Cyprus 1974. Turks decided that they wanted a bit(quite a large bit) of the island.
We were stationed at Episkopi and the families were in Limassol. The invasion happened overnight but we all went to work as normal, working day starting at sparrow-fart but finishing at lunchtime. Consequently we were in barracks at Epi when the news of the invasion finally reached HQ MELF. We were confined to barracks (or rather sent out to patrol a huge area). The families were told to stay indoors for their safety. It was then realised that they still needed to eat, strange as that may seem to the army machinery. So trucks were sent down loaded with 10 man rat boxes. Each quarter(hiring) was visited and asked how many were living there. My Mrs (now ex thank fcuk) said just her and the baby - 18 months old. She got a 10 man rat box and was told it would be replened after 2 days unless the situation calmed down.
A 10 man rat pack for 1 woman and baby and free - she thought this was brill. Lots of chocolate and boiled sweets, which, as an 18 year old gal she loved, as did the baby.
When I got home 3 days later (a slightly different angle on the 'should I volunteer for ops' thread) she kept going on about how great the rations were and asking why I did not write home more often as they had supplied writing paper as well - how thoughtful the army were. When I pointed out the real purpose of the sheets of white paper she was somewhat taken aback

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She also discovered the reason I spent so much time on my first visit to the loo after returning from a scheme.

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