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 |