The siege of Malta

The siege of Malta was between 1940 and 1943 it was one of the most heavily bombed areas during war with a total of 3,000 air raids occurring during the two years of the siege. Killing 1,493 civilians and wounding 3,674. The cost to the military of men aircraft and ships defending and trying to resupply the island were horrendous. One of the Maine reasons for the siege was it was ideally positioned as a base to attack the German and Italian supply lines to north Africa. At one point only one in four supply ships were getting through to Rommel's army significantly contributing to their eventual defeat. On the 15 April 1942 Malta was awarded the George cross by King George V1 the highest civilian award for gallantry in the Commonwealth to honour the brave people of Malta. President Franklin Roosevelt, describing the wartime period, called Malta "one tiny bright flame in the darkness". I have tried to cram as much as I can into this short video but I realise I can't really show all that happened during the siege or really show how badly the civilians and military suffered during this time so I have portrayed the events that stick in my mind using a mixture of film and original footage, such as the air raids, bombing, air battles, the supplying of spitfires by aircraft carriers to the island and the convoys of ships battling their way through to the staving population, and of course the George cross. I was inspired to make this video by talking to ww11 Malta siege veteran leading aircraft man Wilfred Wilson to hear some of his memories go to my web site at http://josephs-militaria-and-homefront-collection.co.uk/

Category:

Education

Tags:

• ww2
• ww11.
• history
• war
• bomber
• british
• axis
• planes
• malta
• convoy
• battle
• bombing
• spitfire
• navy

[lino9147]

Watching this piece of Maltese wartime history brings to the fore the sacrifice of the people all the personnel who contributed to defend the fortress of Malta.

Dad was a gunner stationed at Birzebbugia; he never spoke of his wartime experiences. But watching this film, I can just immagine what he and many like him have been through; I shed a tear, thank him and many others for their contribution and pray for his repose in eternal peace.

Nick Cutajar

[jbmilitarycollector]

@lino9147 Hi Nick. If you would like to hear a Malta siege veteran talking about his service in WW11 have a look at my web site in veterans recordings the address is in the information about this video.

[klippe42]

Many thanks - remarkable film. I have an elderly friend who was an aircraft rigger on Malta throughout the siege. His memory is excellent and I have managed to get him to talk about those days - He was 19 at the start of his posting and didn't leave until about 1944. Can't wait to show him this footage and hear his comments.  He was servicing Wellington bombers for most of his time - but I have never heard any reference to them before. Any comments?

[jbmilitarycollector]

@klippe42 Hi thanks for your comments. I also was privileged to talk to and record the memories of a Malta siege veteran.In his story he mentions doing some work repairing gun turrets from Wellington bombers based at Luqa. I have also sent you a PM to talk more.

[Pbwy0109]

Great original footage. Makes one proud to be Maltese. My fathers remebers the war and recalls the events very well. Well done on preserviong such important memories and herioc acts.

[CoolZiggy]

God bless Malta for managing to keeping up the moral of the British forces in this terrible time. Britain was loosing battles and territory but Malta's bravery was one of the things that gave the allies hope.

[sussbox]

My dad was a Royal marine gunner on the carrier HMS Argus that ferried spits and hurricanes to Malta.

[1stREMESquaddie]

We forget all those brave commercial sailors who died trying to bring food to Malta, hundreds of sailors mostly Brits. And do remember the brave Americans who came off their aircraft carrier in the Med., in their Mustangs to protect Malta from the German fighter planes . I met three of them way back in the 80's here in California.

[MalteseMifsud]

malta fucked up the germans and the italians. enough said.

[purepipe2002]

my father was was about 12 years old when WW2 broke out he has told me of the horrors the bombings i often watch these videos that are uploaded and allways end up crying when i see them. i have seen the bullet holes on the family home roof and also listen to the story's from my uncle's ( rip frances and vincent xx) even though i am English born i am proud that i am a son of Malta G.C

[stormus65]

My grandmother remembers all of the siege, she was born in Sliema and was only 9 or 10 when war broke out over Malta. She vividly remembers her school days in air raid shelters, the arrival of the Il Konvoy Ta Santa Marija (Operation Pedestal) In August 1942.

I wish Malta would get the recognition it deserves in the form of tv docs about it. There are so many about other theatres of war in WW2, Malta seems forgotten...

[jbmilitarycollector]

@panzerkw It certainly is, only managed one visit so far but hope to go again.

[panzerkw]

@jbmilitarycollector just returned from my 2nd visit, a wonderful place.