CYPRUS EMERGENCY

During the campaign conducted between 1955 and 1959 by EOKA (Ethniki Organosis Kyprion Agoniston/ National Organization of Cypriot Combatants) to establish a Greek government in Cyprus, British forces successfully interdicted consignments of weapons sent from Greece to the guerrillas and conducted a  surveillance operation to find the EOKA leader, Col. George Grivas. The interception of the caiques carrying arms was achieved by a technical operation undertaken by the Secret Intelligence Service in Athens to monitor EOKA plans to send matériel to Cyprus, for which the local station commander was decorated. On instructions from Prime Minister Anthony Eden, a separate scheme was prepared to isolate Grivas and shoot him, and an experienced former Special Air Service officer was flown to Nicosia to complete the assignment, but the matter was dropped when political negotiations appeared likely to bear fruit.