World War II veterans mark Sta Marija convoy

A reception for about 40 World War II veterans who have a Malta connection has been held at the Imperial War Museum in London to mark the 60th anniversary of Operation Pedestal.

The event was attended by Frederick Galea, honorary secretary of the War Museum in Valletta, John Agius, a historian and researcher on WW II, and Ray Polidano, director general of the Malta Aviation Museum Foundation.

The guest of honour was Malta's high commissioner in London, George Bonello du Puis.

The 60th anniversary recalls the time when the heavily damaged US tanker Ohio limped into Grand Harbour, just when Malta was on the verge of starvation and in danger of having to give in to the enemy.

The convoy arrived on August 15, 1942, feast day of Santa Marija.

Formed of a flotilla of 15 merchant ships in the company of a huge British naval escort, the convoy Operation Pedestal entered the Mediterranean on the night of August 10, 1942, on its way to Malta to bring in much needed food, fuel and spare parts. Only five of the merchant ships survived the merciless enemy action.

The event at the Imperial War Museum was organised by the museum's director general, Robert Crawford.

Dr Bonello du Puis recalled episodes from his younger days about the war years.

The guests included several authors who have written about Malta, including James Holland, who is preparing a fresh account of the blitz entitled 'Malta, a Beacon of Light' that is expected to be published by Orion next April, and George Forty, who has been commissioned by the publishers Ian Allan to add another title to their 'at war' series with Malta at War.

Another author with a Malta connection was Christopher Shores, who has written 'Malta: the Hurricane Years and Malta: The Spitfire Years'.

Brian Cull, who co-authored Hurricanes Over Malta with Frederick Galea, was unable to attend.

Mr Galea had the chance to meet up with Ted Shute who had served during the war at RAF Station, Kalafrana as coxswain on Air Sea Rescue and marine craft section launches which used to go out and rescue allied and enemy pilots whose planes got hit.

Mr Shute had assisted in the compilation of Mr Galea's latest book, Call Out, a wartime diary highlighting the tough tasks undertaken by those brave rescuers.

Another guest with a close Malta connection was Jill Lucas, widow of Laddie Lucas, the famous war time RAF pilot. A few years ago, Mrs Lucas had presented one of her husband's RAF uniforms to the aviation museum at Ta' Qali.