Major Colin Patrick Garland – Force Transport Officer

Major Colin Garland died on 19th January 2026 in Cyprus, aged 93.

Colin was commissioned into the Royal Corps of Transport and served on loan service in Oman from 1963 until 1965 as the Force Transport Officer at Bayt al Falaj. He returned to Oman a little over ten years later in 1976, this time on contract, taking on the same role.

He finally retired from SAF in 1980 and began a long and fulfilling second career with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), working with Palestinian refugees in Gaza, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Jerusalem and at the United Nations Office in Vienna.

On his final retirement in 1992 he and his wife Jane moved to Limassol, Cyprus. Colin was interred at the British Military Cemetery at Dhekelia.

He remained fit and active for most of his 93 years and was a keen Hash House Harrier and hill walker. He was, however, an even keener actor, appearing on the stage in amateur productions regularly until two years before his death.

As an accomplished thespian, Colin provided great support to the local amateur drama scene and was well known for playing leading Shakespearean roles in the wonderful Curium Roman theatre at Episkopi.

He leaves his wife, Jane, and two sons, Mark and Simon.