GCIA national memorial in London

It was good to read all about the war veterans who have been coming to Malta and meeting old friends with whom they served during and since World War II. Those were terrible days between 1940 and 1943 when friends were made - some friends were found and some were lost, forever.

When reading stories about these veterans' return to Malta it makes me wonder how many people in Malta have heard of the George Cross Island Association. The GCIA, as we are known, was founded by a Royal Navy rating named Fred Plenty in 1988. His original idea was that those who served in Malta during the siege should form an association in UK and hold an annual reunion in Malta. To meet old friends and colleagues with whom they served here in the war.

The association was set up, with six branches in the UK. A year later the Malta, GC, branch was formed. Ever since 1989 the GCIA has been holding an annual reunion; about 100 Malta veterans each year join their Maltese counterparts in various events, held in collaboration with the President of Malta, the Armed Forces of Malta and various other ex-servicemen's associations.

Since 1993 the annual reunion has been held to coincide with the commemoration of the award of the George Cross to Malta on April 15, 1942. The main event at these reunions is the ecumenical service and wreath-laying ceremony held at the Siege Bell monument in the Lower Barracca Gardens in Valletta, when Malta's President leads the ceremony.

It is worth recording that the monument was the brainchild of a member of the Malta, GC branch of the GCIA, the late Philip Pullicino. It was the work of Michael Sandle and the bell itself was cast in the UK and its chimes are exactly the same as those of the main bell of Cologne Cathedral. Funds were raised in Malta and UK by all the GCIA branches. Both the Malta and British governments gave a large contribution in cash and in kind. The cladding of the Siege Bell monument is of hard Gozo stone.

The final unveiling and dedication of the monument took place on May 29, 1992 when the ceremony was presided over by President Censu Tabone and Queen Elizabeth II as Head of the Commonwealth. On that occasion, over 200 veterans from the UK joined Maltese servicemen and civilians in a ceremony which dedicated the Siege Bell monument to some 7,000 Maltese and Allied servicemen and women and Maltese civilians who gave their lives during the 1940-43 Siege of Malta.

At that time the president of the GCIA was the late Admiral Lord Lewin who had served as an RN Lieutenant Commander in the Santa Marija Convoy which saved Malta on August 15, 1942. Lord Lewin, who did so much in putting the GCIA on a sound footing, was present at the monument's inauguration. He in fact read the dedication in the presence of President Tabone, Queen Elizabeth, Prime Minister Eddie Fenech Adami, Archbishop Joseph Mercieca, many dignitaries from Malta and the Commonwealth and representatives of all the Allied nations which took part in the siege.

In the years since 1992 the GCIA has long felt the need for a monument to be built in UK with the same aims as that of the Siege Bell in Malta, namely to remember the over 7,000 servicemen and women of the Allied forces and Maltese servicemen and women and civilians who gave their lives in the defence of Malta.

However it was not until two years ago that the chairman of the North East and Scotland branch of the GCIA, Royal Navy veteran Fred Jewett, suggested building a monument in London. A steering committee was set up by the GCIA and the main organising committee was then formed and headed by Admiral Lord Lewin's son, the Hon. Tim Lewin. The latter added a number of high-powered personalities in his team and after all their hard work the GCIA London memorial came into being and it will now be unveiled and dedicated on August 15.

It has been a long, hard road for Tim Lewin's committee but both the UK and Malta governments have given their full support and co-operation and the necessary funds have been collected thanks to Mr Lewin and his team. The Malta government, through the former High Commissioner in London, Dr George Bonello du Puis, in fact, provided the stone that will form the monument itself. This stone was recently sent over to the UK from Gozo.

The monument itself is to be erected in Tower Place, close to the Tower of London, near All Hallows Church where the dedication service will be held. The Duke of Edinburgh, the GCIA's patron, will lead the ceremony and wreaths will be laid after the ecumenical service.

President Eddie Fenech Adami will lead a Malta government delegation which will be attending the unveiling and dedication of this monument recording one of the greatest moments in Malta's proud history. A GCIA Malta delegation is also expected to take part headed by President Emeritus Censu Tabone, himself a veteran of the Malta siege, who succeeded Admiral Lord Lewin as president of the GCIA.

Many members of the GCIA in Malta, in UK and around the world hope to make the journey to London. For many it will be for the last time, but they will be paying tribute to those who gave their lives in the defence of the Maltese Islands.

We, the founder members of the George Cross Island Association are disappearing from the scene. However, the recruitment of associate - and younger! - members will, we hope, carry on the traditions and memories of those who took part in Malta's defence during the siege of 1940-43.

Major Stanley J.A.Clews, MBE, MBIM, MIPM, is secretary of the Malta branch of the George Cross Island Association and vice-president (Army).