"The Valley of Tears" - The bloody retaliation of the British in Famagusta for the murder of two British women

In October 1958, EOKA intensified its attacks on the British, who had already been hit and suffered heavy casualties.

The newspapers talked about generalized attacks by EOKA men with a well-coordinated plan in enemy camps, with bomb blasts and with the initiative of the movements on many fronts.

"It is launching an attack on the entire front, with full coordination of action and a perfect staff plan, I have been taking the initiative in all areas and it is constantly drawing strength from the indomitable people of the Greek mainland," the press wrote.

On October 3, two British women, the wives of colonel officers, were killed in Famagusta. The two women, while leaving a store on a busy street in the city, were repeatedly shot by strangers and fell dead. The foreign press of the time attributed the energy to "patriotic Cypriots", who "for the first time since the declaration of emergency in 1955, chose such goals".

The revenge of the English and the infernos of Famagusta

The British army's response was immediate, with thousands of soldiers and officers taking part in the operation. Immediate traffic bans were imposed across Famagusta, the city was deserted and the British army began arresting local civilians. Hundreds of people of all ages were taken to detention camps, where an inconceivable orgy of torture began, turning the deserted city into hell.

The newspaper "Acropolis" characteristically described Famagusta as "a valley of tears where people despise martyrdom and die from beatings."

The correspondent of the newspaper "Mayley Harald", reported that he saw bloodied and seriously injured Greeks being stacked in the stretchers and the police cages. Masman said paratroopers were shooting at civilians in cars and on the streets in an attempt to intimidate them even more. Journalists from other newspapers described the incident as a bloodbath and horrific scenes, worthy of "Hell of Dante" and "Night of St. Bartholomew".

The British administration took revenge on the civilian and unarmed population, as it could not face the EOKA fighters. The city of Famagusta looked like a vast concentration camp, with obvious signs of vandalism, and the streets were littered with the clothes of tortured citizens. Hospital cars were constantly carrying injured people, while thousands of soldiers raided all neighborhoods of the city, continuing their "work".

Source: Time Machine