Markos Drakos | The action and death of ΕΟΚΑ’s “Lycurgus” – Photos

Born on September 24, 1932, the fighter and hero Markos Drakos was one of the most active members of EOKA, having taken part in several attacks against the British colonialists. 

He was one of the first guerrillas in the ranks of EOKA and there were many who described him as the Flag of the Organization. Specifically, Drakos’ action begins from the first day of the Liberation Struggle, on April 1, 1955 when, with his team codenamed “ASTRAPI”, he attacked the Cypriot Radio Service, which was then under the control of colonialists. Markos Drakos cut the barbed wire of the fence using scissors and was the first to enter the radio station, with his revolver at gunpoint. 

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On June 19, Drakos and his team organized a bomb attack against the police station of Kyrenia in Nicosia, while previously on May 24 he placed a bomb in “Pallas” cinema in order to kill Governor Armitage. 

In the summer of 1955, after a betrayal, Drakos is arrested and charged with possession of ammunition. He was held in Nicosia Central Jail until July 15, when he was transferred to Kyrenia Castle. However, he remained active. Along with 15 other comrades, they planned their escape. With songs and dances they managed to deceive the English guards. In a few minutes they are free again in the sea of ​​Kyrenia, ending up in the mountains of Kykkos.

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After that, Drakos formed the first guerrilla group called “OURANOS”, achieving overwhelming blows against the English. Since January 1956, EOKA had intensified its military action with ambushes and armed attacks against the colonialists. Many battles followed, such as in Mersinaki, Kalopanagiotis, Kokkinogremos and elsewhere. The first dead guerrilla of EOKA, Charalambos Mouskos (Makarios’ cousin), fell in the operation in Mersinaki. Markos Drakos continued to fight against Officer Kubb. In fact, while he was seriously injured in the head, he managed to escape and continue his fight.

Guerrilla group “OURANOS”

The action of the team “OURANOS” was one of the most successful. However, betrayal, once again, brought it to an end. The English colonialists, knowing the location of Drakos’ hideout, launched a manhunt in order to locate him. More than 10,000 soldiers were scattered in Troodos Mountains to disperse the guerilla groups. 

Markos Drakos and his team, according to the testimony of his comrade Tefkros Loizos, decided to move, in the midst of lightning, hail and thunder. Around 11 p.m. on January 18, 1957, after a long march, the British soldiers attacked the guerrillas and Markos Drakos returned fire. Suddenly in the light of lightning “Lycurgus” (i.e. Markos Drakos’ pseudonym) could be seen by the soldiers.

The Englishman who shot Markos Drakos testified during the posthumous interrogation: “In the light of lightning I suddenly saw a man standing in front of me. We looked into each other’s eyes, I opened fire and then he opened fire too.” Markos Drakos breathed his last, heroically fighting in a valley that the ancients called “to Arkatzin tou Drakou”. Today, he is buried in the “Imprisoned Graves” along with twelve other fighters of EOKA.

The Leader of EOKA, Georgios Grivas “Digenis”, praised Markos Drakos with the following words:

“He was a pure, honest, selfless and brave fighter. He was one of the first to join the ranks of the Organization. His death deprived me of an excellent comrade-in-arms, and Cyprus of one of her children, who would contribute not only in the liberation struggle, but also in the creative work for the homeland’s progress and prosperity. My grief for this was great. But the entire Cyprus mourned him rightly. Heroes, like Drakos, and mortals do not cease to live. They remain the bright guides of survivors, for the fulfillment of their mission in the beautiful noble struggle.”

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With information from: Cyprus Chronograph / simerini.sigmalive