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E N (Ted) BUTCHER SIGNALLER R.N.

1921 - 2003

MALTA EXPERIENCE 1941—1943

The siege of Malta commenced in 1940. This Island, a British protectorate, lay between the toe of Italy and North Africa across the supply lines of the German and Italian forces fighting in North Africa. Being in the Mediterranean it was very difficult for the British forces to keep supplied with armaments and food. The only way in was by convoys of merchant ships guarded by the Royal Navy. The German and Italian commands wanted Malta totally destroyed as it hampered their operations.

Ted arrived in Malta on one of these convoys to take up post as a signaller. He was attached to a small tug boat, named the Andromeda, fitted out as harbour minesweeper to keep the channels open for the merchant ships. The German ‘E’ boats were a constant threat laying mines and attacking shipping. When the Andromeda was sunk, Ted was posted to St Angelo Barracks as a signaller to assist in keeping the communications open as all telephone service was destroyed by the continual day and night air attacks. The signallers used flags and Aldis lamps to keep in contact with the Castile main signals base.

In 1942 King George V1 awarded the George Cross to the Island for gallantry in the face of constant bombing, starvation and great loss of life of the people of Malta. Ted was apparently at that ceremony on the island. He was then posted to another minesweeper the Trusty Star, it was on a mission the clear mines that the ship was attacked by an ‘E’ boat and Ted received leg wounds. He was taken off and hospitalised . Three days after he left the ship it was sunk with all hands. In 1943 Ted was repatriated to the U.K by air and continued service until his discharge in 1945. After the war Ted was a Telegraphist in Brighton, Sussex for the General Post Office.

In 1997 Ted received his Malta medal, a proud moment as Malta was always dear to his heart and very proud of ‘Doing his duty’ for the people of that small island . He sadly passed away in 2003 .

Ted Butcher 1942

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