Image source, Washington Historical Society
- Author, Joanna Lonsdale
- Role, BBC News, North East
A memorial ceremony marked the 50th anniversary of the death of a 17-year-old soldier in Cyprus.
On 21 July 1974, Guardsman Graeme Lawson, from Barmston, Washington, of the Coldstream Guards, became the first soldier to be killed while serving with the UN in Cyprus.
More than 50 people attended the ceremony, which took place at the Washington Cemetery.
Ged Parker, president of the Washington History Society, which organized the event, said the service had been “absolutely excellent.”
“It just seemed like the right thing to do to commemorate his passing,” Mr Parker said.
Lawson’s uncle, Doug Nelton, also attended the ceremony and said he was “very moved.”
Image source, Washington Historical Society
Guard Lawson was reportedly killed when a weapon he was discharging exploded.
He had been in Cyprus for four weeks and this was his first posting.
Turkish forces had invaded the island the day before in response to a military coup backed by the Greek government.
He was buried in Washington, Sunderland, on 1 August 1974, leaving behind his parents and siblings.
“Quiet boy”
Representatives from the Coldstream Guards, the Royal British Legion of Washington and Holy Trinity Church all attended the ceremony.
Bob Hardy, 71, of Killingworth, North Tyneside, also served in the Coldstream Guards and was in Cyprus in 1974 when Guardsman Lawson died.
“I don’t remember him myself, but I spoke to colleagues who knew him and they said he was a quiet guy, but he had just joined up, he had only been there a short time,” he said.
He said he had never forgotten what happened to Guardsman Lawson, adding: “I remember hearing about his death and it really affected the whole battalion.”
Mr Parker said the next step in commemorating the young soldier would be to add his name to a local war memorial, hopefully before Remembrance Day this year.
“If this happens before next November, on that occasion he will be mentioned as another resident of the area who lost his life, and therefore the general public of the city will be informed of this incident,” he added.
