The Sixteen: The Sensational Story of Britain's Top Secret Military Assassination Squad Part 24

The rest of that day and the next I hobbled about, trying to put more and more weight on to my leg, and, by the time I was ready to leave I just had a slight limp. Once back at camp, Id have the rest of the weekend to work on it. If anyone questioned what had happened, Id decided to say that Id caught it on a broken bedspring, and as this was a fairly regular occurrence around the camp, no one would question it!

CHAPTER 12.

COMING HOME.

At 0900 hours on 24 December 1959, I was sitting on the jetty at Lima.s.sol. The place was swarming with thousands of other troops, all like me with their kit, all chatting excitedly about going home, all looking forward to it eagerly. But, gazing towards the distant snow-capped Troodos Mountains, I sat quietly, lost in thought.

Oh boy, Im certainly going to miss those guys. I wonder what theyre doing right now, I wondered? Could it be the end for them too? Perhaps theyre sitting here in amongst this lot?

I eagerly scanned the faces of the waiting troops but saw no one I recognised. I must have sat like that for ten to fifteen minutes when I felt a hand on my shoulder.

'Dont tell me youre going tmiss this place, Geordie? a voice said, close to my ear.

I turned quickly. For one brief moment I thought (hoped?) it might be Dynamo, Chalky or Spot, but it was just Bill, sitting next to me.

'Whats tmatter, you were miles away? Youre not really going to miss this stinking place, are you?

'No, of course not, Bill, I replied quietly. If only he knew, if only I could tell him what I was really going to miss and what I was going through right at that moment. It was as bad as the wrench Id felt leaving my family two years before, the same yet very different, and for very different reasons. But I felt just as empty!

For the last eighteen months, those guys had become the brothers I had never had.

No one in my life so far had treated me the way they had, with them Id been a man among men. Yet wed never once discussed a single personal thing, theyd merely accepted me for what I was, for what they knew I could be, for what I became. They had always treated me with respect, as their equal and with them Id always felt that I truly belonged. The worst thing about leaving was the absolute knowledge that once I left there could be no turning back. I would never see them again.

Id hated every single minute of being in the army, the regular army that is, and was really longing to see my family again. But Id changed completely and part of me desperately wanted to stay behind with the guys. Id never wanted medals or glory, just the chance to prove to myself that I wasnt thick or stupid like my dad thought. Ever since Id been a kid, Id always felt different, the odd one out, and yet even then Id known that Id been different, better than what he said about me, that I hadnt been stupid.

But now, when for once in my life Id done something that would prove just what I was capable of, I was completely unable to tell a soul about it. How could I? Doing so would be to betray their trust and besides, who would believe me anyway? I was just a young Geordie lad doing his National Service in the Pioneer Corps.

Now, sitting looking at the mountains with the moment of leaving only minutes away, I felt so alone and empty. There was a hollow, sickly feeling in the pit of my stomach.

Is this the end then, or just another beginning? Just how far could I have gone with them, I wondered. One thing I was absolutely certain of, I would never, ever meet their like again.

It was a few weeks since Id last seen them, but it felt like only yesterday when Ken had told me the bad news. His words were imprinted on my brain. Ill never be able to forget that day. It was the day that a part of me died, the day that for the first time in my life Id wanted to shout and swear, using every disgusting word in the book!

Id been collected and taken up to the old tin hut as usual but had been surprised to see Ken there as, on the way up in the jeep, Chalky hadnt said anything about there being a job on. Ken had said he wanted to see me alone, but Id never dreamt that it would be to tell me what he did.

Hed stood in front of me and immediately Id sensed that something was seriously wrong.

His whole manner had been so different. His face had a look of sadness and he even stammered slightly as he began to speak.

'Er, Geordie, um, I dont want you to misunderstand what Im about to say, but obviously I cant explain in too much detail because of security. When I heard that you wanted to sign on for another three years it really was the best news we could have received, and when I say "we" I mean all of us in this tin hut, as you call it. He smiled, briefly.

'Believe me, Geordie, it really was the best news. You surprised every one of us here, far beyond what we expected. So you see, Geordie, lad, you really were one of us more than you could ever imagine, which is why its killing me to tell you this, but Im afraid your time is up, old boy. Youre going to have to go home with the rest of them, which really should be good news, shouldnt it? But it b.l.o.o.d.y well isnt!

It felt as if the bottom had just fallen out of my world. I was speechless, totally dumbstruck by the shock of his words and just stood there staring at him in utter disbelief. Surely he had to be joking, I thought. But I could see by his face that he wasnt, he looked utterly wretched.

'Its like this, he went on, his voice seeming to come from a long way off. 'As you know, in February this lot buried the hatchet, the government allowed Makarios back in March and has agreed to let them have their way. Early next year its going to become a republic. National Service is all washed up and your lot are off home soon; weve known about it for some time now but we were hoping that we could find a way around it. Believe me weve tried, but it seems that there are some things which are impossible, even for us!

'You see, Geordie, if you signed on now you would be signing on for the regiment that youre in, but that whole regiment is now going back to Blighty and it will be very difficult for us to recall you. There are going to be some big changes for us too, but I cant say what they are. It has suited our purposes for you to be where you were and in the outfit you were in. Although 518 Company will be staying behind, the "things" which have helped to make all of this possible wont be here then, so even getting you transferred to them would be pointless, if you understand what I am getting at, he said, meaningfully. 'The changes about to take place on this island are going to affect all of us, we need to have you where we need you, Geordie, and that just isnt possible with your regiment being sent back.

'Im afraid that the only thing that youre going to get out of this, Geordie, is some crummy Active Service Medal, he said, his voice heavy with sadness.

'No, Ken, no! I burst out, suddenly finding my voice. 'Dont say that, its not true. Youre totally wrong, Ive got something that Ive wanted all of my life. Youve made me what Ive always wanted to be, youve given me what Ive always wanted my confidence! All I ever wanted was pride and self-confidence and it doesnt matter to me if no one ever knows. Ill know it! Thats the only medal I want and believe me, Ken, Ill wear that badge with pride for the rest of my life!

For the rest of that afternoon we did nothing. The five of us just sat drinking tea, laughing and talking about the jobs wed done, the places wed been together and how we had made fools of them all. The lads did their very best to cheer me up, but nothing really could. A huge part of me had died!

I knew that they, like Ken, were genuinely saddened by the situation and I left them as Id joined them, knowing nothing more about any of them at all other than that they were, beyond a shadow of a doubt, the finest, most remarkable men I would ever meet.

They each shook my hand in turn, too saddened by the situation to say much. I just couldnt speak, I was choked, totally gutted by the fact that I would never see them or be with them again.

Id thought long and hard about signing on and believed that it was merely up to me to make a decision and that once I had, they would be able to sort everything out as they always had done before. It had never occurred to me that anything like this might happen.

Ken placed his hand on my shoulder, his gaze steady and direct, and his voice heavy with regret. 'You were a soldier of the future, Geordie, he said, but I didnt quite understand what he meant. 'Things will be different believe me, one day youll see. Look after yourself, lad. Then turning quickly, he walked away without looking back.

'Take care, Geordie, Spot spoke quietly and gripped my hand, then he too turned and followed Ken.

Dynamo shook my hand vigorously and leaned over to whisper in my ear: 'Ill tell you a secret, Geordie, I come from the place where they make the best cheese, he said quietly, then stepped back and looked directly at me.

'Never mind, nothing lasts forever you know, does it? But we certainly showed them how it was done, eh! he said with a wink, then he too turned away and was gone.

I stood rooted to the spot.

'Come on, Geordie, time to go, lets not hang about, Chalky said quietly and for the last time I climbed into the jeep alongside him.

'You were the best, Geordie, the fastest learner Ive ever seen! Always remember that, he said as he started the engine.

'You dont have to try to cheer me up by saying things like that, I told him, my throat constricting as eventually I managed to speak.

He shook his head. 'No, honestly, Geordie, believe me Im serious.

We didnt speak again until he stopped to drop me off.

'Take care, Geordie, was all he said, then winked and spun the jeep around and drove off in a thick cloud of dust. I just stood there watching him disappear, shocked and numb.

I was supposed to have been working at another camp that day and waited at the side of the road for the working party truck to come by and pick me up. I wanted to be on my own; not with a bunch of noisy joking blokes and for a while I sat quietly, not joining in or making conversation with the other lads.

'Cheer up, Geordie, it might never happen. The lad next to me poked me in the ribs. Suddenly I remembered what Dynamo had whispered.

'Where do they make the best cheese in England? I demanded.

'Eh? What do you want to know that for? he asked in surprise.

'Never mind, where is it?

'Well, theres stacks of places, depends on what you consider to be the best, I suppose. Theres Cheddar, Cheshire...

'Lancashire, someone else chipped in.

'Leicester!

'Wensleydale. Suddenly, they were all at it.

'Well, I like Caerphilly!

'What about Derby?

I burst out laughing as I realised that in the end Dynamo had told me nothing about himself at all!

And I thought hed broken the rules, but should have known better!

I looked up at the ship we were about to board, The Devonshire. It was a fairly small ex-pa.s.senger liner, which had been drummed into service as a troop carrier during the war. Wed been told that torpedoes had hit it on a couple of occasions and obviously it hadnt sunk, but whether this gem of information was to make us feel more secure or not was difficult to say.

Well, the enemy didnt get us but it looks as though some stupid civil servant probably will by trying to save a few quid and cramming as many of us on to this old tub as possible, I thought. Looking at it, it seemed impossible to me that it could carry so many men.

'Not to worry lads! the officer in charge told us. 'We know it looks a bit on the small side but it was designed to carry two thousand civilians and its been altered to carry all of us.

'Oh, well, thats made us feel a lot better, Sir, I said.

We were kept hanging around for a few more hours, for whatever reason n.o.body knew, before we eventually started to board the old rusty bucket. Fed up with having to wait around for so long, by this time most of us couldnt have cared less what it looked like, as long as it got us home.

Going up the gangplank ahead of Bill, I kept stopping and looking back. I had some stupid notion that a miracle might happen, that there would be a sudden change of plan and theyd say that we werent leaving, that there were just too many of us and we had to disembark immediately, that somehow 'The Sixteen had managed to fix it. For once, I actually wanted to hear some big-mouthed sergeant calling out my name, telling me that I had to stay behind.

'Come on, Geordie, get a move on, Bill nudged me. 'Youd think you didnt want tgo ome. Are you sure youre not going tmiss place?

Wed been told that as soon as we boarded we were to go straight to our allocated sleeping quarters, but it was a struggle to get through the doors with our rucksacks and rifles. The 'sleeping quarters consisted of row upon row of hammocks and I quickly picked one near a porthole. There was nowhere to stow our gear so we just threw our things on the floor; dozens of us were crammed into a room that was probably designed to accommodate half a dozen civilians.

The majority of us went up on deck and hung around there until, after another couple of hours, we felt the ship eventually move. A huge cheer went up and we watched as Cyprus, our home for the last eighteen months, slowly and gradually began to fade from view.

I stood alone leaning on the rail and kept on watching, long after most of the others had become bored and gone off elsewhere. Were Dynamo, Chalky, Spot and Ken up on that mountain somewhere practising, possibly sitting with their binoculars trained on the ship watching me, I wondered? Perhaps they were already off on another operation, or maybe, just maybe, they were here on board amongst all of these thousands of troops. And if they were, what would I do if I saw them?

The thought had occurred to me that they might already be training someone else, my replacement, but I really didnt want to think about that and pushed it as far to the back of my mind as possible.

I was glad that it had all taken place, not from any political point of view, as I really neither knew nor cared about that and never discovered whether what we did actually made a difference, but for the change it had brought about in my life. It had given me the opportunity to become me.

Eventually, when I could see the island no more, I went to join the others, as there wasnt really anything else to do. Within minutes of going below deck, sweat was pouring off me, now I just wanted to get back home as quickly as possible.

None of us had used a hammock before and we had a lot of laughs trying to get into them. By the time we did manage it, we were so worn out that we just lay there with our arms hanging over the sides chatting to one another, cracking jokes. This went on for hours until we finally docked at Malta, the place where it had all really started for me.

Some of the lads went ash.o.r.e in the brightly coloured gondolas that came alongside the ship. All they could talk about before they left was a place called 'The Gut a notorious area full of bars and prost.i.tutes! But that wasnt for me and after theyd gone, I lay in my hammock thinking nothing had changed for these guys, they were all two years older but none the wiser. Yet everything had changed for me and about me!

We stayed overnight in Malta and then were on the move again, our next stop being Gibraltar. About an hour out of Malta all h.e.l.l broke loose, the sea became so rough that most of us were thrown out of the stupid hammocks and crashed on to the deck. The waves were huge and The Devonshire was tossed about like a cork. Then the seasickness started! Hardly anyone escaped it and even those who did still felt pretty rough.

It was with immense relief we finally docked at Gibraltar. Again some of the lads went ash.o.r.e but most were just too ill to move. I was OK, just a little queasy. None of us thought it could get any worse than what wed just been through.

'If you think that was bad wait until we hit the Bay of Biscay! one of the ships crew cheerfully informed us! He was dead right!

We left Gibraltar and steamed into the Atlantic. Things were uneventful for a few days then the ship began to be thrown about like a matchstick. It was much worse than before and I really felt sorry for the lads who had just recovered. Again, I wasnt actually seasick but it was a pretty awful few days. Apparently, even the captain was ill.

Eventually, the weather improved and things settled down again after a couple of days but by now everyone was worn out, bored and fed up with a journey that seemed to be taking forever. Suddenly someone came dashing in.

'Its land, its Blighty! he yelled.

Everyone flew up on deck and there it was. At last, we were home! It was 4 January 1960 and the journey had taken us twelve days.

By now just about everyone on board was on deck, excitedly talking to each other. The sky was grey and leaden, it was bitterly cold and I was shivering, but I didnt care, I was almost home! The icy wind was clear and fresh and I felt that it was blowing away the last remnants of heat, flies, sand, dirt and sweat. It was wonderful.

As we sailed closer we began to see hundreds of people waiting there on the jetty, waving and cheering as the ship drew nearer. All of a sudden, everyone began dashing about, rushing below deck to grab their gear; we all just wanted to get off this flaming bucket as quickly as possible.

The ship slowed almost to a stop and then began its docking manoeuvres. We had to parade on deck as the gangplank was put in place. People were shouting and screaming as they saw their husbands, boyfriends and sons, and lads were shouting back as they spotted their families in the crowd; there was even a military band playing for us. The noise was incredible!

Everyone seemed to have someone to hug, someone waiting to greet him. I stood alone on the cobbled jetty, glad to be back on terra firma but I knew that thered be no one waiting for me. Mam just couldnt afford the cost of a journey down to Plymouth. I glanced down at my feet and there to my surprise I saw words engraved on the piece of marble I was standing on: 'The Mayflower left here in 1620, it said. I stood there looking down at it, wondering for a moment what that ship must have looked like and whether any of those people felt as I did right now.

All around me lads were hugging and kissing their girlfriends, wives, mothers. I suddenly I felt very cold and desperately lonely. Although my mother had written to say shed be unable to afford the fare down, it was still a bit of an anticlimax as I stood alone surrounded by a sea of happy faces. I couldnt help but think how lucky they all were, and realised just how much I longed to be home to see my family for the first time in two years. It was a very long while since Id thought of my father but now suddenly he came to mind.

What a shock that little wasters going to get when I get back, I thought. His days as a tough guy are well and truly over!

I took one last look out over the sea and thought of Dynamo, Chalky and Spot, then made my way with everyone else towards the huge convoy of waiting trucks.

It had been two long, incredible and unbelievable years!.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR.

Born in 1938, the son of a rag-and-bone man, John Urwin was brought up in the tough back streets of Newcastles Byker. At the age of eighteen he was called up for National Service, which he completed in Cyprus. While remaining part of his ordinary regiment, John also secretly became part of 'The Sixteen. Following the completion of his National Service he returned to England where he married, had three children and became a successful stock-car racer. He later began a survival and unarmed-combat club which includes survival courses, in the Outer Hebrides. While writing The Sixteen, John met Helen, who is now his second wife. They live in Newcastle. To contact the author:

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