Crober, Francis Paul: my United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus recollections (March 8, 2013)
ABSTRACT: Colonel Paul Crober describes his experiences in Cyprus as an Infantry Transport Officer in Cyprus in 1974/1975. He begins with his family history and explains his training and education in various places. He had gone over to Cyprus with training as a lieutenant in armored and received a different job that he was trained for. He details the different brigades and platoons and what certain jobs entailed. He explains the need for peacekeepers to be combat ready through a variety of situations and events that took place in Cyprus. He details the events of the February 1975 Nicosia Airport conflict. He also speaks about his time in Bosnia and its relations to Cyprus. He ends with an evaluation of the Cyprus Peacekeeping mission and other UN missions. 00.00-01.26: Introduction and Family Background 01.26-02.04: Education and Cadets 02.04-02.41: Family in World War Two and the Military 02.41-03.52: Joining the Reserve 03.53-04.17: Royal Roads and Education 04.17-04.39: Meeting his future wife 04.39-05.18: Mother's side of the family 05.18-06.50: Father's side of the family 06.50-08.36: Education and Choosing the Army/Armored 08.36-10.38: Brigades 10.38-12.42: Armed Forces Downsized 12.42-17.38: Places Served and Education/Training 17.38-18.06: Joining the Regiment in 1974 18.06-20.18: Being Told about Cyprus 20.18-21.50: Finn's being strafed 21.50-22.55: Importance of being a soldier 22.55-28.19: Background of 1974 Invasion and History 28.19-32.45: Infantry Transport Officer for the Battalion 32.45-35.01: Explanation of the Situation in Cyprus and Preparation 35.01-36.33: Initial Thoughts on Cyprus and Greetings 36.33-42.06-: Setting up Camp and Different Contingents 42.06-43.24: Turkish Side of Cyprus vs Greek Side of Cyprus 43.24-43.54: Relations with Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots 43.54-44.19: Lieutenants crossing the Green Line 44.19-44.37: Omar the Tentmaker 44.37-45.14: Women having to cover their heads 45.14-45.54: Incident in Bosnia 45.54-46.20: Contact with the Turks 46.20-47.02: Solidifying the Green Line 47.02-47.56: Relations with the locals, meeting at Ledra Palace Hotel 47.56-48.43: Most important duty as platoon commander 48.43-49.21: Playing Highland Laddie 49.21-50.50: Duties, looking after the transport platoon, providing aid 50.50-52.02: Rules of Engagement and Bosnia 52.02-54.13: Preventing violence between the two sides 54.13-55.42: Losing Captain Patton during a firefight 55.42-57.04: Mitigating Violence and Captain Patton 57.04-57.35: Ledra Palace Hotel 57.35-59.42: Training in Canada while Invasion of 1974 was ongoing/ Serge Labbe 59.42-1.06.13.: Events at Nicosia International Airport (February 1975) 1.06.13-1.07.22: Bosnia and Importance of Combat Training 1.07.22-1.09.00: The Green Line, Patrolling, Outposts 1.09.00-1.12.18: Success of the Mandate, other mandates in Croatia and Bosnia 1.12.18-1.13.21: Experience in Bosnia and Comparison to Cyprus 1.13.21-1.17.17: Evaluation of Peacekeeping Mission and Canadian Participation 1.17.17-1.17.54: Evaluation of Training Received 1.17.54-1.32.23: Conclusion and End of Career Suggested Clip(s) for Archive: 18.06-20.18: Being told at a mall about the situation in Cyprus and finding out that he would later be going over to Cyprus. 20.18-22.55: The Finns had used the box of a dump truck to hide under when being strafed and this caused them multiple losses. Colonel Paul Crober stresses the importance of having combat training. 59.42-1.06.13: Events at the Nicosia International Airport in February 1975. The Turks had prepared to take the airport and a UN battalion was assembled to defend it. The Chief of Staff Canadian Colonel Beattie explained to the Turks that they would not stand down. This clip details the contingents that were present at the airport. It details the hostilities between the two sides and showing a show of force. Highlights importance of military training. 1.13.21-1.17.17: Evaluating the peacekeeping mission in Cyprus and debating about the amount of time that a country should stay in and help. Explains how the mission was successful but that Canada should not have stayed in Cyprus for so long.
Interviewee: Crober, Francis Paul, 1951-
An interview/narrative of Paul Crober's experiences whilst serving with the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus. Interview took place on March 8, 2013.
Interviewer: Dunn, Kymberly
Rank: Colonel.
- In Collection:
- 1 sound recording (MP3)
- 44.25, 17.83333
- Original sound recording (MP3) also available.
- Canadian Military Oral History Collection
- CP_776
- Special Collections Finding Aid: https://uvic2.coppul.archivematica.org/military-oral-history-collection
- March 8, 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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