Unit History: RAF EPISKOPI

RAF Episkopi HQ MEAF Cyprus in 1958

Written by Derek Hoye

The long, hot, dusty wait for a garry, at Limassol Docks, to take us to Episkopi after disembarking from the troopship Devonshire. Then the shock horror of discovering we were expected to live in a tent, which had seen better days (and wars) with just a sunken bed a broken locker and paving slabs on the floor. To top it off there was a single light bulb on a post in the middle of the tent! The mess hall was a mile away through a dusty valley and then came the realisation that I had signed on for two and a half years in purgatory.
Soon three other lads moved in and we scrounged new lockers, beds, mattresses and carpets for the floor. A bedside light brightened up the bedspace and a table and chairs had pride of place in the middle of the tent. We fixed a door in the tent entrance with a hitching rail outside, on which we leaned as we watched the sun go down over Happy Valley, and spat out seeds from watermelons. Keo Beer, chai walley, tea miucker, 9999 days to go, "Boss Corporal Ginger Number One" . Bliss - this is the life!!!
Dai Rees, Bill Williamson, Sergeant Michele, Flt Lt Robinson, Flt Lt Pete Hay and my dog Toddy - to name but a few.Dances in the NAAFI with 20 WAAFs and 200 airmen. Keo Beer and Brandy Sour. Sking in the Troodos Mountains and laughing till the tears froze on our cheeks. Pork chop, chips and two fried eggs washed down with Keo Beer at the cafe on Mount Olympus. Taking photos of Paul Newman on FamaG. beach. One thing I could never get used to was the "thunder box" toilets - the smell still lingers on! Spike

RAF Episkopi in 1968

Written by steve murray

"Oh, you're going to Episkopi, you lucky sod" said one NCO at Lyneham.New to the RAF, I didn't have a clue where it was! But when I arrived I couldn't believe what a beautiful place it was. My journey from Akrotiri to Episkopi caused a bit of panic when we headed for Limassol but of course, it was only to drop off the "Scalies" first.Eventually,our journey took us to Epi along the coast road.The views were spectacular! I've been back recently and the views have hardly changed.
It took me a long time to settle,never having been abroad before,and I became quite homesick especially when I was shunned by one of my room mates.I was a supplier billetted with teleg/ops and I think that a little resentment was around.

RAF Episkopi, HQBFNE SECRETARIAT in 1969

Written by Edward Billington

Posted out to HQBFNE in Sept and of course got volunteered for duty whilst the rest of the team went on someone’s going away do in Limassol. Had the combination for the door behind which hid the camp bed (!), but didn’t know how to use the number...Spent the night in an old armchair in between walking across the compound to the Sigs section. Didn’t make that mistake again! Terrific tour, happy memories of Cyprus when it was a little lovelier than it is now.

RAF Episkopi in 1972

Written by Harry Mount

During 1971/73 I was de-mobbed & went to live in Limassol. I worked as a milkman, for Charalambides, delivering milk to Married Quarters in Polymedia, Barengaria, and at Episkopi, Gibraltar village and Paramali. Anybody out there who remembers me?

RAF Episkopi, EOKA set fire to C-in-C’s new home in 1956

Written by John Fletcher

September 10th 1956 - my 20th birthday. I was the Corporal guard commander at the MEAF C-in-C’s new home being built near Episkopi. An ’EOKA’ explosive device had been placed in the roof-space of the adjacent building [Army C-in-C’s new home]. I used the walkie-talkie to tell the Army guard commander that we could see smoke from the roof of ’his’ house - as the ’pencil-type’ device had not been heard by him or his men. I took two photographs soon after the explosion but have never published them before now. The following day UK newspapers had front page headlines about the incident but no photographs appeared. All the workers on the RAF property were then rounded up for interrogation.