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I used him from the start as a Liaison Officer with Dr Kutchuk and the Turkish side, and most valuable work he did in this capacity, quickly winning the complete confidence of the Turkish Cypriots.
He was quite fearless and tireless in everything he did. Moreover he enjoyed doing it. I could tell many stories of his activities, but one action of his I will record as an example of the kind of work he did and which undoubtedly saved many lives.
About the 3rd or 4th of February there was a wave of hostage-taking on both sides, and the small Turkish village of Ghaziveran, near Xeros took about 75 Greek Cypriot hostages. I knew that, if these were not quickly released there would be violent and bloody repercussions from the Greek Cypriots. With great difficulty I persuaded Dr Kutchuk to release these hostages if the Greeks would also release some they held. I then got the Greek Cypriots to agree to this. The problem was that there was no contact with Ghaziveran. However Ted Macey volunteered to act as Kutchuk’s emissary. He set out at 10pm in the evening and, motoring all through the night on what was then a dangerous journey with armed men in every village, he collected the Turkish hostages from the Greeks and then handed them over to the village of Ghaziveran and secured from the village the release of 75 Greeks they held. That was the kind of job he was doing all the time.
Inevitably his contacts with the Turks raised the suspicions of the Greek Cypriots and the press and papers started a campaign against him. As a result of this, and information we received, Ted was warned that his life was in danger and at least once he was told that there was a plan to kidnap him. However, he wished to carry on with his job, as those of us who knew him would expect him to do. He believed and knew it was an important one and that he was helping to keep peace and save lives.
I have paid tribute in these few words to the Ted Macey I knew. But you who served with him also knew him as a devoted Regimental Officer dedicated to the interests of your Corps, your Unit and everyone of you whose daily life and welfare was his concern. He was what every Regimental Officer would wish to be.
I think is therefore very happy and fitting that this club, which would have been a project after his own heart, should be called by his name.
Colonel Warne, Ladies and Gentlemen, I have the greatest pleasure in formally opening this Club and naming it after a valiant Officer of the Royal Army Ordnance Corps – “The Ted Macey Club”
Long may it stand”
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