German PoW chapel

One of the known accomplishments by the German PoWs in Malta was the building of a German Catholic chapel which survived for 52 years.

The first arrival of German prisoners of war on the island was mentioned on July 9, 1945 from the Lt-Governor's office, confirming that 2,000 were being sent to Malta to help in local construction.

On arrival, they were placed in a group of Nissen huts at Pembroke, which was given the title No.1 Pembroke Camp.

The uniforms the German PoWs were issued with were similar to the British guards' dusty khaki uniforms, with the exception of a blue circle on the shirt back of the PoWs.

During their stay there was no place of worship for the German Roman Catholics until the Camp Commandant, Lt Colonel L. T. H. Cocks, MC, RA thought of the idea to design and erect a chapel for the German Roman Catholic PoWs.

Under the supervision of Lt. Colonel Cocks the construction of the chapel took shape and by the end of February, 1946 the chapel was completed.

On May 6, 1946, Archbishop Michael Gonzi, having been asked to bless the chapel, conducted the service in English to the congregation. Captain Micallef Trigona however translated his address to the German PoWs. Over the next two years there was a gradual rundown of PoWs until there were only 787 PoWs left for repatriation. The last batch left Malta on February 5, 1948 on the troopship Taos Victory.

With the German PoWs' departure it was now the turn of the British troops at St Andrew's barracks to be without a Roman Catholic garrison church in the area. Consequently the former German PoW chapel was taken over by the Roman Catholic Chaplain and after arrangements were made with the authorities, the chapel was renovated and partly rebuilt.

On December 19, 1957, Mgr Bernard Navi, chaplain and vice-general to the army, blessed and dedicated the chapel to St Boniface, an English monk and an apostle of Germany.

The chapel remained a place of worship for the British Roman Catholic soldiers and Royal Marines of 3 Commando Brigade until the final withdrawal of all British forces in March 1979.

Afterwards the chapel fell into neglect until the Maltese growing community in the Pembroke area took it over, and it was decided a much larger church was needed for the community.

Therefore, in 1998 the historical German PoW chapel was demolished and on the same site an enlarged church was constructed.