“War has broken out with Germany” was the simple message that first informed Malta of the onset of the First World War, National Archivist Charles Farrugia told Times of Malta.

The telegram, dated 5th August 1914, from British Secretary for Colonies Lewis Harcourt, informed the Governor of Malta at around 11pm that the war had begun.

The document was unveiled at the National Archives earlier today and has been immortalised as part of a set of commemorative post cards, entitled Malta Memories- World War I.

More than 31,000 Maltese were involved in the war effort with some 500 having lost their lives in the line of duty.

Some 778 Maltese were enlisted in the Royal Air Force and in the Royal Naval Reserve, 1000 Maltese labourers (Maltese Labour battalion) were sent to the Dardanelles, while the Royal Malta Artillery and the Maltese Militia officers were sent to the battle of Salonika. Malta’s greatest contribution, however, came in the form of medical aid. Dubbed the Nurse of the Mediterranean, Malta treated nearly 60,000 wounded service men during the four-year war.

There are 1,500 British servicemen buried in Malta, as well as French, Indians and Egyptian, together with 26 Turkish prisoners.

The collection of post cards is available from leading bookshops and cost €15.