 The island of Cyprus was a British protectorate 1878–1914, under British military administration 1914–1922, then a Crown Colony 1922–1960.From 1922, the colonial flag of British Cyprus was in use throughout the island, including the areas now comprising Akrotiri and Dhekelia.Upon Cypriot independence in 1960, when the colonial flag ceased to have official usage, the territory of the Sovereign Base Areas was also established.