Nicosia (Waynes Keep) Military Cemetery
- Country Cyprus
- Total identified casualties 2 Find these casualties
- Identified casualties from Second World War
- GPS Coordinates Latitude: 35.17405, Longitude: 33.31447
Gardening in the crosshairs
Wayne's Keep: Nicosia War Cemetery
Location: Nicosia, Cyprus Language: Greek, Turkish Altitude: 159m Rainfall: 324mm
Temperature: 9°c - 34°c Biggest challenge: Cemetery in buffer zone
Just getting to work is a real challenge for one of our Cyprus-based teams.
The war cemetery in question is less than an hour from our Mediterranean head office and sits just on the outskirts of the country’s capital.
The difficulty comes from the important invisible lines that surround Nicosia War Cemetery, or Wayne’s Keep as it’s often known.
Since the 1970s the disputed border between the southern and northern parts of the island has run right across the cemetery.
One side believes it sits in the buffer zone, and the other, that it sits firmly inside their territory.
A UN escort is needed for any CWGC staff or contractors to enter Wayne's Keep.
In places, the buffer zone is so untouched by human influence that species thought long extinct have been spotted.
Throughout half a century of land disputes, the Commission’s commitment has been difficult but not impossible to fulfil. Within this sliver of no man’s land, we are tasked with maintaining the graves of more than 200 Second World War dead and a series of memorials.
Next to them are close to 600 British military dead, servicemen stationed on the island after the War when it was still part of the British Empire or as part of the United Nations task force deployed to enforce the uneasy peace between north and south. CWGC continues to take responsibility for their graves on behalf of the MOD.
When access is restricted the horticulture on site begins to suffer.
To undertake even the most minor of work to the various sections of this cemetery, staff and contractors must gain special permission and be accompanied by a UN escort. Armed guards on the northern side are always present.
Surely there are few other gardeners in the world who mow the lawn under such watchful eyes.
As tensions rise and fall CWGC’s work continues to get caught in the mix. On more than one occasion people have been asked to leave the site by armed guards. For those living on the island, the presence of the border and the buffer zone is a part of daily life. We are in no position to challenge or question the wider situation.
Instead, we must continue to work peacefully with all involved to ensure those buried in the crosshairs of today’s dispute are not forgotten.
Borders full of colour are currently not possible to maintain due to limited access within the buffer zone.
Location information
Nicosia (Waynes Keep) Military Cemetery is situated within the UN Buffer Zone some 4 kms west of the city of Nicosia.
Visiting information
As Nicosia (Waynes Keep) Military Cemetery is in a very sensitive area within the UN Buffer Zone, visitors wishing to visit the cemetery should be aware that prior authorisation is required from the UN. Contact the UN Wayne’s Keep Custodian by email unficyp-s2-scamlo-cont@un.org for a visit request form in advance of making any travel arrangements. Applications must be approved at least 28 days prior to the proposed visit date. Please note that visits from any other direction than that specified by the UN Wayne’s Keep Custodian are not possible and should not be attempted.
Please state in the email, the full name as on passport, nationality and passport number for each person wishing to visit the cemetery and also the proposed date of the visit.
Please note that photographs are limited to discreet ones of headstones only owing to the sensitivities of the area.
For further information please contact enquiries@cwgc.org
History information
Nicosia (Waynes Keep) Military Cemetery contains post 1947 service graves.
There are now nearly 600, non World War casualties commemorated in this site. Of these, a small number are unidentified.