Vasilis Alexandrou

He was born in the village of Limnatis¹, Limassol district, in 1925.

He died on November 21, 1958 after being tortured by the British, during his detention in the Polemi camp².

Vasilis Alexandrou finished primary school in Limnatis and worked as a salesman in the cooperative grocery store of his village. He was a founding executive and a member of the committees of the local ethnic-minded unions SEK and PEK.

He joined EOKA in 1955 at the start of the race, as assistant team leader of Limnatis. He was a member of the local strike group and developed a rich activity. He was a liaison and supplier of the rebels of the Fasoula-Paramytha sector and took part in the first ambush, near the village of Alassa, of the Limnatis and Laneia groups.

In February 1957, he was arrested by the British and transferred to the Pyla detention center (compartment G), where he was held until the end of 1957. After his release, he continued his activities, taking part in the construction of hiding places with the insurgents of the sector.

In July 1958 he was again captured by the British and detained at the Laniteo Gymnasium³, where he suffered horrific torture before being transferred to the Polemi camp.

According to the testimony of a fellow prisoner, life in the Polemi camp was a real hell for everyone, not excluding the hero Vassilis Alexandrou, who, although he had fallen seriously ill, suffered horrible injuries and beatings resulting in the deterioration of his health. After strong protests from his fellow prisoners to the Committee of the International Red Cross, he was examined by an English doctor, who ordered his release, apparently so that he would not die in detention. Alexandrou died just three days after his dismissal.