Royal Military Police

Cap Badge of the Royal Military Police (Queen Elizabeth II)
Soldier Details:
Surname: Welsh
Initials:   B.D.G.
Rank:   Lance Corporal
Army No.:  23225818
Notes:   RMP. Died 21/3/1956. Cause of death terrorism, Famagusta, Cyprus. Age 18. Inscription on gravestone: Always in my heart Mammy. Grave Reference: Plot 20 Row A Grave 3. Born 12/5/1937. Bryan David George Welsh. Extract from the Western Mail, 5/1/1958. Bomb Hero. The Queen's commendation for brave conduct is given posthumously to L/Cpl Bryan David George Welsh, Corps of Military Police. Three bombs were thrown by EOKA terrorists at a vehicle in which L/Cpl Welsh with other members of the military Police, was travelling. His body was found with his right hand blown off and his arm burnt and charred. At the inquest the conclusion was reached that Welsh, instead of trying to escape, seized the bomb to throw it out in an heroic attempt to protect his companions, whose lives were saved.

Decorations/Medals/Awards (1)
  1. Decoration:   Queen's Commendation for Brave Conduct Gazette Date: 1957-01-01 Gazette Issue: 40968 Gazette Page: 143
Citation:   Cyprus. Citation for The Queen's Commendation, Famagusta, Cyprus 21 March 1956: At FAMAGUSTA on 21 March 1956, L/Cpl WELSH was travelling in the rear of a Military Police 1 ton vehicle, when it was ambushed by EOKA terrorists and three bombs were thrown. One bomb exploded on the road, one failed to explode and the third bomb fell into the rear of the vehicle. As this bomb bell, L/Cpl SMITH , also a passenger in the rear of the vehicle, saw the fuse burning and shouted a warning. At this stage, L/Cpl WELSH was sitting on the off-side of the vehicle facing inwards and the bomb landed on the near-side, exploding almost at once. As a result of the explosion the driver and passenger in the front were both slightly wounded. L/Cpl SMITH who was in the rear of the vehicle with L/Cpl WELSH was seriously wounded and blown out ot the vehicle. L/Cpl WELSH was later found dead and badly mutilated lying in the back of the vehicle. Among many other injuries, L/Cpl WELSH had had his right hand blown off and the stump of his army was badly burnt and charred. At the Inquest, held at FAMAGUSTA on the 14 May 56, Mr Special Justice James P TRAINOR stated "my conclusion is that WELSH , seeing the bomb just behind the passenger seat of the truck, instead of trying to escape from the truck, rushed to the bomb to throw it away, seized it in his right hand and the bomb exploded. I believe that in a heroic attempt to save his companions he met a hero's death. his body absorbed, I imagine, most of the destruction of the bomb and so the occupants of the cab were saved. L/Cpl Brian WELSH is most strongly recommended for the posthumous award of the QUEEN'S COMMENDATION. Capt I M A Hart RMP. Brig J R Robertson MELF. C in C MELF. National Archive WO 373/126
Casualty Details:
Date Killed: 21st March 1956
Company: 3 DIV PRO COY
Cemetery: WAYNES KEEP CEMETERY, NICOSIA   CYPRUS
CWGC Search:
Grave Photograph
Map