed up with everything they had and it turned out to be a bunch of Turkish women. He decided to wave a white flag and surrender, his humor diffused the situation. 36.10-38.38: A Major went missing. A tobacco seller had been ambushed, murdered and had all his money and cigarettes taken. This British major had the job of finding out who had done it. He went for lunch with Major Edwards, told them that he knew who did it but left his notes at home. Later the British Major went missing and they found him murdered. The murderers were found after because of some of the evidence left behind.
Interviewee: Edwards, Murray Campbell, 1920-
An interview/narrative of Murray Edwards's whilst serving with the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus. Interview took place on March 12, 2013.
Rank: Major.
- In Collection:
- 1 sound recording (MP3)
- 35, 33
- Original sound recording (MP3) also available.
- Canadian Military Oral History Collection
- EM_777
- Special Collections Finding Aid: https://search.archives.uvic.ca/military-oral-history-collection
- March 12, 2013
- Digital sound recording in .mp3 format at 192 kbps and 44 kHz. Recorded in digital format by interviewer, technical and cataloguing metadata provided by JF and JP. Interview recorded in digital format for UVic Special Collections in 2013. Migration metadata by KD and MT.
- Rights
- This interview has been posted with the understanding that it may be used for research purposes only. Should the interviewee or their heirs have any objections to this interview being accessible on the Internet, it will be removed promptly. Contact UVic Special Collections for permission if using for other than research purposes: speccoll@uvic.ca
- DOI
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