As the dark war clouds were gathering over Europe, various preparations were taking place in Malta. In view of this, on July 14, 1939, H. R. Moore, on behalf of the Vice-Admiral, HM Dockyard, Malta, issued a memorandum for the formation of the Dockyard Defence Battery. This battery was to be run on the same lines as the Factory Battalions, that is, to safeguard and defend the men’s place of work.
Over 5,000 men from every trade category answered to this call, and thus the Dockyard Defence Battery was formed in September 1939, with the headquarters established at the Anti-Gas School at Corradino. The battery had double the usual strength, so that, when hostilities started, the men could alternate between manning their guns and doing their jobs. This arrangement functioned well and the men excelled in both roles.
The battery was officered by British Dockyard officials, who wore the Royal Artillery cap badge, and it was commanded by Major L. G. Bolton. The men began manning the guns during November 1939, so that the Dockyard Defence Battery effectively started on June 11, 1940, following the declaration of war by the Duce, Benito Mussolini.
The battery’s task was to defend the Dockyard, with guns at Magazine Bastion, Bonded Stores Marsa, near the Oil Fuel Tanks, Corradino, Crucifix Bastion, Senglea Point, St Paul’s Curtain, Salvatur, on the hill adjoining Parlatorio Wharf, and Floriana ramparts.
However, later, during the course of the war, it also served at the following sites: Luqa and Ħal Far aerodromes, Fort Delimara, Hompesch Gate, St Peter’s, San Anard, Upper Barakka, Ta’ Ċejlu and Tal-Borg. The battery was equipped with Bofors, pom-poms and multiple heavy machine guns.
For some time, the battery formed part of the Royal Artillery. The issue of April 16, 1940, of Times of Malta, reported “the formation at present known as the ‘Dockyard Defence Battery’ has been redesignated ‘30th Light Anti-Aircraft Battery, Royal Malta Artillery, (Territorial)’”.
On July 27, 1940, the First Lord of the Admiralty, A. V. Alexander, and the First Sea Lord, Admiral Sir Dudley Pound, sent a special message to Vice-Admiral Sir Wilbraham Ford, in which they praised the work of the battery:
“It is requested that you will express to all officers and men both of HM ships and of HM Dockyard, our admiration of the stout-hearted way in which they are facing the continued air attacks of the enemy. The gallant endurance of the Maltese personnel and of the citizens of Malta in general, ever since the outbreak of hostilities, command universal respect. The good work of the volunteer Dockyard Battery must be as great a source of gratification to you as Vice-Admiral Malta as of pride to the officers and men forming the gun crews.”
In his memoirs, Archpriest of Senglea, Mgr Emmanuel Brincat, (who later on during the war was awarded the MBE) states that he considered these men as part of his flock; therefore he used to go round the gun posts to take care of the spiritual needs of the men, while also sometimes distributing sweets.
The battery’s finest hour came during January 1941.
In early January, Operation Excess was assembled, consisting of four merchant ships, three destined for Greece, while one was destined for Malta. This convoy was escorted with a large part of the Mediterranean Fleet, led by HMS Illustrious, the Royal Navy’s newest armoured-deck aircraft carrier.
In the meantime, the Luftwaffe was sent down to Sicily. As the convoy entered the Mediterranean, it was attacked by bombers from the Regia Aeronautica and the Luftwaffe.
The Luftwaffe had singled out HMS Illustrious as their prime target. During these attacks, the carrier was seriously damaged after it was hit by six 1,000kg bombs, and 126 of its officers and crew were killed and 91 wounded.
HMS Illustrious limped into Grand Harbour on January 10, and berthed at Parlatorio Wharf, below Corradino Heights.
Dockyard workers and medical teams toiled tirelessly to save the ship and care for the wounded, as Malta prepared for the inevitable attack on the Illustrious.
At about 2pm of January 16, 17 Junkers Ju88s, escorted by 20 Messerschmitt Bf110s and 44 Junkers Ju87s from the Luftwaffe, escorted by 10 Macchi Mc200s and 10 Fiat Cr42, unleashed their first blitz over Malta, with HMS Illustrious as their target.
Bombs rained down on the Dockyard and surrounding areas, but the carrier sustained superficial damage, as it received only one hit, with Vittoriosa, Cospicua and Senglea bearing the brunt of these attacks.
When all ammunition ran out, the young men went on shooting with their rifles against low-flying enemy aircraft
During these attacks, the Dockyard Defence Battery had three Bofors gun positions in Senglea, one on the Macina bastion on the northwest side overlooking Dockyard Creek, another on the new bastion facing Corradino Heights and a third on St Michael’s Bastion overlooking No. 3 Dock and close to the Dockyard clock tower.
There was also an eight-barrel pom-pom gun sited in the garden at Senglea Point, facing the entrance to the Grand Harbour.
The gun on St Michael’s Bastion was in frequent action against the enemy aircraft till its crew ran out of ammunition. Of special mention was the heroic stand on that fateful day on January 16, 1941. This gun was strafed, bombed and had very near misses on the morning of January 19. Even when all ammunition ran out, the young men on that gun did not leave their post, but went on shooting with their rifles against low-flying enemy aircraft.
It was during this blitz on the Illustrious that three men of the Dockyard Defence Battery were decorated for bravery shown. These were gazetted in the April 4, 1941 issue of the Second Supplement to The London Gazette of April 1, 1941.
Lieutenant Francis William Angle RMA (T) was awarded the Military Cross.
This officer of the battery was in charge of an MkV1A multiple pom-pom gun which was situated in a most exposed position about 200 yards from the berth where HMS Illustrious was when subjected to intense dive-bombing. He stationed himself on the director tower, and by his excellent example and coolness in the face of heavy bombing, encouraged his men to fire the gun with telling effect on the enemy.
Sergeant Leone Apap, RMA (T) (No. 8129), was awarded the Military Medal.
It is a great pity that nobody has deemed it fit to commemorate this small but valiant battery
In the temporary absence of his officer on duty elsewhere, as a member of the battery, he displayed remarkable qualities of leadership, initiative and courage. During the intense dive-bombing attacks on HMS Illustrious, on January 19, 1941, his Mk V1A pom-pom developed a series of faults which eventually put the gun out of action.
Instead of applying routine procedures, which would have kept the gun out of action for some considerable time, he sent his detachment, except for three, to a safer place, while he, with the assistance of the three, set about clearing the faults.
He succeeded in doing this in a short time, whereupon he reassembled his men, and once again went into action with considerable effect. This non-commissioned officer consistently displayed a devotion to duty, which deserved commendation.
Bombardier Gerald Balzan, RMA (T) (No. 8125), was also awarded the Military Medal.
During the intense attacks on HMS Illustrious, many large-calibre bombs fell within a few yards of the gun position, enveloping it in dust and smoke. Showers of debris fell all around, and the non-commissioned officer in charge of the gun became a casualty, together with two other men.
The citation states: “…Balzan, however, showed considerable courage and initiative, rallying the remaining three men”. By his action, Bdr Balzan kept the gun in action until the end of the raid, when he attended to the three casualties.
Later on during the war, during the period March 22 to 28, 1942, Sergeant Harry Andrews, RMA (T) (No. 8126), was also awarded the Military Medal.
During this period, his pom-pom gun position at Senglea Point was subjected to heavy bombardment. Throughout the engagements, Sgt Andrews displayed exceptional coolness and courage.
According to the citation, this set “a fine example and was an inspiration to the members of his gun crew”. His award was gazetted on August 13, 1942.
The Military Cross was instituted by Royal Warrant on December 28, 1914. It is made out of silver and is in the form of a plain Greek cross with splayed ends, on each of which is the Imperial Crown. The centre of the obverse bears the monogram of the reigning monarch.
The Military Cross was originally awarded to warrant officers and junior commissioned officers of the army, including colonial and Indian forces “for gallant and distinguished services in action”.
The Military Medal was instituted by Royal Warrant on March 25, 1916. The obverse of the medal, which is made out of silver, bears the effigy and titles of the reigning monarch, while the reverse has the simple wording “For Bravery in the Field” beneath a crown and the royal cipher, all within a wreath.
The Military Medal was awarded to other ranks of the army, colonial forces and the Indian army for acts of gallantry.
The following members of the Dockyard Defence Battery paid the ultimate sacrifice:
Cachia Loreto (8269), son of Mr and Mrs R. Cachia of Żebbuġ, was killed on June 15, 1942, by an anti-personnel bomb on the road to Delimara. He is commemorated in Pembroke Military Cemetery.
Cauchi Seraphim (8109), son of Nicolo Cauchi and Michelina, née Camilleri, died on May 9, 1942, aged 29, when a Spitfire piloted by Sgt Gordon Tweedale from 185 Squadron crashed in Saviour Street, Lija. He is buried in Coll. Grave E23 at Pietà Military Cemetery.
Dalli Theodore (8411), son of Anthony and Karmela Dalli of Żejtun, was killed on April 11, 1942, aged 29, when a bomb fell on Fort San Pietru. He is interned in Coll. Grave L15 at Pietà Military Cemetery.
Faella Joseph (8217), was also killed on April 11, 1942, when a bomb fell on Fort San Pietru. He is buried in Coll. Grave L15 at Pietà Military Cemetery.
Schembri Carmel (8096), son of Carmel and Angiolina Schembri of Marsa, died on July 13, 1942, aged 32, and is buried in Coll. Grave E25 at Pietà Military Cemetery.
Spiteri Joseph (8116), son of Joseph and Giovanna Spiteri, husband of Ines Spiteri of Kalkara, died on January 21, 1942, aged 32, after he was hit by a car in Msida, while delivering messages. He is buried in Coll. Grave 5.6.8 at Pembroke Military Cemetery.
Spiteri Lawrence (8290), son of Rosario and Anne Spiteri, husband of Carmen Spiteri, née Bailey, was killed on April 11, 1942, aged 30, when a bomb fell on Fort San Pietru. He is interned in Coll. Grave L15 at Pietà Military Cemetery.
The Dockyard Defence Battery was disbanded on April 28, 1941, when the members were given the option of joining as regular soldiers in the Royal Malta Artillery which took over the guns, or to return to their regular Dockyard jobs. The 30th LAA Bty RMA (T) was thus absorbed into the 3rd light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Malta Artillery.
On July 14, 1942, for the first time since Italy entered the war, the whole battery paraded together. Following an address by the commanding officer, a two-minute silence was observed, and after that, the battery was dismissed.
The commanding officer, assisted by his officers, then distributed to each man his discharge certificate, and on receiving the certificate, every man shook hands with the commanding officer and the other officers.
The men then went back to their Dockyard duties, where they helped the war effort in other ways.
It is a great pity that while we have all sorts of memorials commemorating events and personalities, nobody has deemed it fit to commemorate this small but valiant battery.