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Ann Spitari.. Franciscan Missionaries of Mary

I was living in Malta. On 10th June 1940, Mussolini suddenly declared war.

On 11th June we had the first bombing. We were only 60 miles away from Italy, strategically situated between Italy and Africa.

They took us by surprise. We had only three old Gladiator fighters. But the Maltese had great trust in God and were determined not to give in. At the beginning, we used to go under tables and the staircase during the air raids. The women used the parachutes from bailed out pilots to make dresses.

People living in the three cities which surround the dockyard were evacuated as these three cities were completely destroyed. The people went to live in the nearby villages, the majority in the underground rock-hewn shelters. Schools were closed for nearly a year. Later, lessons were given in shelters or in houses.

We were continually bombed. No ships could enter Malta to bring food. In 1941, our stocks were dwindling. We were allowed 7 oz of bread per day. Everything was rationed. Victory kitchens were opened. We had to buy food using coupons. We were living more in the shelters than in our homes. For a whole year we never slept in a bed but in shelters.

In April 1942, King George VI awarded Malta the George Cross for gallantry.

Meanwhile, in August 1942 we were told that we had only three days food left, but God was with us, though we had a lot of sicknesses — an outbreak of plague, scabies and TB. Yet life went on as best we could, though most of our cities, churches and houses were destroyed.

Churchill was determined to save Malta. A convoy of 27 ships was sent to Malta — unfortunately most of them were drowned by the German airforce.

On August 15th 1942, on the Feast of the Assumption of Our Lady, five of the ships limped into the Great Harbour. Hundreds of people were on the bastions, waving and crying and welcoming the ships, and we still call that ‘The Convoy of Santa Maria’. Malta was saved.

On 8th September 1943, ships left from Malta to invade Italy.

In Mosta Church, which had the fourth biggest dome in the world at that time, a bomb went through the dome, hit the floor, banged against the wall, but never exploded. No one was hurt. One can still see the shell at the back of the Church.

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