Originally Dhekelia Cantonment was made up of many separate barracks between which people were free to move, and some of the original sentry posts can still be seen today around Kitchener Barracks. The perimeter fence was erected in 1990/ 91 in response to the need for increased security that resulted from the Gulf War.
In addition to the constituent barracks of Dhekelia Garrison as we know it today, there were several additional camps in the area we now term the ESBA. The following camps have all been destroyed due to the cut backs that resulted from the end of the Suez Campaign, and the end of hostilities in Cyprus towards British troops (Watson):
CRE Camp. During the construction of the Garrison the Royal Engineers occupied a small camp on the waterfront, close to the sailing club (see page 30). The camp only comprised a few tents and wooden huts and was built in 1951/2. The camp was home to approximately 20 soldiers, 10 clerks and store men, and 12 Officers who lived in the small Officers’ Mess. There were also 7 batmen to cater for the officers. The camp was closed in 1956 when the Garrison Officers’ Mess was formally opened (Georgiou & Ioannides).
Alma Camp. Alma Camp was positioned on the site of the current SBA police station, and stretched to where the motorway now runs (see page 30). It was built in 1955 and comprised a mixture of tents and nissen huts. Initially it housed an Infantry Battalion whilst Alexander Barracks was under construction. In 1958 the Middlesex Regiment marched out of Alma Camp, down Snake Pass and into the newly constructed Alexander Barracks (Chakmak).
After the Middlesex Regiment left, Alma Camp became a transit camp for exercising troops. In 1960 its usage changed to that of an administration camp, holding the CEPO and Pay Offices. It was finally knocked down in 1966 when the administration units moved to the Dhekelia Camp (Chakmak, Georgiou & Ioannides).
Anzio Camp. Anzio Camp was constructed in 1956, approximately 1 km to the East of Pergamos (see page 30). Initially, it was used as a training camp for visiting troops and local residents remember that The Royal Marines were frequent visitors. In 1973 there were approximately 1000 soldiers based at Anzio Camp. The accommodation was a collection of nissen huts, simple brick buildings and tents. Two of the buildings held the Sergeants’ and the Officers’ Messes, which had up to 50 and 30 permanent members respectively (Chakmak; Kasenides & Zacharia).
Between 1957 – 1960 the camp was also used to house the British Government’s political prisoners who were mainly thought to be EOKA terrorists. These prisoners were often held without trial and Anzio Camp soon acquired the nickname of ‘Pergamos Prison’ (Chakmak; Kasenides & Zacharia).
Following the troubles of 1974 the British Soldiers moved out to make room for the influx of refugees. In the first week the refugees numbered approximately 2000 Greek Cypriots and only about 20 Turkish Cypriots. Anything and everything was used for accommodation with many people staying in cars and buses. Some of the refugees had British passports and flew to England from Kingsfield Airfield, others moved quickly to stay with friends and relatives. The Turkish Cypriots moved north within a month, but approximately 750 Greek Cypriot refugees stayed at Anzio Camp for between 18 months and 2 years. The camp was knocked down in 1979 (Chakmak, Kasenides & Zacharia).
Pergamos Camp. Pergamos Camp was built in the early 1960s close to Pergamos village (see page 30). It was a residual camp for the families of the RAF Signals unit that is now based in Ayios Nikolaos. The camp was also used to accommodate visiting troops, and in autumn 1971 became the home of C Company, The Blues and Royals (Tuck, 1997). Pergamos Camp was also the home to CJSATC from 1981 to 1991, when it moved to Dhekelia Garrison.
The camp contained a NAAFI and many other services, however, in the late 1980s the residents moved out to new quarters in Ayios Nikolaos and the camp was formally closed. The camp lay untouched for over a decade until on 10 February 1997 when it was demolished by 62 Cyprus Sqn RE. The debris was left where it fell, and is still there today (Chakmak, Moustafa & Orthodoxou).
Rhine Camp. Rhine Camp was built in 1956/57 on the location of the current SBA prison (see page 30). Most of the buildings were wooden constructions with only a few brick buildings. Initially it was used as a supply depot, but like Anzio Camp, also held the British Government’s political prisoners who were mainly thought to be EOKA terrorists. Again these prisoners were often held without trial and Rhine Camp acquired the nickname of ‘Pyla Prison’ (Kyriacou, Moustafa, Orthodoxou & Zacharia).
Slim Barracks. Slim Barracks was built in 1960/ 61 and was originally used for offices and transit accommodation. The CEPO offices moved into Slim Barracks from Alma Camp in 1962, and were joined by the Public Relations Office, and the Public Works Office amongst many. The original guardroom for Slim Barracks is now Tsolakis Tailors shop, close to the Warrant Officers’ and Sergeants’ Mess (Georgiou & Panteli). King Richard School was also originally built as an accommodation block.
In January 1974 the Blues and Royals were part of 3 Division which reinforced Cyprus. They were armed with Ferrets, and were accommodated in Slim Barracks. From Dhekelia they patrolled in Larnaca and provided security for the Garrison. The troops from Slim Barracks ate in a cookhouse that was situated next to the Parade Square, close to the small NAAFI. This cookhouse was destroyed in the early 1980s.
Nightingale Barracks. Nightingale Barracks was built at the same time as the British Military Hospital, and provided accommodation for the Nursing staff. The barracks was also home to the hospital Quarter Master and a small NAAFI shop. Only one of the accommodation blocks remains today, the others were destroyed in 2000 (Georgiou & Soteris). Nightingale barracks was also home to the Nightingale Club which was the junior ranks bar until it was closed in 2001.
Alexander Barracks. Alexander Barracks accepted its first resident infantry unit in 1958, when the Middlesex regiment moved from Alma Camp. Originally the accommodation blocks and ancillary building were of the same nature that can be seen in Slim Village today.
Alexander Barracks was originally used by infantry units supporting the Garrison, but it has also housed units on 6 monthly roulement tours with the United Nations who would serve six months in Nicosia and six months in Dhekelia. In 1990 The Queens Royal Lancers served six months in Nicosia and then became the first regiment to complete a two year tour in Dhekelia.
