Description

1956(Sep 17) Airmail envelope to Wellington N.Z. from Cpl. T. Bloke – ZC4TB, HQ 16th Para Bde., BFPO 60 bearing GB strip 3 QE II 2½d & single 6d tied FPO 937 cds used by 16th Para Bde., in Cyprus for the Suez crisis. ….
16th Para Bde were involved in the Eoka campaign mostly on search, seek & containment of Eoka strongholds & weapons cache in the Troodos & Kyrenia mountain areas & were later detailed for Operation Musketeer when the Suez crisis erupted, hence the BFPO 60 address.
On 5 Nov 1956 they parachuted into Egypt & secured Gamil airfield near Port Said prior to Helicopter & Sea landings on the 6th Nov led by 45 R.M. Commando……..for more info on the 16th Para Bde.in the Eoka campaign see https://theparachuteregimentalassociation.com/hermes/cyprus-1956/ ….This is without doubt an extraordinary item especially being written by a N.Z. soldier….