Dennis Ciclitira

Who was Dennis Ciclitira?

Dennis Ciclitira was a British soldier and businessman of Greek descent. He was born in Patras, Greece but was raised in Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex, after his father Demosthenes emigrated to the UK and set up a business importing dried fruit.

During World War II Dennis Ciclitira held the rank of Major and served as a Special Operations Executive agent, succeeding Xan Fielding in the command of the underground forces in western Crete. Being the radio operator, he organized the evacuation to Egypt of Patrick Leigh Fermor and W. Stanley Moss after the successful abduction of General Kreipe in spring 1944. In 1945, he arranged for the German surrender of the island. After the war he worked in the family business, eventually turning it into a leading importer and distributor. From 1958 to 1960 he was chairman of UK's National Dried Fruit Trade Association.