The theodolites

I wonder if anyone remembers "The Theodolites", a rugby team in Cyprus circa 1962 initiated by the OC 47 GHQ Survey Squadron RE and including players from 42 Survey Engineer Regiment RE at that time based at Zyyi, Survey Directorate at Episkopi and 47 GHQ Survey Squadron RE also at Episkopi.

One team member was a Canadian called, if memory does not fail me, Gary who had never played rugby previously but did play American Football. He played on the wing and introduced us to the "torpedo" throw in which nowadays seems to be the norm. Another was a Rugby League player, I believe a National Serviceman, name long since forgotten. Then the scrum half never to be forgotten, Bill ???? a judo expert who avoided tackles by throwing the opposing player over his shoulder. This proved a most successful system due to the hard grounds and a reluctance to tackle low! I should know, on one occasion I was a travelling reserve and the team that we were playing, RAF Akrotiri, were a player short. I played for them at wing forward and had the pleasure of flying through the air with the greatest of ease after attempting to tackle him.

The story carried on when the Regiment returned to Barton Stacey, when Bill ????, at the time a Regimental Policeman broke his arm, no not on the rugby field but playing with his young daughter!!!!

Can anyone remember any other team members?

A reply from Miles Henry

I was interested to read your reference to "The Theodolites" or rather more correctly the " Episkopi Theodolites " which was a scratch rugby team founded by Capt Peter Andrews RE (Later Lt Col Peter Andrews MBE RE, who was tragically killed in an air crash during a visit to Turkey, whilst serving with AFNORTH in Norway) and whose home pitch was Happy Valley, Episkopi Garrison.  Membership was more or less restricted to various Sappers serving outside the regimental grasp of 42 Survey Engineer Regiment at Zyyi. 
 
I played some 4-5 times for the Episkopi Theodolites during 1962 season, whilst serving as a subaltern at JARIC (ME) where we also employed some 4-5 main stream RE soldiers (regular and national servicemen) in our Joint Service Drawing Office. 
 
Most were GD Draughtsmen and used for compiling and annotating operational bomb aiming targets associated with Middle East contingency plans.  Several of these JARIC Sappers played for the Episkopi Theodolites and augmented the others, who were serving  mainly with 47 (GHQ) Squadron RE.   I don't recall us being a very successful team, but In any case, I broke a collar bone  at RAF Akrotiri around mid-season, so retired injured before the season was finished.
 
I am afraid I am unable to remember many names other than Pete Andrews himself, S/Sgt Pete Seward (both 47 Sqn), Sgt Lewis, Cpl Wright ( both JARIC).  We also had a couple of Sapper NCO drivers who worked at the Chief Engineers Office in the GHQ compound. 
 
During my time in Cyprus 1959-62, the OC 47 Sqn RE was a Major "Cap Badge" Davis RE, so called because he had an internationally famous collection of British and Indian Army Cap Badges.  I think he retired very early from Cyprus to pursue his collecting  interests with the Army Museum. 

I was not in Military Survey at the time, but one of a number of Sapper Officers and Soldiers  employed in the Joint Intelligence facilities of Middle East Land Forces. 

A note from Ron Birch

regular players include:- Peter Andrews (OC 47 (GHQ) Svy Sqn., Ron Birch(47), Pete Bryant(42 Reg).
The latter two were the only try scorers when Theodolites won the Cyprus Major Units Cup.
Peter Andrews was unfortunately killed in an air crash in Turkey