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Simon Biggs

Tragedy on Operations in Cyprus

Updated: Dec 4, 2023


Thursday, February 9, 1956, Quartermaster Sergeant Alfred Wheeler and Mne. Benet Blakeway, HQ 3 Commando Brigade, died during operations in Cyprus.

They both perished from exposure on anti-terrorist operations after their vehicle fell into a deep gully in the Troodos Mountains during a blizzard.

A newspaper report in the Daily Mirror on the 11th February 1956 states:

"RSM gave life for Commando. One of the two British Commandos who died in a mountain blizzard in Cyprus was a regimental sergeant major. And he gave his life, it was revealed yesterday, in a vain bid to save the other Commando - a Marine who had hurt his ankle and could not go on without help.

The hero was R.S.M. A. Wheeler. whose wife lives in Springfield Terrace, Elburton, Plymouth. The Marine he gave his life for was Benet Carr Blakeway, 25, son of the Rev. B. C. Blakeway, Vicar of Crayrigg, near Kendal, Westmorland.

R.S.M. Wheeler dropped out of a party of Commandos to go to Marine Blakeway's assistance . The rest of the party arrived safely at base."

WHEELER, Alfred

Quartermaster Sergeant

Unit/Base: '3 Commando Brigade RM'

Regiment/Corps: Royal Marines

Service number: PO/X 5243

Born: Wednesday, September 3, 1924

Died : Thursday, February 9, 1956

Died on active service

Age: 31

Cemetery/Memorial: Waynes Keep Military Cemetery Nicosia Cyprus

BLAKEWAY, Benet Carr

Rank: Marine

Unit/Base: '3 Commando Brigade RM'

Regiment/Corps: Royal Marines

Service number: CH/X 5377

Born: Monday, February 10, 1930

Died : Thursday, February 9, 1956

Died on active service

Age: 25

Cemetery/Memorial: Waynes Keep Military Cemetery Nicosia Cyprus




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