Dear FG, I have been reading your Bygones with great interest.
I have a question about Winston Churchill. Did he ever visit Cyprus, and if so can you provide details?
Thank You in Anticipation,
Martin Saunders, Skarinou.
Hi Martin,
Winston Churchill visited Cyprus on a couple of notable occasions.
His first visit was in October 1907, when he was the Under Secretary of the Colonies.
During this visit, he arrived at the new Cyprus railway station in Nicosia and was photographed with High Commissioner Sir Charles King-Harman. Churchill’s visit was part of a broader tour of the British colonies, and he spent five days on the island en route to Africa.
Churchill’s second visit to Cyprus occurred in January 1943, during World War II.
As the British Prime Minister, he made a series of overseas visits, including a stop in Cyprus on his way to Tripoli.
During this visit, Churchill inspected soldiers of the Cyprus Regiment at RAF Nicosia and had several meetings with important Cypriot politicians. He left Cyprus on February 1, 1943.
These visits highlight Churchill’s involvement in the affairs of Cyprus during his political career and his efforts to maintain British influence in the region.