Tribute to the Glorious fallen

May I offer a belated and public 'thank you' to all who attended, or were involved in, organising the service to dedicate the memorial plaque at the Maritime Museum on February 17, a tribute to the 40 Maltese who lost their lives while serving the HMS Glorious in June 8, 1940.

Special thanks to President Eddie Fenech Adami for presiding over the ceremony and for unveiling the plaque in the company of British High Commissioner Nick Archer, to Mario Tabone, chairman of Heritage Malta, for allowing the use of the museum's splendid facilities; to his staff for their advice and assistance.

Perhaps, without realising it, those who attend the service may have inadvertently played a small part in Malta's history.

Moistened eyes, and tears unashamedly shed, testified that even after 68 years, dedicating a memorial plaque can be painful, to those who still grieve, whose lives were affected by war. As I write I am thinking of the 93-year-old widow from Gozo, who lost her husband, Officers Cook Francis Spiteri. I was privileged to meet her, and delighted that your President could spare the time to meet her.

Yes, the occasion was poignant, but how satisfying it was to see so many families making an effort to represent a loved one, and proving 'he' had not been forgotten, that his sacrifice had not been in vain. Perhaps for the first time, relatives, had the opportunity to meet, talk and share with others the tragic experience of losing a friend or relative from the Glorious, a naval vessel destroyed in an action, the details for which were scant, by being controversially protected by the 100 years security act.

I would like to think that while the service was emotional, that in a small way it has helped those who attended; that the memorial will in future be considered a suitable focal point where thoughts may be 'collected' for private reflection, quiet meditation.

Sadly, more Maltese were lost on HMS Glorious, than on any other royal naval vessel.

One of our association's aims is to perpetuate the memory of the men who lost their lives while serving in HM ships Glorious, Ardent and Acasta. Hopefully, we have achieved this for the Maltese from Glorious; that the memorial has the approval of their families; that GLARAC has in a small way helped to perpetuate the memory of those who died on that fateful day.

On February 18 when sailing over the position where our ships lay, HMS Bulwark paid tribute to 'our' men by holding on her flight deck, a 'Service of Remembrance' and a wreath-laying ceremony.

My final thanks to the commanding officer and crew of HMS Bulwark. What a fine tribute to the men if a gathering could be arranged for June 8 this year.