大象传媒

Well, we arrived in Malta in January 1939. It was very pleasant at first. Then all hell broke loose when Italy entered the war. There were bombs, day and night. The main target was Valetta, against the ships in the dock area. We could see bombers, Italian planes, and, later, German ones, straffing St Andrew's Bay, dropping mines.

They split us into different positions. The Royal Irish Fusiliers were the smallest company, waiting for reinforcements. Our job was initially to go and clear rubble from destroyed houses. We helped the medical services, and freed up the streets. Then we went to Loqa. Here we had to fill drums of benzine with dirt to build 'blast pens' to protect our incoming aircraft from attack. We were supposed to stay a week and walk back to St Andrew's. But we were soon engaged in refuelling planes and would remain until no longer required.

I remember being on top of a bunk when a flyer came in. He thought I was one of them and said, 'I'm just off on a mission to fly." See you when you come back.' He turned out to be Ivor Brom, soon to be promoted, and rise ever higher in the airforce.

By 1942 there was less and less food. Our ration went down to 1,00 to 1,400 calories a day. We had one tin of bully beef for eight men, and one slice of bread each (when I went to Malta I weighed 10.9 stone, when I came back it was 8.6. stone) . Our uniforms and boots were wearing out. We put bits of cardboard in the boots to protect our feet. All supplies had to come in by sea, and there were enemy submarines that could be seen in the clear water. From the Garrison Fort we heard that it was feared we could no longer hold the island.

There was fear of an invasion by an airborne division. This would have been difficult: Malta's small fields were surrounded by stone rows that would make it hard for them to come down. The island is full of caves, where people hid and they build their houses out of strong stone taken just underground.

There were many tragedies during my time in Malta. One sticks in mind. The comrades who were killed one night when they went out for some rare relaxation to the Opera. It suffered a direct hit.

There was fear of disease, typhoid, diarrhoea. On Christmas dinner we couldn't eat the meal, we were so sick.

Well, they finally got support in. 14 merchant ships set off from Gibralter, though on 4 came into the harbour. Each was packed with the same supplies, so that if it was lost then another would still have the same materials. We kept on fighting - they sent raids over to North Africa. Fresh volunteers came. Then the troop ships came and took them off, leaving us, the Regular Army.

At the end of the war we came back by train though Italy to Calais.

Veterans will be holding a special commemoration going to Malta in 2005. This will between the 14th and 26th of September. It's called 'Veterans Return'. That is, to the George Cross Island.

漏 Copyright of content contributed to this Archive rests with the author. Find out how you can use this.