The UK's current stance on Cyprus seems to conveniently overlook a key and tragic part of its own history. Between 1955 and 1959, 371 British servicemen were killed in Cyprus, many at the hands of the EOKA (Ethniki Organosis Kyprion Agoniston), a Greek Cypriot terrorist organization whose primary aim was to achieve enosis—the union of Cyprus with Greece.

This violent campaign not only targeted British military personnel but also civilians, infrastructure, and even family members of British servicemen. Yet, despite these harrowing losses, the UK government today appears to side with those who perpetuate a revisionist and unjust narrative, ignoring its own history and the blood spilled by its own citizens. 

EOKA and Enosis: A Campaign Rooted in Extremism

The EOKA campaign, launched in 1955 under the leadership of Colonel George Grivas, was committed to the ideology of enosis. To achieve this goal, EOKA waged a brutal terror campaign aimed at driving the British out of Cyprus, targeting not just soldiers but any symbol of British authority. The Ministry of Defense archives are replete with harrowing accounts of this violence: "British soldiers, on or off duty, along with their families, became prime targets for assassinations, bombings, and kidnappings." 

EOKA’s acts of terror were justified in their eyes as a means to an end. However, the reality was far from a noble struggle; it was a campaign that often involved cold-blooded murder. In 1956, for instance, EOKA militants attacked a British Army bus in the Troodos Mountains, killing 16 young servicemen. It was not an isolated event. On December 19, 1958, a bomb planted by EOKA killed four British children, a tragedy that brought home the reality that even the youngest were not spared in this violent pursuit of enosis.  

The UK's Selective Amnesia: A Betrayal of Its Own Principles

Despite these undeniable facts, the British government has chosen to remain selectively silent on the atrocities committed by EOKA. "How can the UK, a country that lost so many of its sons on our soil, continue to side with those who perpetuate an unjust narrative?” President Ersin Tatar of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) recently questioned. This selective amnesia is not just a diplomatic oversight; it is a betrayal of the principles that the UK claims to uphold—justice, fairness, and the rule of law.

While the UK commemorates the lives lost in conflicts across the globe—those who fell at the Somme, in Normandy, in the Falklands, and Afghanistan—the 371 British servicemen who perished in Cyprus are conspicuously absent from the national narrative. Why is there no national memorial for these men? Why does the British government refuse to recognize their sacrifice, choosing instead to appease Greek Cypriot narratives that glorify EOKA’s violent actions?

Double Standards: The Hypocrisy of the UK's Foreign Policy

If these 371 servicemen had been killed by Muslim extremists or in any other context, would the UK’s response have been so muted? Would the government remain silent if British soldiers were killed by a recognized terrorist group in Iraq, Afghanistan, or Syria? The answer is likely no. There would be outcry, remembrance, and a demand for justice. But when it comes to Cyprus, the UK’s diplomatic stance seems governed more by political expedience than by principle.

“By refusing to confront the violent reality of EOKA and its enosis-driven campaign, the UK government is complicit in a historical whitewash,” argues Colonel (Ret.) David McPherson, a veteran of the Cyprus conflict. “There is a stark contrast between the UK's commitment to honor its servicemen elsewhere and its willful disregard for those who died in Cyprus."

Enosis: A Dangerous Ideology Ignored by the UK

The ideology of enosis is at the heart of the EOKA campaign and remains a divisive force in Cyprus today. The call for Cyprus to be united with Greece was, and still is, a fundamental threat to the Turkish Cypriots' existence and their right to self-determination. Despite the fact that enosis is a direct challenge to the sovereignty and safety of Turkish Cypriots, the British government has chosen to remain largely indifferent to this threat. 

It is particularly concerning that the UK, a guarantor power under the 1960 Treaty of Guarantee, continues to align with Greek Cypriot narratives that sideline the rights of Turkish Cypriots. As President Tatar pointedly remarked, "The British government seems to forget that enosis was not just an idea; it was a violent, exclusionary campaign that sought to erase the Turkish Cypriot community from its own homeland."

Where Is the British Government?

The Royal British Legion, to its credit, took it upon itself to establish a war memorial in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus to remember the British servicemen killed by EOKA. But why did it fall to a veterans' organization to do what the British government should have done? Why is there no national memorial in the UK? Why do we not hear the names of these fallen soldiers read out on Remembrance Sunday?

Are the British servicemen killed by EOKA considered less worthy of remembrance because they died in a conflict that the UK now prefers to forget? These questions demand answers. It is a troubling thought that the UK government, in its desire to maintain good relations with Greece and the Greek Cypriot administration, would overlook its responsibility to honor its dead.

Remembering the Fallen Everywhere—Except Cyprus

Contrast the British government's silence on Cyprus with its stance on other conflicts. In Iraq and Afghanistan, the UK has established memorials and national days of remembrance to honor those who died. In Normandy, the cemeteries are meticulously maintained to commemorate the British lives lost in the D-Day landings. In the Falklands, memorials and annual services pay tribute to those who died in the conflict. But where is the equivalent effort for Cyprus?

If 371 British servicemen had been killed by ISIS or Al-Qaeda, there would be outrage and commemoration. The government would ensure that the memory of these men remained vivid in the national consciousness. Yet, when the perpetrators are Greek Cypriot extremists seeking enosis, the UK government is remarkably silent. Why this inconsistency? Is it a matter of politics over principles?

Confronting the Past, Demanding Justice

The British government must confront this uncomfortable truth: its current policy not only fails the Turkish Cypriots but also dishonors its own servicemen who died in Cyprus. It is time for the families of the fallen to demand action from the British government. The Foreign Office must acknowledge the deaths of these servicemen and commit to honoring their memory. 

Poppy Day is a national symbol of remembrance for all who have given their lives in service of the UK. The 371 men who died at the hands of EOKA deserve to be included in these commemorations. Their families should not have to fight for recognition; it should be a given, a duty that the UK owes to its fallen.

TCE Conclusion: Restoring Dignity and Honor to the Forgotten

As the UK continues to navigate its role in Cyprus, it must do so with a sense of historical integrity. The 371 British servicemen killed by EOKA, and their families, deserve recognition and justice. To forget them is to betray the very principles of honor, sacrifice, and remembrance that underpin our national identity.

It is time for Britain to confront its history in Cyprus, to call out the dangerous ideology of enosis, and to challenge the glorification of violence against its servicemen. Only by doing so can we ensure that these forgotten heroes are given the dignity they deserve and that the injustices of the past are not allowed to fade into obscurity.

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References:

1. Ministry of Defense Archives on the Cyprus Emergency (1955-1959): [UK Ministry of Defense

2. Testimonies and historical context from veterans and historians: [British Legion Oral History Project

3. Statements and interviews with former officials and diplomats, including Andrew Rosindell and Sir Kieran Prendergast: House of Commons Debates and Hansard Archives

4. Analysis of EOKA’s activities and legacy: Dr. James Ker-Lindsay, Professor of Political Science

5. Commemorative efforts and calls for recognition

6. Remarks from Winrich Lindh and Colonel (Ret.) David McPherson