By Zafeiros Kastanou:
There are many heroes of EOKA who were killed with more self-sacrifice during the National Liberation Struggle of 1955-'59 and whom we honor every year. There are, however, 14 heroic martyrs of the struggle, most of whom we do not know and who died in the British torture in 1955-'59.
1. George Nikolaou, 1930 - 12-13 / 11/1956
"He killed himself in the camp of Xeros under the British, after torture." ΔΙΓΕΝΗΣ (Απομ. XVI)
He was born in Kato Pyrgos and after elementary school he worked in Nicosia. He was one of the first to enter EOKA and developed a rich activity. On November 27, 1956, he was arrested and transferred to the Lefkas-Xeros camp for questioning. He was subjected to many tortures. His genitals were crushed, they caused deafness with an explosion, they had him tied up in the sea with a rope, they watered him with sawdust oil. He could not bear it and died. They then threw his body on the barbed wire and shot him, saying he had tried to escape. He left behind his wife and two children.
2. Andreas Panagiotou, 1928 - 19/11/1956
"He was arrested on 8/11/1956 and transferred to the Platres detention center, where he died as a result of torture." ΔΙΓΕΝΗΣ (Απομ. XVI)
He was born in Polystypos and after elementary school he was hired as a worker in the Mitseros mine. He joined the EOKA from the beginning of the Struggle and turned his house into a local headquarters. He was arrested and taken to "Platres" for interrogation. There he suffered terrible torture. They blackened and disfigured his body. He had injuries to his knees, elbows, toes and fingers, thighs, mouth and lips. They broke 7 sides of him and in the end they smashed his skull with the vise. He left behind his wife. He had no children.
3. Nikos Georgiou, 17/10/1918 - 25/01/1957
"He died on January 25, 1957 in the detention centers of Platres, as a result of torture". DIGENIS (Rem. XIII)
He was born in Palaichori and when he finished elementary school he came to Nicosia, where he opened his own laundry. He became a member of OXEN and PEON and was initiated in EOKA at the end of 1954. He joined the Nicosia strike teams and took part in many operations. In 1956 he was wanted and ended up in the guerrilla group of Pitsilia. He was arrested after betraying their hideout and transferred to the Platra interrogators. There he was terribly tortured. In the end, while lying on the floor half unconscious from the pain, a British soldier kicked him in the temple and "left him in place".
4. Theodosis Chatzitheodosiou, 04/08/1923 - 18/12/1957
"He was arrested in Styllos by security forces and after being tortured, he was killed." ΔΙΓΕΝΗΣ (XVIII)
He was born in Styllos, Famagusta. When he finished elementary school he was trained to become a pharmacist. Due to financial difficulties he did not go to study and became a farmer. At the beginning of the match, he joined E.O.K.A. The guerrillas of the area were meeting at his house and the duplicator with which they were printing the leaflets of E.O.K.A. On October 18, 1957, investigator Diar, at the head of a detachment, went to his home to investigate. They found the duplicator and started torturing him inside his house, asking for information. The more Theodosius was silent, the more intense the torture became, until he was killed. He was then dragged into the street and shot on the pretext that he had tried to escape.
5. Stelios Tritaios, 1930 - 17/06/1958
He was born in Kato Pyrgos, Tillyria, and when he finished elementary school he found a job in Nicosia. He joined the EOKA early and collaborated with the guerrilla group of Tillyria. He was also a liaison of the Local EOKA Group with Nicosia and circulated the relevant correspondence.
He was arrested after a betrayal and transferred to the Lefkas-Xeros camp for questioning. There he was beaten very brutally for 17 days. Heavily injured in the chest, where he was hit with a chain, he was released. He was alive-dead. We took several steps to go to a doctor abroad, but he was not allowed to. In the end he was allowed to go, but only to England. He went, a big problem was found in his heart, they operated on him, but he could not bear it and he died. He left behind his wife and two children.
6. Platon Stylianou, 26/10/1922 - 04/08/1958
"He was killed on August 4, 1958 by the British while in custody." ΔΙΓΕΝΗΣ (Απομ. XVII)
He was born in Vouni in the province of Limassol and after elementary school he went to Limassol. He worked at K.E.O. He joined the EOKA and acted very carefully.
On July 24, 1958, he was arrested by the British and taken to the Laniteio interrogators. There he was subjected to horrific torture: His nails were pulled out, his mustache was torn off and he was beaten mercilessly. Worst of all, it was deadly, the iron wreath with which they tightened their heads until they crushed his skull.
7. Loukas Loukas, 10/08/1941 - 03/10/1958
"He died in Famagusta from being beaten by British soldiers." ΔΙΓΕΝΗΣ (Απομ. XV)
He was born in Ayia Napa and after elementary school he attended the High School of Famagusta. He became a member of the student groups of EOKA and was very active. He was arrested during the large pogrom of thousands of British soldiers against the Greek Cypriots of Famagusta and beaten to death.
8. Panagiotis Chrysostomou, 1921 - 03/10/1958
"He was killed by security forces in Varosia." ΔΙΓΕΝΗΣ (Απομ. XVIII)
He was born in Styllos, Famagusta and moved to Famagusta. He was a shoemaker. On October 3, he was arrested by the army who committed acts of violence against the Greek Cypriot residents of Famagusta and was transferred to a camp, where he was tortured and beaten to death. He left behind his wife and six children.
9. Nikolas Giagkou, 1934 - 09/10/1958
"He was arrested for questioning, tortured and killed during the operation by security forces." DIGENIS (Res. XIV)
He was born in Zodia and became a farmer. Very early he joined EOKA and became the most trusted of his Head of Department. He took part in many operations against the British. He was arrested on October 7, 1958 and tortured in the Lefkas-Xeros camp until his death. His killers buried him in a place unknown until today.
10. Charalambos Filippidis, 1939 - 11/10/1958
"He was killed by security forces." ΔΙΓΕΝΗΣ (Απομ. XVIII)
He was born in Arodes. After elementary school he went to high school in Paphos and then to the Technical School of Leros. He became a plumber. He joined the EOKA early and joined the "executive" of Paphos. He was arrested by a British and Turkish patrol. He was taken to the Auxiliary Center, where he was tortured to death. Investigators removed his body and said he had escaped. Its burial place is still unknown.
11. Spyros Hatzigiakoumis, 1932 - 16/10/1958
"He was arrested by security forces in Kefalovryson, Kythraia and handed over to his relatives." ΔΙΓΕΝΗΣ (Απομ. XVIII)
He was born in Kythrea and after elementary school he became a farmer. He was arrested during a carnage and tortured a lot. They pierced his legs, "blackened" him in the wood and finally put his head in the deadly vise, and broke his skull. He left behind his wife and four children.
12. Prodromos Xenophontos, 1941 - 12/11/1958
"He died as a result of horrific torture." ΔΙΓΕΝΗΣ (Απομ. XVI)
He was born in Agridaki and when he finished elementary school, he got a job. He became a cast. At the age of 16 he joined the EOKA, gained the trust of his superiors and became the feeder of the Kyparissovounou guerrilla group. He was arrested during a raid and transferred to the Zefyros camp for questioning. There he was brutally tortured. In the end, they broke his skull by squeezing it in the vise. They threw him dead on the barbed wire and shot him, saying he was trying to escape.
13. George Christoforou, 30/11/1940 - 20/11/1958
"He was killed by security forces in the Ktimatas detention center." ΔΙΓΕΝΗΣ (Απομ. XVIII)
He was born in Emba. After elementary school, he attended the Paphos High School until the first grades. He became a tailor. He joined the EOKA and won the trust of the Organization. He became a storekeeper of the armament of his village group. He was arrested in Kefiou and transferred to the Paphos detention center for interrogation. He was mercilessly tortured by his investigators until his death.
14. Vassilis Alexandrou, 1925 - 21/11/1958
"He was arrested and taken to the Pylas detention center. He was handed over to his relatives and passed away on 21/11/1958 ". ΔΙΓΕΝΗΣ (Απομ. XIII)
He was born in Limnati, Limassol. After elementary school he was hired as a salesman in the Cooperative of his village. He was a member of the local Patriotic Associations. At the beginning of the Race, he joined EOKA and developed a remarkable action. He became a liaison and feeder of the Fasoula-Paramythas guerrillas. He was arrested and detained in the Pylas detention center. He was released, but was arrested again and taken to the interrogation center of Laniteio High School, where he was horribly tortured. From here he was transferred to the Polemiou detention center where he suffered terrible beatings and beatings. His health deteriorated and he was fired. He died in three days.
Faced with the brutal torture, the EOKA Fighters remained rigid and helpless. The high morale of all those who fought for the freedom of our country against the British dynasties and for the Union with Greece, was such that they themselves gave courage to their own people. With a speech full of national pulse and patriotism, they encouraged their relatives to continue the Struggle for Liberation. Fighters with ideals and unwavering faith, heroically resisted the enemy and fought to the end, even sacrificing their lives, so that we today have everything we have, for which we are proud descendants!
Sapphire Chestnut