Karaolos Camp and Army School, Famagusta

By Chris Elliott….

Karaolos Army School, Famagusta….from Exodus to where? – The missing camps of Cyprus?

In re-publishing my article “Exodus to where? – The missing camps of Cyprus?” on the internet, this was updated to include reference to the Karaolas Army School, Famagusta which was within the Karaolas military camp area and there has been some excellent work of researching the history of this school by the former pupils on their Facebook page  https://www.facebook.com/Karaolosschool and this is what they have discovered after research of the Karaolas Camp.

“British involvement in Cyprus started in 1878 when the English took over administration of the Island from Sultan Abdul Hamid 11 of the Ottoman Empire. The Ottomans felt they might need help from the British against the Russians, and the British wanted a base in the Ottoman/middle east area.

Famagusta was the only deep water port on the Island for use by Navy warships and supply ships. Karaolos was used  initially as a storage area for supplies to Nicosia and in the summer to Troodos  where the Governor decamped to avoid the summer heat.

In 1916 the British used Karaolos as a detainee camp for Turkish POW from WW1. They were captured in the Suez and Dardanelle areas by the British and sent by ship to Famagusta numbering 2000. After the war they were released, some remained in Cyprus and the rest sent to Turkey. By 1920  the camp was empty.

Then the Russians came. The White Army and their dependants having been defeated by the Red army and fled to Crimea. They were evacuated to Istanbul and then to Cyprus. Most stayed only a year while some settled in Cyprus the remainder moved to any country that would have them. The tents were replaced by some buildings and huts and conditions were slightly better at this time.

The largest group of interns  of course were Jewish refugees fleeing Europe but not allowed  at that time to enter Palestine. The ships were intercepted by British warships and  everyone on board taken to Karaolos. From 1946 2000 refugees a time were taken to Haifa but in 1948 the last remaining people were shipped to Palestine and the camp was empty again. The whole episode led to a book and then a Hollywood film.

With trouble escalating in the Suez Crisis the number of British troops was increased and many billeted in Karaolos on route to the area. Many young men  were doing their national service in Cyprus. Families of these men were housed in Famagusta and their  children attended a school in Karaolos. The earliest  pupil memories are from 1953 but its not known when the school opened. It closed in 1964 and all pupils transferred to Ayios Nicholaos and King Richards in Dhekelia.

Some of the land  and buildings was used by the UN during the EOKA troubles  in 1974 and some used by the National Army as a training base. Being designated as Military, access today is prohibited. Research  into these times is limited to the internet but more is being posted as people age and want their memories recorded.”

Back now to the school which was formed to provide education for the children of British Servicemen based at the Karaolos Army Camp perhaps the most interesting aspects of the school are the memories of the pupils and some of these are shown below.

Dawn

On August 13, 1946, the British began using the Cyprus Detention Camp Karaolos, near Famagusta Cyprus. Altogether, there were five camps: 55, 60, 61, 62 and Camp 63, in Karaolos, all built near the beach area. One of these camps became the British Army school Karaolos.

It was closed when caught in crossfire during the EOKA troubles and all children moved to Ayios Nicholas school at Four Mile Point. Without any other FB page I hope we can get together and reminisce here on https://www.facebook.com/Karaolosschool.

Posting

SHOOTING DISTURBS PEACE OF FAMAGUSTA – Cyprus Mail correspondent. Famagusta April 22 1964

A POLICE escort for a squad of Electricity Authority workers near the Karaolos camp outside Famagusta came under heavy fire this morning from a Turkish strongpoint in the area and was pinned down for some time until police reinforcements and UN troops arrived. About 150 British children at the nearby Karaolos Army School were evacuated from their classrooms. The children spent 90 minutes in the school holding a ‘sing-song’ as the firing continued, before Army lorries took them home. The Police Landrover carried Sgt. Christakis Sergiou and Pte. Demetrakis Mavromatis, the driver. They were escorting Public Works and Electricity Authority workers to the area to attend to installations for the electrification of the area.

Famagusta has been one of the quietest areas during the last four months, and it is the first time Famagusta police have had to use their guns to answer fire. Automatic fire A Turk, who is said to have been identified, fired from a sandbagged position behind a barbed wire fence, immediately afterwards several bursts were fired by another Turk hiding in the area using automatic weapons. The occupants of the police vehicle managed to get out of their bullet-riddled car and … in a ditch returned the fire. The Battle raged for about two hours at close range before U.N. troops from British and Irish contingents moved in and brought about a cease fire.

The Irish soldiers, though are due to become operational from tonight, moved into action smoothly wearing their new U.N. helmets. U.N. officers said no casualties were reported during the incident which ended when Captain Fuller arrived on the scene with a patrol of Life-guards and men of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers. The Irish troops of the 40th Battalion some of whom arrived in Cyprus only the day before, helping the British troops to cordon the area and patrol streets around the Greek and Turkish sectors. Irish escort At about the same time Turks in the Sakaria-Kartanas area tried to intercept traffic on the main Salamis road. But the entire security force was … and calm returned to the town by the afternoon. At about 1p.m. Irish troops escorted Electricity Authority workers to … to installations. The sandbagged position in which the Turks had …has already been demolished.

Another Pupil

Hi Dawn.

There was a regimental bus similar to the one in the photo painted army green that would have been used to bring the children to school.

I have contacted a mate who was at Karaolos with me, he cannot remember a school there.

Good luck with your search.

Another Pupil

Exodus

I only knew of the existence of this film a few years ago when it was shown on Sky one afternoon. I rang my Dad and asked if he knew about it and he said of course!!

The memories of those few years in my young life were so confused and I was set on a new course to find out more about Karaolos. 

For information click on this link http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exodus_(1960_film

From Ralph…

I was also a pupil at Karalos School 1960. 1961 moved to King Richards in Dhekelia. I am not sure whether or not Karalos School closed down but I suspect it did because my 3 sisters followed me to King Dicks. Time does fly.

I collect my Old Age Pension this year. Anyone remember the open air cinema at Karalos? Not sure where the Army Camp was in relation to the school but I think it was probably next door. If I knew how to do it I would put a picture of my first Karalos School Report on here but I haven’t the first idea how to do it? Can anyone enlighten me?

Posting Part of Karaolos camp was given to the Swedish Peace Keepers when it closed in 1964 and renamed Camp Carl-Gustaf.

Posting

Now Karaolos is on the map. Formerly known as Gulseren Camp Area and used by the National Guard. It was declared a military camp in 1981 and used by the Turkish Cypriot Armed Forces. Unfortunately since yesterday the Wikimapia image has disappeared and I’ve replaced it with the Google Earth image.

This research project has been very successful and parts of the historical jigsaw are starting to be put together and some of the staff and pupils have been listed below.

By Dawn

It is hoped that by publishing this story of the Karaolos Army School, Famagusta more worldwide readers will become aware of its fascinating past and perhaps more information will be forthcoming so that the former pupils will be able to tell their children, grandchildren and future generations what it was like to be child in the history of Cyprus. Do please visit the Karaolos Army School, Famagusta Facebook page click here where you can see many more pictures and informative notes from the pupils.

To read our article “Exodus to where? – The missing camps of Cyprus?” which led to this joint article above, please click here

Karaolos in 1915 when it was used by the British Police.

Photo of Karaolos in 1946 from an American Jewish website

Exodus the film

Constancia Hotel where Paul Newman stayed while filming Exodus. Dad’s photo with my Mum and us on the swing…

Paul Newman

Paul Newman on Famagusta beach (whilst filming Exodus) with my friend Avril Fielding

Karaolos Army School

British Life Guards at Karalols

here was a regimental bus similar to the one in the photo attached, painted army green. that would have been used to bring the children to schoo

British school children being escorted out of Karaolas school to safety by British Army trucks

From 29 Field Regt RA website

Class of 1957 thanks to pupil Ian Aldous for the picture

Bill Scott thinks this was Karaolos airstrip

Swedish Peace Keepers

Now Karaolos is on the map. Formerly known as Gulseren Camp Area and used by the National Guard. It was declared a military camp in 1981