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He had already served during WW2 in Greece and it was possibly during that time that he learned to speak both Greek and Turkish fluently, but it is also believed he could get by in Italian and Spanish. An Aunt of his mentioned many years ago that he could speak seven languages. He was obviously very intelligent, but was also regarded as a bit of a lone wolf, a description that was to be used later. He is described as being ‘fat, powerful and jolly’; he was a black belt in Judo and excelled in a number of other sports.
After WW2 he apparently participated in some capacity during 1948 in the fighting against the Communists in Greece and was awarded two medals for bravery by the Greek Government. He also served in Malaya, but not much is yet known about his early Army career.
Major General St J C Hooley CB, CBE in 1964 remembered that whilst Ted Macey was his, (Maj. Gen Hooley’s) Liaison Officer at the Greek corps HQ in Salonika 1947 to 1950, that he was held in very high regard by the Greek General Staff, shown by the fact that any time he wanted to post him somewhere else, it was resisted very strongly by all the Greek General Staff.
In 1956, when a Captain, Ted was awarded a Short Service Commission, being made up to Major.
In 1958 he was awarded the MBE (Military Division) in recognition of distinguished service in Malaya.
His service record is proven by the fact that in addition to his MBE he also received the 1939-45 Star; the Africa Star; the Italy Star; the Defence Medal; the General War Medal for 1939-45 with Oak Leaf bar; the General Service Medal and later the UNFCYP.
He was mentioned in Despatches in 1945 and in 1965.
In 1964 he was serving in Cyprus, during which time there was a civil war between the Greek and Turkish communities of this new Republic and he was appointed as a United Nations Special Liaison Officer to the Republic’s Vice President Dr Kutchuk, A Cypriot Turk. A similar appointment was made to another officer who was assigned to work with Archbishop Makarios, the Greek Cypriot President.
In June 1964 whilst attached to the United Nation’s multinational peacekeeping force, he and his driver, Leonard Platt (22880442 RASC) went missing, never to be found again. He is still therefore a missing person and the details of his death and burial, (if indeed he is buried) is unknown.
Several cousins have banded together to try and unravel the story of Major Ted’s life and disappearance. Our only aim is for Family History purposes; we have no political opinions on the conflict in Cyprus and apportion no blame to either side.
We would like to give Ted the respect and recognition he deserves for his long and successful career and also to have him officially declared ‘dead’, rather than still missing after all these years.
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