Evagoras Pallikaridis – The Last Hero of the Gallows

Defence Redefined

Published on 14/03/2020 at 10:58

Born on February 26, 1938 in the village of Tsada in the Paphos District, Evagoras Pallikaridis was the last and the youngest hero of the National Organisation of Cypriot Fighters (EOKA) to be hanged by the English colonists.

His fighting spirit and his concern for the homeland Greece could not allow him not to engage in the struggles for the Unification of Cyprus with Greece. 

At the age of 17, he dropped out of school to join the EOKA fighting groups. He soon became an active member and at the same time became the target of English conquerors.

On December 18, 1956, Evagoras Pallikaridis, while carrying weapons and food, was confronted with an English patrol and was unable to react. 

In his possession, they found a Bren machine gun and three magazines. 

At his trial on February 25th of the same year, Evagoras did not allow his lawyers to defend him and admitted his guilt, saying, “I know you will hang me. Whatever I did, I did it as Greek Cypriot who seeks his freedom. Nothing else”.

Thus, on March 14, 1956, at the young age of 19, Evagoras Pallikarides was hanged by the English colonists as the youngest and last EOKA hero hanged. The hero’s tomb is in Nicosia, in the Imprisoned Graves (Fylakismena Mnimata), along with the other heroes who faced the gallows, as well as EOKA’s Deputy, Gregoris Afxentiou. 

Evagoras Pallikaridis, with his sacrifice, moved the whole Hellenism. In his last letter, he stated:

“I will courageously pursue my destiny. This may be my last letter. But again it doesn’t matter. I’m not sorry for anything. Let’s lose everything. A man can only die once. I will walk happily to my last home. Today or tomorrow, will it make a change? Everybody dies one day. It is a good thing to die for Greece. 7:30 pm. The most beautiful day of my life. The most beautiful time. Don’t ask why.”

Watch the video tribute of ANT1 for the hero (in Greek):

With information from: Ιnstitution for the ΕΟΚΑ liberation struggle 1955-1959