IN THE winter of 1972 and 1973 Garry Best served as a United Nations peacekeeper in Cyprus with the 2nd battalion of Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry. He and his colleagues patrolled the Green Line, maintained the integrity of the buffer zone, and undertook humanitarian activities. Now, after a 37-year absence, Best and his colleagues plan to return to the island this May to survey their legacy.
The trip, which is being organised by the Canadian Peacekeeping Veterans Association, of which Best is the president of the Newfoundland and Labrador division, will last ten days. Many of the former peacekeepers will make the trip with their families.
“When we returned home from our UN tour in Cyprus we told stories to our families and talked of the beauty of [the] country, its culture and its people,” said Best. “Now we get to show them.”
The group plans to visit the graves of their fallen comrades buried here, the areas they served, the British Forces in Nicosia, posts in outlying areas, and the decompression base for Canadian troops returning from Afghanistan.. They also hope to visit with officials of the government.
“I enjoyed my tour of duty in Cyprus and am looking forward to this pilgrimage,” said Best.
Twenty-five thousand Canadians served as peacekeepers in Cyprus between 1964 and 1993 and the UN Peacekeeping Forces were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for their efforts in 1988. Best is proud of these accomplishments. “Anytime you help bring peace and help people in need, you can’t be far wrong,” he said. “Canada is respected all over the world for our roll in peacekeeping and our sense of fair play. It wasn’t our government that did that but our soldiers. It does give you a good feeling and a sense of pride but you would get that anytime you do something to help others,” he said.
“Anytime you can bring peace and hope to a troubled area you feel a sense of pride that you accomplished something better for humanity,” Best continued. “I feel we made a difference in Cyprus, and helped give the Cypriot people a new start.”
But it wasn’t all business for the peacekeepers of the 2nd battalion. Asked what his most memorable experience as a peacekeeper was in Cyprus, Best replied, “late nights on duty at Roccas Bastion. There are many stories to tell so you’ll have to see us when we are there.”
