British Officer’s Account Of Cyprus Ambush

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27875, 25 January 1956, Page 16

British Officer’s Account Of Cyprus Ambush

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright)

NICOSIA, January 23. Major Brian Coombe, who w<sn the George Medal for his heroic one-man gunfight in a Cyprus ambush, told in Court today how he counted 10 to give a terrorist the chance to surrender before . shooting him. “When I got to 10 he was still struggling about, but I did not shoot as I had very little left to shoot with,” he said. He had then been in action against the gang for 25 minutes singlehanded. « Three had surrendered. But the fourth, after the count of 10, tried to get round behind the major instead of joining the others: “I fired the remaining three shots from my revolver at him—he stumbled and fell,” the major said. Major Coombe, aged 34, of the Royal Engineers, gave in the witness-box the first full story of his fight, in which he killed Charalambos Mouskos, cousin of Archbishop Makarios, the leader of the union with Greece movement. Preliminary Hearing He was giving evidence at the preliminary hearing into charges against two Cypriot Greeks, Andreas Zakkos, aged 25, and Charilaos Michael, aged 22, alleging that they shot at Major Coombe. The charge carries a death penalty under the island’s emergency regulations. The Court building was heavily guarded,, and everyone entering had to undergo three searches by soldiers and police. The special Court hearing the case fell silent as Major Coombe, carrying a revolver in an unbuttoned holster, walked over to the witness box to face the accused men. He said he was driving the vehicle, with his driver, Lance-Corporal Brian Morum, of Chislehurst, Kent, sitting next to him, when a burst of machinegun fire hit the vehicle as it crossed a bridge. “Corporal Morum was hit, and his body fell across me,” he said. He drove into a ditch to the right of the road under the cover of a steep hill. “I took my Sten gun, climbed out walked round the back of the hill and started to climb,” said Major Coombe. “At this time two grenades exploded somewhere near me. I continued climbing to the top of the hill. At the hill-top I was greeted by a burst of

machine-gun fire. Bullets passed close to me. “I got into firing position and opened fire with my sten gun. I could see three men, each carrying a gun of some description. “All Ammunition Used” “Eventually I used Up all the ammunition in the two-magazines I had with me, and also fired’ three shots from my revolver.” Major Coombe said he climbed down to the vehicle again to collect the driver’s gun. Corporal Morum. unconscious, was still where he had been left with a head wound. “He was still breathing,” said Maj*or Coombe, but as he looked bad and I thought I could no nothing for him. I left him. “At the top of the hill again I got into firing position and as I did so I was fired at again by machine-gun fire from the group. “The bullets came very close to me.” Major Coombe continued. “Eventually three men put up their hands and I stopped firing. One of them shouted in English: ‘Stop firing—don’t shoot.’ “I went on firing at the fourth man. who was still in the gully, until I thought I had no ammunition left.” Appeal by Man “The fourth man then put up his hands and shouted: ‘Don’t shoot.’ I saw his face was covered with blood, and also one hand was blood-smeared. In his other hand he held a Sten gun. “I shouted at him to throw away his gun and join the others. He appeared to try to struggle up but did not move from his position. Eventually I told one of the three men who understood English, to tell the fourth man I would counfc 10, and if he was not out by then I would shoot him. “I started counting loudly and slowly. The fourth man then shouted: ‘Wait, wait. Don’t shoot. I’m getting out.’ “I went on counting—eight, nine. “When I got to 10 he was still struggling about, but I did not shoot, as I had very little left to shoot with,” said Major Coombe. “Eventually he struggled up out of the gully, but instead of moving across to join the other three he started moving towards the top of the ridge behind me. “I fired the remaining three shots from my revolver at him. He stumbled and fell, but got up again and disappeared over the top of the ridge.”