Markos Drakos
Encyclopedia
Markos Drakos was a Cypriot
guerrilla fighter who was killed in the EOKA
struggle (1955–1959) against the British. His nom de guerre was Lykourgos.
He was born in Lefkosia
, on September 24, 1932 and studied accounting. He worked for the Hellenic Mining Company in Cyprus until 1954. When EOKA
was formed, Drakos was among the first to join, training others in the use of arms and recruiting members. Drakos was mild-mannered and enthusiastic to learn about military operations, as well as being devoutly religious, and EOKA commander Georgios Grivas "Dighenis" quickly took a liking to him. He saw great potential in Drakos as a leader, and he was quickly promoted to a senior position in EOKA.
On April 1, 1955, considered to be the first day of the struggle, Drakos and his "Astrape" ("Lightning") team blew up the radio station of Athalassa, destroying it completely. With his squad, he would go on to co-ordinate several other operations.
On June 30, 1955, Drakos was arrested by the British with 14 other EOKA members and imprisoned in Kyrenia Castle
but famously managed to escape 3 months later, by tying blankets together and abseiling out of the windows. A bounty of 5,000 pounds was placed on his head but that did not deter him from taking part in more battles and acts of sabotage.
Finally, on the night of January 18, 1957 the British forces attacked Drakos and his men at their hideout in Solea. Drakos fought in the rain and hail storm, almost single-handedly, allowing his comrades to escape. His body, with 40 bullet-holes, was recovered and interred by the British in the Imprisoned Graves
in the Central Jail of Nicosia
. The Bible which Drakos carried with him at all times was never recovered at his scene of death.
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
guerrilla fighter who was killed in the EOKA
EOKA
EOKA was an anticolonial, antiimperialist nationalist organisation with the ultimate goal of "The liberation of Cyprus from the British yoke". Although not stated in its initial declaration of existence which was printed and distributed on the 1st of April 1955, EOKA also had a target of achieving...
struggle (1955–1959) against the British. His nom de guerre was Lykourgos.
He was born in Lefkosia
Nicosia
Nicosia from , known locally as Lefkosia , is the capital and largest city in Cyprus, as well as its main business center. Nicosia is the only divided capital in the world, with the southern and the northern portions divided by a Green Line...
, on September 24, 1932 and studied accounting. He worked for the Hellenic Mining Company in Cyprus until 1954. When EOKA
EOKA
EOKA was an anticolonial, antiimperialist nationalist organisation with the ultimate goal of "The liberation of Cyprus from the British yoke". Although not stated in its initial declaration of existence which was printed and distributed on the 1st of April 1955, EOKA also had a target of achieving...
was formed, Drakos was among the first to join, training others in the use of arms and recruiting members. Drakos was mild-mannered and enthusiastic to learn about military operations, as well as being devoutly religious, and EOKA commander Georgios Grivas "Dighenis" quickly took a liking to him. He saw great potential in Drakos as a leader, and he was quickly promoted to a senior position in EOKA.
On April 1, 1955, considered to be the first day of the struggle, Drakos and his "Astrape" ("Lightning") team blew up the radio station of Athalassa, destroying it completely. With his squad, he would go on to co-ordinate several other operations.
On June 30, 1955, Drakos was arrested by the British with 14 other EOKA members and imprisoned in Kyrenia Castle
Kyrenia Castle
Kyrenia Castle , at the east end of the old harbour in Kyrenia is a 16th-century castle built by the Venetians over a previous Crusader fortification. Within its walls lies a twelfth-century chapel showing reused late Roman capitals, and the Shipwreck Museum.-History:Kyrenia has been inhabited...
but famously managed to escape 3 months later, by tying blankets together and abseiling out of the windows. A bounty of 5,000 pounds was placed on his head but that did not deter him from taking part in more battles and acts of sabotage.
Finally, on the night of January 18, 1957 the British forces attacked Drakos and his men at their hideout in Solea. Drakos fought in the rain and hail storm, almost single-handedly, allowing his comrades to escape. His body, with 40 bullet-holes, was recovered and interred by the British in the Imprisoned Graves
Imprisoned Graves
The "Imprisoned Graves" is a small cemetery located in the Central Jail of Nicosia, where 13 EOKA fighters, during the 1955-1959 liberation struggle for the liberation of Cyprus from the United Kingdom, were interred...
in the Central Jail of Nicosia
Central Jail of Nicosia
The Central Jail of Nicosia is the only correctional facility in Cyprus. It is located to the west of the walled part of the Cypriot city of Nicosia, south of the Green Line...
. The Bible which Drakos carried with him at all times was never recovered at his scene of death.