On September 3, 1939, England and France declared war on Germany. On June 10, 1940, Italy sided with Germany, and all of a sudden, Malta was in the forefront of war, just 60 miles away from enemy lands. Early next morning, the first air-raid was announced by the wailing sirens, the Italians attacked Malta. Several families became homeless, a few people were killed, more injured. The three Maltese gladiators, ‘Faith’, ‘Hope’, and ‘Charity’ (our fighters nick-named) although overworked went up into the sky to frighten enemy bombers.

For the safety of the inhabitant, proper shelters were dug in solid rock. The ‘Hurricanes’ and later, the ‘Spitfires’ began to defend Malta. So, German planes used to help the Italians to bomb our Islands. In January 1941, there was a mass attack on the aircraft- carrier ‘Illustrious’ and on the Dockyard, with heavy damage. By the help of American Forces an air-strip was built at Ta’ Xhajma, Gozo. After 26 months of war Malta was surrounded by enemy forces, food was running very short, as supply ships were not left to reach Malta and were destroyed at sea by German bombers, and very little could reach the Islands, so convoys were organised.

Merchant ships were loaded supplies for Malta, and were then escorted by warships all along the route. The enemy seems at the outset attacked these convoys so as not to let them reach Maltese harbours. At the beginning of August 1942 a very large convoy had left Gibraltar with 85,000 tons of cargo. Each ship had a quantity of each commodity so that, whichever ships reached the Island, they would have a certain amount of whatever was necessary. Maltese people prayed God and the Virgin Mary to make convoys arrive safely. But, from the very start, the ships were attacked by the ‘Luftwaffe’ (German Air Force) Junkers 88 which gave them little or no time to relax.

One cruiser and 5 destroyers never reached Malta. On August 15, 1942 feast of the Assumption, crowds lined the shore, children waved flags with joy as the ship ‘Ohio’ although heavenly damaged, by the help of two destroyers was seen entering the harbour.

The Maltese people had supplies for only two days, then surrender. As soon as the ships were safe in harbour, well organised gangs of workmen unloaded them, and the supplies were all in the stores before 24 hours had passed.

In 1942 in one of the air-raid attacks The Opera House was destroyed. It was one of the most beautiful in Europe. The Opera House was built in 1860, damaged by fire in 1873 and destroyed by the war. It’s a shame tha t after 63 years since the war ended this magnificent building, near the main gate of the city of Valletta, was never rebuilt and is serving as a car park.

For the gallantry shown by all the people of Malta and Gozo, King George Vl awarded us the ‘George Cross’ the highest honour he could bestow on us. In June 1943, he personally visited Malta. Even Churchill, the Prime Minister, and Roosevelt, the President of America, visited our Islands.

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