One of the features of living in Cyprus is that there are lots of ex-military personnel here. Many of them of course served their time in Cyprus and it was only natural for them to come back here when they retired...
I also shoot clays on the British base and have been privileged to meet many ex-soldiers (and serving soldiers just returned from Afghan) there...
One bizarre thing tho is that
every single ex-soldier you meet here was in "Special Forces"...
I've never meet anybody that claimed to have served their time peeling spuds, driving a tank or just running around with a gun - like you would imagine most normal soldiers do... Perhaps normal squaddies just don't like Cyprus...?
There was a guy in the village that died recently... He was ex army and of course in "Special Forces". it was well known that he was the only survivor of the helicopter accident in The Falklands that killed all of the other SAS people on the aircraft and left him with terrible injuries...
I'd mentioned just recently that I was somewhat sceptical of his claims given all of the other "Special Forces" guys I've met since I came here...
Anyhoo... after he died a collection was held to repatriate his body to the UK. Apparently the SAS had already given a large donation because of the high esteem in which he was held...
You can see where this is going can't you readers...?
Today the Residents Association distributes a letter from the executor of his will...
Many of you, who knew XXXXXX, as he was affectionately known in Cyprus, believed he was a SAS war hero from the Falkands war from April 1982 and he sustained his substantial physical injuries as a result of him being involved in a helicopter crash during that campaign.
.
.
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It is only right you are all aware of the true situation which has now come to light as it is strongly felt that to raise these funds under the belief that you are supporting a war hero would be tantamount to fraud. It is with great sadness that, as UK executor of XXXXXX’s will, I have to tell you XXXXXX, did not go to the Falklands. He did not suffer horrendous injuries in a helicopter crash with the SAS; He did serve in the army for a number of years. He sustained his injuries in a car crash which ultimately led to his medical discharge from the forces on a military war/disability pension.