|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
| Service of Remembrance and Commemoration 2009 |
| Contributed by Julia Gaw, National Secretary, George Cross Island Association
|
|
| | |
| |
THE MALTA NATIONAL MEMORIAL LONDON
SERVICE OF REMEMBRANCE AND COMMEMORATION
SATURDAY 15th AUGUST 2009
In the presence of the recently appointed High Commissioner of Malta H.E. Joseph Zammit Tabona and his wife Susan with the GCIA other guests Dickie Hudd Chairman and Paul Davis Secretary of the London Taxi Benevolent Fund with their wives. Chairman of West Branch John Holtam and Peggy Edwards Branch Treasurer whose support we welcome, John kindly laid a wreath on behalf of the Royal Navy.
The members of the GCIA and the Maltese Culture Movement gathered in All Hallows church, for a service conducted by The Reverend Jennie Hogan, and The Reverend Fr Victor Camilleri OFM.
Mrs Julia Gaw Chairman of the South East Branch and National Secretary of the G.C.I.A. in her welcome address spoke about,
OPERATION PEDESTAL
A British operation to get desperately needed supplies to the island of Malta. The base from which surface ships, submarines and aircraft attacked Axis convoys carrying essential supplies to the Italian and German armies in North Africa. In 1941 – 1942 Malta was under siege, blockaded by Axis air and naval forces. The convey is known in Malta as the Santa Marija Convoy as it coincided with the Feast of the Assumption, and is a public holiday in part celebrates the arrival of the convoy. The attempt to run some fifty ships past bombers, E-boats, minefields, and submarines has gone down in military history as one of the most important British strategic victories of the Second World War - though at a cost of more than four hundreds lives, with only five of the original fourteen merchant ships reaching Malta’s Grand Harbour. A list of the Allied ships that took part in this operation were included, in the order of service.
Battleships:
Rodney, Nelson
Aircraft Carries:
Eagle (sunk,) Victorious
Indomitable (damaged)
Furious (with Spitfires as reinforcements for Malta)
Cruisers: Phoebe, Sirius, Charybdis, Nigeria (damaged), Kenya (damaged), Manchester (severely damaged scuttled), Cario (sunk).
Destroyers: Ashanti, Badsworth, Bramham, Bicester, Derwent,
Foresight (severely damaged and scuttled)
Fury, Intrepid, Ithuriel, Icarus, Matchless, Pathfinder, Penn, Tartar, Zetland,
MerchantShips: S Almeria Lykes (sunk)
MV Brisbane Star (damaged arrived 14 August)
MV Clan Ferguson (sunk
MV Deucalion (sunk)
MV Empire Hope (sunk)
MV Glenorchy (sunk)
MV Melbourne Star (arrived 13 August)
SS Ohio (fuel tanker damaged beyond repair arrived 15 August)
MV Port Chalmers (arrived 13 August)
MV Rochester Castle (damaged arrived 13 August)
SS Santa Elisa (sunk) Drums of fuel
SS Waimarama (sunk) Drums of fuel
MV Wairangi (sunk) Ammo drums fuel
Without the fuel, ammunition, and food which Malta had only had enough
for a very short time, that these valiant men got through to Malta the outcome of those on the Islands of Malta, would have been very different.
H.E. in his address spoke about those times, how Malta had more bombs dropped on their islands than London did during the blitz, the hardships that the civilians and services personal suffered together formed unique bonds of friendship, that still remained, to this day.
The London Taxi Benevolent Fund supplied the Taxi’s to take 80 of us back to the Union Jack Club for a drink or two with old comrades, and an excellent lunch which, has become a very important part of this special day.
Frank Starsmeare who was the Parade Marshal looked resplendent in his red sash, Michael Gaw the SE Standard bearer, Alan Leech Anglia Branch Standard bearer and the MN standard bearer Ron Quested, our thanks to them for attending again this year.
God willing we will meet again next year on the 5th Anniversary of the Dedication of The Malta Memorial.
By Julia Gaw National Secretary GCIA .
|
|
| |
| | | | | |  | | GCIA |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
