Aristides Charalambous

He was born in the village of Pedoulas¹, Nicosia district, on September 19, 1936.

He was killed on March 11, 1956 in Pedoulas², by a bomb he dropped against the British.

Aristides Charalambous finished his village's primary school and was a sixth-grade student at Pedoulas High School when he was killed. For three years he also studied accounting by correspondence. During the summer holidays he worked to pay his tuition.

He joined the EOKA struggle from the beginning in the Marathasa area and collaborated with his teachers and classmates. Some of his Greek teachers were also the instructors of the students of the Pedoulas High School in the use of weapons. The training took place in the chapel of Panagia, in the orchards of the village. His sisters also worked with him in the struggle, with the support of their parents. His mother took part in the stoning of the English, carrying stones to the girls in her apron. In one of the stonings, he was injured, as was his sister.

On March 11, 1956, a Sunday, the local EOKA Pedoulas group expected to attack a convoy of British soldiers at three points on the road to Kykkos. Aristides was also in one of the groups. He was holding two locally made bombs. One exploded in his hand, cutting off his palm and fatally wounding him in the stomach. At his funeral, attended by all the residents of the surrounding villages, he was accompanied by his classmates and teachers, who supported his coffin covered with the Greek flag and a multitude of laurel wreaths.

At the end of the school year, Aristides was not present at the graduation ceremony of his classmates, to receive his diploma. His high school principal called him to the list of graduates.