| Citation: Queens Birthday Honour. 24096163 Corporal John Portis, RMP. 227 Pro Coy. Oct 1980 - Dec 1981. Village Policeman, Berengaria Retained Site, Limassol, Cyprus.
Citation: Cpl Portis joined the Army in 1968 but has only served in RMP for 4 1/2 years. Although very junior in terms of service and experience Cpl Portis, because of his mature approach and common sense attitude towards policing a small community, was selected for the position of Village Policeman. The job has required him to work very long and unsocial hours and to be constantly on call. In addition he has had to become a trained dog handler as he has an Alsation police dog to assist him in his duties.
Cpl Portis has been unstinting in his efforts to become totally intergrated into the community and has shown a great deal of tact, patience and tolerance in his day to day dealings with the Cypriots. he has conducted Road Safety Courses and Cycle Proficiency Tests for the local school. This has helped to reduce dramatically the number of traffic accidents. he is a 1st Kyu brown belt in Judo, and has been responsible for the organising and instructing at the Judo Club on the Retained Site. This club has proved to be very popular with the soldiers and dependants and had done much to occupy their spare time.
His intimate knowledge of the people and the area has prevented many serious situations arising and he has been able to advise, the welfare authorities on domestic problems before they have got out of hand. His firm and fair manner in dealing with problems and people has led him to be well respected by the community, who have placed absolute trust in him and often turn to him for advice and assistance. A good example of this occurred at 0100 hours 21 November 1981 when the young wife of a serviceman came to Cpl Portis, in a hysterical condition carrying her 2 year old daughter who was unconscious and had stopped breathing. The woman gave the child to Cpl Portis and then ran off convinced that her daughter had died. On examining the child Cpl Portis discovered that her tongue had dropped to the back of her throat. By placing his fingers around the tongue and pulling it forward he managed to clear the air passage but the child showed no signs of life. He therefore commenced mouth to mouth resuscitation and the child eventually began to breathe. The child has since made a full recovery. The clear presence of mind and the prompt and decisive action of Cpl Portis undoubtedly saved the child's life.
Through his total dedication to duty, by devoting countless hours of his spare time to help other people and by his splendid example Cpl Portis has played a vital role in the lives of the community.
Recommended by: DAPM/OC 227 Pro Coy. Brig. CLFC Episkopi. CBFC Episkopi. |
