Branch of Service

Police

Conflict

United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (1964-2021)

Gender

Male

Other Name(s)

Known as Jack

Date of Birth

13/09/1922

Place of Birth

Picton NSW

Address (at enlistment)

Cockle Street, O'Connor ACT

Occupation

Police officer

Next of Kin

Norma Vandenbergh (wife), Cockle Street, O'Connor ACT

Final Rank

Senior Sergeant

Final Unit

Australian Federal Police

United Nations Medal, 27 May 1965

Jack Vandenbergh was a World War 2 veteran and resident of Narrabundah when he joined the Police Officer Guard in 1953. As a Senior Constable in the Commonwealth Police, he was posted to Cyprus during 1964 to 1965, leaving RAAF Base Fairbairn in May 1964 to join the 1st contingent of Australian police officers serving as United Nations peacekeepers. He served on Cyprus for 12 months and, like all Australian police officers stationed there, was unarmed much to the amazement of the Greek and Turkish Cypriots. 

Vandenbergh was one of Prince Charles' protection officers when he attended the Timbertops School in Victoria in 1966 and also served tours of duty at Australian embassies in Moscow, Belgrade and Warsaw. He died on 10 December 1979 at Calvary Hospital.

AustLII, Commemorating police in peacekeeping, Platypus: Journal of the Australian Federal Police ed.29 (1998), Article 8
The Canberra Times - 14 May 1964, 12 May 1965, 28 May 1965, 12 December 1979
NAA RecordSearch Series B883