Welcome to the George Cross Island Association

The Siege Bell, Valletta, 

Malta G.C.

The Malta Memorial, All Hallows by the Tower,  London

In October of this year (2025) I spent a few days in Malta and had the honour of being invited to the residence of Her Excellency Victoria Busby OBE, the British High Commissioner in Malta. I was accompanied by Malta Branch Chairman, Mr Peter Robinson MBE.  HE expressed a great interest in the George Cross Island Association and offered her support for any assistance she might be able to give us.  Obviously her involvement will be with the Malta Branch, and she had a very positive discussion with Peter as to how she could help the future of the Association.  

However, I did give HE a copy of the 2026 reunion programme which, as always, is taking place in April with members of the UK branch joining our Malta branch colleagues.  She expressed great interest and said she would very much like to attend any of our ceremonies that she is able to. 

We also discussed the 85th anniversary of the George Cross to the people of Malta by King George VI which takes place in 2027 together with hopefully, an inauguration of the Siege Bell to coincide with this anniversary.

Another one of my enjoyable commitments during my visit was to attend a service at the Air Museum.

A few months ago The George Cross Island Association was contacted by members of the NE Branch Submarine Association regarding one of their members who had crossed the bar and who was also a former member of the GCIA.  A group of the submariners were planning to visit Malta and wanted some help in organising a few ceremonies and they were assisted by Stephen McCarthy of the RBL and GCIA in Malta, Canon Wright of St. Paul's Pro Cathedral as well as ourselves in the UK.  

At request of the submariners,  I had previously arranged for a plaque to be placed in the Air museum chapel for their comrade George Crawley,  Legion D’Honeur, Malta Medal, 10th Submarine Squadron 1942-1944, so it seemed appropriate for a service in the chapel to be held during their visit.  

Working with the Submariners  Chairman, Craig Weir,  we put together a short service which was officiated by Captain Fr. Meli and Fr. Sergio of the AFM and attended by Deputy British High Commision, Tristan Gilchrist, Stephen McCarthy, Peter Robinson and Maria Gatt of the Malta Branch, myself, Pat Scott GCIA Hon Association Secretary and UK Branch Alex Saint, along with a number of the veteran submariners and their wives.   It was a very moving service, with the Submariners poem being read along with Lord Tennyson's poem "Crossing the Bar". 

 We thank Director General of the Museum, Ray Polidano, for his help in facilitating the service and for providing refreshments afterwards. https://www.maltaaviationmuseum.com/