Six restored cannon added to Saluting Battery

Another six cannon have been added to a collection that represents some 300 years of Maltese military history kept at the Saluting Battery of the Upper Barrakka Gardens in Valletta.

The cannon were restored by the staff of Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna in a two-year project costing an estimated €28,000 (Lm12,000), bringing the total number of pieces at the battery up to 17.

The enlarged collection now represents all the cannon that once armed the Saluting Battery between 1800 and 1920. The oldest gun dates back to 1724. FWA chairman Mario Farrugia said the project was a milestone in the process of transforming the Saluting Battery into a museum.

He said the collection forms the basis of one which is set to grow in the near future. Other historic armament are expected to be added later on this year, including a light anti-aircraft gun which was mounted at the battery during WWII as well as a WWI quick firing gun which equipped the battery between 1920 and 1939.

The newly restored cannon date between the 18th and 19th centuries: an Armstrong 24-pounder iron English cannon; a French 18-pounder iron cannon that was re-utilised by the British; a Blomfield 32-pounder iron English cannon; a Dundas 32-pounder iron English cannon; a Monk 32-pounder iron English cannon and a 32-pounder Smooth-bore Breech Loader.

From a historical point of view, the most important example is the Smooth-bore Breech Loader which was last operated in Malta in 1923 for the three cannon shots at sunrise, midday and sunset.

Mr Farrugia said some of the guns in the collection are on loan from Heritage Malta while others belong to FWA after having been salvaged from various places including scrap yards over the last few years. The restoration project was funded through the sponsorship of Bank of Valletta, Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna's main partner.

The public can view the collection tomorrow between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. with an illustrated lecture on the subject. At noon there will be a gun salute. Entrance will be at the reduced rate of €3 per person. Entrance will be free for children and FWA members.

Michael Galea, BOV's executive head of the CEO's office said the bank believes in FWA's ambitious project to continue enriching Malta's cultural and historical heritage.