The dead of the world wars remembered, even as the young are seen as not interested

Malta yesterday joined the rest of the Commonwealth to pay tribute to the fallen of the two world wars on the occasion of Remembrance Day, which is marked on the Sunday nearest to November 11.

Initially cancelled due to forecasts of rain and storms, an 11th-hour wreath-laying ceremony, organised by the National Festivities Committee, was held at the War Memorial in Floriana as a mild sun peeped out of a leaden sky.

The event was held without a band and a guard of honour, but, at least, the crowd of onlookers - mostly tourists, who visit Malta specifically for the occasion - were not let down.

They surrounded the monument, with their poppies in their lapels as part of the Remembrance Day Poppy Appeal - many filming the wreath-laying ceremony from start to finish.

But veteran Desmond Kerry Powell, who served in Malta during the war and has visited the island on Remembrance Day every year since, described the scene as "chaotic".

He was upset that no one was informed that the event was cancelled, particularly in view of the fact that so many veterans travel from the UK to participate in the parade.

"The authorities should have informed us that the parade was cancelled, and we do not know why it was in the first place.

"Around 100 veterans, including a large number of royal marines, were standing around in groups, unaware of what was happening.

"But we did ourselves proud by deciding to march anyway, on our own and without a military band," he said.

"We all come out for the parade and were adamant to march, whether they liked it, or not!"

Mr Powell was pleased that, for the first time ever and following several unsuccessful requests, the veterans marched right round the cenotaph.

"Normally, we stop in front of the cenotaph, pay homage and march back, meaning that the crowd never gets to see the veterans because they stop on one side. They appreciated it," he said.

"We played it by the ear," said Lino Camilleri, secretary and welfare officer of the Royal British Legion (Malta), who was pleased that his "boys, a contingent of ex-servicemen, many over 80, still turned out in their numbers", braving what was expected to be bad weather.

Mr Camilleri said there were only between 3,000 and 4,000 ex-servicemen left, and gave the Malta branch another 15 to 20 years before it would cease to exist, adding that young people today were not expressing much interest in their cause - the wars were history to them.

The Royal British Legion (Malta) - a charity that also campaigns on issues related to war veterans, especially elderly ones - is totally committed to helping members of the ex-services community and providing assistance to enable them to overcome difficulties, as well as encourage them to look forward to the future with confidence.

"We do our best to rope in youths, but they are only interested in Paceville. We try to sell it to them and tell them that it is thanks to these men, who served in the world wars, that we can, today, enjoy peace and freedom and these standards of living. We also write and put adverts in the newspapers, as well as give lectures to those who are interested, but they do not seem to want to know."

The Poppy Appeal Fund is a fund-raising activity, organised by the Malta branch of the Royal British Legion, to assist former Maltese servicemen and members of their families in line with its motto, Remember the Dead... Don't Forget the Living. It is synonymous with Remembrance Day and was held between Friday and yesterday.

However, Mr Camilleri pointed out, "we are having difficulties finding people to sell our poppies to raise the money, as well as people to offer donations".

Parliamentary secretary Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici had, last year, encouraged local councils to help the British Legion keep Remembrance Day alive.

The wreath-laying ceremony was held after Mass at St John's Co-Cathedral in Valletta in honour of the victims of the wars.

Wreaths were laid at the foot of the War Memorial by President Edward Fenech Adami, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi, Chief Justice Vincent Degaetano, MP Karl Chircop for the opposition and British Legion vice-president Major Alexander Grech, as well as ambassadors, among others.

In Gozo, a Mass was held at St James Church in Victoria, followed by a wreath-laying ceremony at the Monument of Christ the King.

Fr Joseph Bezzina, who delivered a speech at the Remembrance Day ceremony, which also commemorated the 50th anniversary of the War Memorial on Independence Square, said that today's generation passed in front of the monument several times a week, without taking any notice of it.

It seemed few of them knew why it was erected 50 years ago and what it stood for, he said.

Fr Bezzina stressed the need to educate future generations as to why the European Union was formed - to avoid another world war in Europe - and why the Maltese strove to join it.