The straw which broke the donkey’s back!

Ron Birch, Albie Field complete with a over loaded donkey and his owner.

Allonagra, Cyprus 1962.

 Brief Memories of 47 GHQ (Svy) Sqn Re circa 1962

 The Boring Bit

Survey Directorate (Near East) based at Episkopi were tasked with the re-coordination of the Cyprus Primary Network using Trilateration methods  supported with geodetic angular observations. Azimuth  determinations were to be via field astronomy observations . The previous surveys had been calculated via triangulation methods.

Circa 1962  47 Svy Sqn were directed to carry out the task under their OC, Major Peter Andrews and the NCO I/c Field Survey SSgt Ron Birch.

A team of Junior NCOs were assembled including the current Webmaster Albie Field.

To strengthen the expertise required a SSgt , namely Des Davey, was seconded from 42 Survey Engineer Regt.

The Admin  Bit

 The task was progressing well when Ron and Albie drew the short straw in having to observe from the highest ( and virtually inaccessible) mountain/hill named Allonagra.

Arriving at the mountain base we were pleased to see that our office based administrators had took pity on us as a donkey c/w handler was waiting to guide us to the to the summit. Readers may recall the weight and size of the old lead acid batteries used in those days for the tellurometers and light keeping, plus the enormous size of the Tavistock Geodetic Theodolite, all which needed carting to the top.

The Sad Bit

The cheerful smile of the Donkey Man started to fade rapidly as we loaded more and more equipment onto his precious donkey, and made it plain that the donkey couldn’t take another straw,---we thought we heard the words “ Donkey Die” but our Turkish wasn’t all that good! To settle the debate I pulled rank by stating to “ If a donkey could take the Lord Jesus Christ into Jerusalem then yours can take Ron Birch to Allonagra”

And so we started to climb.

Half way up the donkey staggered then fell gasping for breath to which the owner drew his knife presumably to put the donkey out of his pain( I hoped that was his only intention as I hadn’t made a will.) As he approached the animal it reared up, rolled over but unfortunately rolled towards the precipice.

The last I saw of my equipment was strapped to a dead donkey rolling over and over and over as it made a quicker decent than the climb!

The Epitaph

The words I wanted to say at the resulting Board of Enquiry but hadn’t the nerve( even for me) was----- “ I  now know where the expression “ The straw that broke the Donkey’s Back came from!”---

 With thanks to Ron Birch  for this contribution.