Neophytos Sofocleous

He was born in 1936¹.

The fighter passed away on May 13 2024.

According to the "Historical Memories EOKA 1955-1959", the deceased was the head of Marathasa and the leader of a rebel group.

He was the man who on 20 march 1956 placed the bomb in the bed of the English Governor John Harding, which, due to a faulty mechanism, exploded, but at 10.00 in the morning instead of 6.00 am. as planned.

The SUFFERING of Sofocleous on the mountain, until the EOKA investigation was carried out, focusing on why the bomb did not explode, lasted many days. But – with the help of his later team leader, hero Markos Drakos – the interrogation concluded that he was responsible for the bomb until he planted it and left the room, events that worked flawlessly. He was, however, justified in being bitter about the interrogation against him, as opposed to being proud of what he had done. Characteristically the words he said to Markos Drakos, during the interrogation:

“I know what you will do. Do it as soon as you can! But, as a dying man, I will ask you a favor: to continue your research and, when you find the truth, to go to my people in Peyia and tell them. At least, they don't consider me a traitor!..."

Drakos' answer to this was: "Have faith in God".

And so Sofocleous had faith, and Drakos's final assessment, which he conveyed to the EOKA Chief Georgios Grivas - Digenis, in the lair of the "Royal" Kykkos, where the Chief was at the time, was that Sofocleous was anything but a traitor.

On the contrary, he was an enthusiastic fighter for Cypriot freedom and deservedly honored the oath he had given. Drakos, therefore, not only believed in the words of Sofocleous ,but he also trusted him as a brother, friend and competitor, and even included him in his own guerrilla group, which had the code name "Uranos". Sofocleus followed the immortal hero to the mountains of Kykkus and later to the hideout of "Trullinos" Kalopanagiotis and then to the area of Solea.

On the night that Markos Drakos was flying towards immortality, Sofocleous and the other members of the hero's group were trying to break the stranglehold of the English in Solea and reach their hideout, the house of the fighter Demosthenes Schiza, in Katydata.

Source: https://nikospa.wordpress.com/