Where were the guns during World War II?

What were the exact locations of Malta’s gun posts on the island during the last World War?

Judging by a former RMA officer’s research, the heavy bias was towards the southern and inner harbour areas of the island.

This is the question the late Captain George Pace Balzan set himself to working on a few years before he died on April 11, 2010.

The result was a map he bequeathed to the 3/11 Regiment RMA(T) Association and of which copies were presented by the association’s president to the President of the Republic, the British High Commissioner and the Commander of the Armed Forces of Malta on the occasion of the association’s 35th anniversary in 2007.

Since then that map has stimulated a lot of interest both in Malta and abroad, particularly among former officers and soldiers who had manned those gun posts and who formed part of both the Royal Malta Artillery and the British Royal Artillery and, of course, many other ex-servicemen.

The demand for copies of the map has been very high and the association’s committee has now printed a restricted number of additional copies. These are serial numbered and authenticated by the committee and secretary.

Through this initiative the association is hoping it will be able to raise funds in aid of some of the charitable help to its members.

These few maps are selling at €10 each (plus €5 for postage and packing).

Interested individuals can obtain copies by contacting the association on 2133 4352/7905 4515 or by e-mail on stelwalt@onvol.net.

Purchasers who may wish to have their maps suitably framed can also make arrangements for this to be done through the association.