(Memories written by members of Forces Reunited)
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.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.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.