© 2009 MTA - Mario Galea

George Cross Commemoration Ceremony

3,343 air raids, 2,357 hours under attack, 15,000 tonnes of bombs, over 9,000 casualties in all, 10,761 buildings destroyed and only parts of 17 convoys to relieve the misery.

These staggering figures are what the Maltese had to endure during the Second World War. Malta was more heavily bombed between 1941 and 1942 than London was throughout the entire war, bearing in mind that the latter is a city seven times larger than Malta.

This adversity was something the Maltese fought whilst on the edge of starvation. Yet they refused to surrender. A strong faith, pride and grit stood side by side with the allies’ at times meagre defences, to overcome what even top ranks thought would be impossible, not to surrender.

The Malta Tourism Authority organised the second commemoration of the awarding of the George Cross Medal to Malta on Wednesday 15th April, in St George’s Square, Valletta.

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  © 2009 MTA - Mario Galea

This year’s event was slightly different than the first edition, as it was a semi-re-enactment complemented by slides showing the dramatic events which led to the awarding of the George Cross.

The event was attended by the Prime Minister of Malta Dr laurence Gonzi, amongst other dignitaries, Some 62 members of the George Cross Island Association from the UK as well as another 20 members of the Malta George Cross Islanders Association attended the commemoration.

The event which lasted just under an hourwas described by tourists and maltese alike as 'touching', 'memorable' and 'befitting commemoration to Malta’s fallen'.