Remembering the war

I am writing this on September 3 to mark this date 70 years ago, when the then British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain said, "Great Britain and France have declared war on Nazi Germany following the German invasion of Poland two days ago".

I am able to recall the day. It was a bright Sunday morning and the family had just returned from Mass when we were told to stand by for a radio announcement from the Prime Minister at 11 a.m.

With the announcement, we heard the sirens for the first air raid warning in London, although that turned out to be a false alarm.

To a 16-year-old who had just passed his matriculation and junior Oxford exams the previous July, it appeared to be just a thrilling adventure. We did not realise what was to come and wondered whether it would last long enough for us to get involved.

Of course, we did get involved and my own involvement took me to action in North Africa and Malta, where I was lucky to meet my late wife Vera Grima. Seventy years on, I am now able to enjoy my children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

For this I must thank the Lord.