At the first chimes of midnight on June 10, 1940, Malta’s churches announced the start of the second siege in the history of this fortress island. Six hours earlier, Mussolini had declared war after joining the Axis, and next day, June 11, brought a brutal introduction to modern warfare.

Malta’s defences were mini­mal. For a war that would be fought mainly in the air, there were no air squadrons to call on. A fighter flight of three Sea Gladiators, historically named ‘Faith’, ‘Hope’ and ‘Charity’, took to the air in a valiant effort to take on the Italian fighters.

Malta’s defenders claimed their first enemy fighter but not before terrifying bombing raids had claimed their first casualties. The bombing sent civilians living near the Dockyard fleeing for safety. Within days, thousands had taken to the roads with as many belongings as they could carry, to seek shelter with family or friends in outlying towns and villages.

The Italians seemed intent on neutralising Malta as quickly as possible. In the following three weeks there were 53 air raids, with only a few raid-free days in between. The first night raids began at the end of June, but then the rate of attacks and number of casualties declined. This enabled supplies of much-needed equipment and additional troops to be delivered by three convoys in the autumn, to reinforce the Malta garrison.

On November 11, 1940, Fleet Air Arm aircraft launched from HMS Illustrious attacked the Italian Fleet at Taranto Harbour, an attack so successful it became the model for the later Japanese raid on Pearl Harbour. The reconnaissance for the operation had been carried out by aircraft from Malta. This bold offensive, together with Allied air attacks on Tripoli and Naples, caused the Axis to take stock. Malta was evidently now well-equipped and able to fight back.

Towards the end of 1940, reports of the arrival of German aircraft in Sicily were rife. However, the new year started quietly. In the first week there were no air raids, and the arrival of the Luftwaffe in Sicily had no immediate effect on Malta.

Meanwhile, some preparations were made to reinforce and supply the island. A new convoy, Operation Excess, was being prepared in Gibraltar. The convoy consisted of four merchant ships, but only one, MV Essex, was destined for Malta. On the morning of January 10, 1941, the convoy was heading for Malta when the vessels were attacked by Italian bombers. An immediate response by Fulmar aircraft launched from the decks of HMS Illustrious drove them away. As they retreated in disarray, a fresh formation swooped in.

To the horrified surprise of the naval escort, these were not Italians but German aircraft. Aircraft carrier Illustrious was seriously damaged after it was hit by six 1,000kg bombs, 126 of its officers and crew were killed and 91 wounded. With German bombers hot on its tail, the Illustrious nevertheless managed to reach the relative safety of Grand Harbour and berthed at Parlatorio Wharf in French Creek, beneath Corradino Heights. Thanks to adverse weather, enemy raiders stayed away long enough for the injured to be attended to and repairs to get under way.

The island prepared for the inevitable attacks on the Illustrious. The onslaught was to be met with a concentration of anti-aircraft guns around Grand Harbour. The lull lasted till January 16. In the early afternoon of that Thursday, the sun burned away the morning cloud to leave a clear bright sky. Suddenly, out of the blue, a formation of Stuka dive-bombers screamed across the skies over Grand Harbour in their first blitz over Malta, with HMS Illustrious as their target. Wave after wave of Luftwaffe aircraft followed in their wake – more than 70 of them, raining bombs on the Dockyard and surrounding areas.

Malta’s few defending Hurricane and Fulmar aircraft took to the air to try and repel the raiders. Bombs rained down on the dockyard and adjacent areas, but the carrier received only one hit, causing superficial damage. Senglea, Vittoriosa and Cospicua bore the brunt of the attack.

Malta’s oldest urban communities, established and fortified in the 16th century by the Knights of Malta, were now reduced to rubble. Some 200 houses were destroyed and another 500 damaged.

The effect on the population was devastating. The majority had fled their homes to take refuge inland during the early raids of June 1940. But when enemy activity quietened down in the autumn, many evacuees had drifted back home to rejoin the Dockyard workers who had stayed behind. Now these civilians were in the eye of the storm and large numbers fell victim to the Luftwaffe raids.

Bombs rained down on the dockyard and adjacent areas, but the carrier received only one hit, causing superficial damage. Senglea, Vittoriosa and Cospicua bore the brunt of the attack

On the evening of January 16, 1941, as the smoke and dust drifted slowly in the breeze across the ruins, Senglea, a bombed-out city, stood stark and macabre. That unforgettable day was washed with the blood of those who became the enemy’s innocent victims; it was bathed with the tears of those who picked up, from amid the ruins, the lifeless bodies of their loved ones.

Death had struck a great blow! During that ferocious attack, 21 Senglea inhabitants lost their lives. Among these victims, there was Canon Professor John Theuma Relf, killed at the age of 30.

Can. Theuma (third from right) together with Anton Buttigieg, Ġorġ Pisani, Fr Carmelo Farrugia, Ġużè Aquilina and other members of the Għaqda tal-Malta (Università).Can. Theuma (third from right) together with Anton Buttigieg, Ġorġ Pisani, Fr Carmelo Farrugia, Ġużè Aquilina and other members of the Għaqda tal-Malta (Università).

Born in Senglea on February 1, 1910, he was the third among the 10 siblings of Joseph Theuma and Emily Relf. While his father, Joseph, was born in Floriana, his mother, Amelia, though born in Senglea, was the daughter of George Relf, of British origin. It is worth pointing out that this unusual and interesting surname is ultimately of Old Germanic origin, and was introduced into England by the Normans after the conquest of 1066.

On February 3, Theuma was baptised at Senglea collegiate church by Can. Carmelo Mousu. At the baptismal font, besides the name John, he was also given the names Benjamin, Francis and Carmel.

Theuma spent all his childhood and youth in Senglea. His upbringing in his family, together with the various encounters he had with the numerous priests in the parish, helped him nourish a love for the Church.

As he grew up, he started listening to God’s voice calling him to serve Him more closely through Holy Orders. A valuable aid in the discovery of his vocation was the charisma of the Society of the Christian Doctrine, of which he was a member of Senglea’s male section.

After having received academic formation at the Frères and the Lyceum, as from 1927 he spent seven years of spiritual formation at the Seminary and academic study at the Royal University of Malta. From here he obtained a Bachelor of Arts, a Bachelor of Canon Law, a doctorate in Canon Law and a doctorate in Theology.

On March 17, 1934, Theuma was ordained deacon at St John’s Co-Cathedral, Valletta. Four months later, on July 29, 1934, he was ordained priest by Archbishop Dom Mauro Caruana, OSB, at the Mdina Cathedral. On that day, 27 deacons were ordained priests. Apart from Theuma, these were another two who hailed from Senglea, namely Antonio Agius and Paolo Borg. On Sunday, August 12, 1934, Fr Theuma celebrated his first solemn High Mass of thanksgiving at the Senglea Basilica.

On July 27, 1935, Maltese priests who were in Rome either to study or to teach had a private audience with Pope Pius XI. After the audience, they had a group photo in the Cortile di San Damaso together with Mgr Joseph Bruno, secretary of the Congregation of the Council. Can. Theuma is seen second from left in the back row.On July 27, 1935, Maltese priests who were in Rome either to study or to teach had a private audience with Pope Pius XI. After the audience, they had a group photo in the Cortile di San Damaso together with Mgr Joseph Bruno, secretary of the Congregation of the Council. Can. Theuma is seen second from left in the back row.

On December 23 of that same year, Fr Theuma, along with Fr Salvino Farrugia, was appointed member of the Senglea Collegiate Chapter. Mgr Paolo Galea, the Vicar General, assisted by Can. Franco Calleja Gera, the Chancellor, led the ceremony. Fr Theuma now became canon theologian of the chapter.

As a he achieved first place in his academic course at the University, Fr Theuma obtained a scholarship from the government through which he could continue his studies abroad. Thus, immediately after ordination, on October 19, 1934, he boarded the liner Arborea and set off on his first voyage to Rome.

Once in the Eternal City, he attended the Pontificio Instituto Biblico where he obtained a Licen­tiate in Sacred Scripture. It appears that it was Rev. Prof. Peter Paul Saydon who had recommended Fr Theuma from among all his students at the University to follow this course of studies.

During his period of study in Rome, between October 21, 1934, and July 1936, Fr Theuma was accommodated at the Pontifical Scots College. This was at the time when Mgr William Clapperton (1886-1969) was rector of the college.

Although this college, set up in 1600 by Pope Clement VIII, had since its inception primarily reserved for Scots called to the priesthood, it accepted others from English-speaking coun­tries after a recom­mendation by their respective bishop. The earliest connection we know of between Malta and the Scots College in Rome dates back to 1928. Saviour Grima, from Żejtun, was personally recom­mended by Mgr Caruana, the then Arcbishop of Malta, and eventually accepted. He later became the founder of Dar tal-Kleru.

A trip to Gozo with university students in 1938. Can. Theuma is seen in the middle of the back row.A trip to Gozo with university students in 1938. Can. Theuma is seen in the middle of the back row.

Other Maltese were soon to follow Grima, especially in the years preceding World War II. The list includes Michael Azzopardi (1910-1987), who became the founder of Dar tal-Providenza, Vincent Azzopardi (1910-1994) who became canon of the Collegiate of St Paul’s Shipwreck, Valletta, George Zammit (1908-1990) who became advocate and a re­nowned author and poet, Arthur Bonnici (1903-1978) who became vicar general of the Archdiocese of Malta, Theuma Relf, the subject of this article, Joseph Lupi (1914-2000) who, apart from attaining great honour for Malta through his abundant merits in the liturgical field, died as secretary of the Archdiocese of Malta.

In more recent times, we find Hector Scerri (1965- ) who is today vice-dean of the Faculty of Theology, head of Department of Fundamental and Dogmatic Theology and professor at the University of Malta, president of the Malta Theological Commission, president of the Diocesan Ecumenical Commission, censor theologus of the Archdiocese of Malta, apart from being appointed by Pope Francis as consultor to the Pontifical Council for Christian Unity, as well as Joe Galea Curmi (1964- ) who, at present, is the vicar general of the Archdiocese of Malta.

Can. Theuma in 1936 after graduating from the Pontificio Istituto Biblico.Can. Theuma in 1936 after graduating from the Pontificio Istituto Biblico.

After completing his studies, Can. Theuma undertook pastoral work at the Senglea parish while he was also a lecturer at the Royal University of Malta. In February 1937, following a call for applications, he applied to become Professor of Maltese. Although it does not appear that he wrote much in Maltese, the application to the chair of Maltese shows that he studied his native language and reserved a cherished place for it in his heart.

However, it turned out that it was Ġużè Aquilina who became the first Professor of Maltese and Oriental Languages, and in the same year, at the age of 27, Can. Theuma was selected as Professor of Patrology, Liturgy and Christian Archaeology at the University.

He found himself in this position in the wake of the Apostolic Constitution Deus Scientiarum Dominus, promulgated by Pope Pius XI on May 24, 1931, in which the Congregation for Seminaries and Universities published a revised programme of theological studies for seminaries and faculties of theology throughout the Catholic world, and liturgy was included as a secondary subject. On June 3, 1936, the board of the Faculty of Theology at the University discussed alterations to the curriculum of studies to implement the Apostolic Constitution.

An analysis of the subject matter lectured by Can. Theuma shows that it consisted of the nature and character of the liturgy in general and other important matters, such as the sacrifice of the Mass, the Roman Breviary and the liturgical year. Apart from meticulously imparting researched information, he aimed to instill in the theology students an appreciation of the liturgy and to nurture their piety so that, when later they became priests, they would be able to explain the liturgy to the faithful and introduce them to a more active participation.

The Thuema family. Seated in the middle are his mother Emily and father Joseph. His siblings are (standing, from left) John, Maria Carmela, Joseph, Maria, and George; (seated, from left) Emily, Theodora, Virginia and Rose. This photo was collected from among the debris of his demolished residence.The Thuema family. Seated in the middle are his mother Emily and father Joseph. His siblings are (standing, from left) John, Maria Carmela, Joseph, Maria, and George; (seated, from left) Emily, Theodora, Virginia and Rose. This photo was collected from among the debris of his demolished residence.

Can. Theuma also contributed articles to several magazines. One of these, entitled ‘The Develop­ment of Christian Archeology’, was published in the magazine Scientia in 1939. This, in fact, was the scientific part of a speech he had delivered in the Aula Magna of the Royal University of Malta on October 1, 1938, at the ceremony of conferral of grades for academic year 1938-39. The evening had been presided over by Sir Charles Bonham-Carter, Governor of Malta.

Since his student days at the University, he had also been a member of the Għaqda tal-Malti (Università) and a handful of his writings appeared in Leħen il-Malti, a publication of the association.

While he was a student at the University, in 1929, Theuma, along with Michael Azzopardi, founded the Lega Universitaria Cattolica Maltese, aided also by the guidance of Prof. Fr Daniel Callus, OP, (1888-1965). In 1949, this association became known as University Students Catholic Guild (USCG). In September 1974, this organisation changed its name to University Students Catholic Movement (USCM) until 1987 when it was named Moviment Kattoliku Studenti Universitarji (MKSU). On May 29, 1967, the Senate of the University officially approved it as a University organisation. This makes it one of the oldest University student organisations.

When the air raid siren sounded on January 16, 1941, he took shelter with his two sisters and his niece in the cellar of their residence at 179, Victory Street. The building received a direct hit

Can. Theuma never failed to pull his weight in the pastoral work required in the Senglea parish. As a young priest, in 1935, he worked hard to establish the first pastoral parish council. In 1936, after completing his studies in Rome, he was asked to take care of the Senglea Catholic Action male branch. During this time he also sought to upgrade its premises and improve the way it was organised.

He was a man of initiative and a preacher admired by many. He was a sought-after confessor and spiritual director, especially among youths. It is unfortunate that the Church in Malta and Senglea, his birth-place, were given only a few years’ time to benefit from this young, remarkably accomplished and zealous priest. The Lord disposed otherwise!

He had, in the early days of war, sought refuge at Balzan. Here he had taken a very active role in the life of the parish, ministering to the people of the place and other brother-evacuees alike. Assuming that there were now adequate shelters in Senglea, to which he was always drawn, he had returned to take a rest from pastoral duties. When the air raid siren sounded on January 16, 1941, he took shelter with his two sisters Maria Carmela, 34, and Amelia, 21, and his niece Beatrice, 5, in the cellar of their residence at 179, Victory Street. The building received a direct hit.

Can. Theuma’s memorial card.Can. Theuma’s memorial card.

In his book Senglea during the Second Great War 1940-1944, Canon Emmanuel Brincat, the archpriest who never left Senglea throughout the war, gives this account: “He was staying in the cellar of his house… He went down there for cover and he never came out again. He came to Senglea for a rest… and he rested forever. May he and the others who died at Senglea, that day, rest in peace…”.

The Theuma grave at Addolorata Cemetery where Can. Theuma, together with his sisters and niece, was laid to rest.The Theuma grave at Addolorata Cemetery where Can. Theuma, together with his sisters and niece, was laid to rest.

Brincat added: “He was buried there with his sisters and niece. Diggers toiled hard to unearth them, but it was all in vain. At one time there seemed to be a ray of hope – reports came that a part of the cassock came to light… then a woman’s shoe… The men dug and dug, they dug with all their energy, yet with caution, lest they should give an erroneous hit… but still in vain, all their efforts were useless. The victims were all dead.”

According to a report found at the National Archives, Rabat, penned by Joseph Storace, who was the Air Raid Precautions Superintendent of Cottonera, the lifeless bodies of Maria Carmela and Emily, along with that of their niece Beatrice, were unearthed on January19. After four days buried beneath the four storeys of his demolished residence, the dead body of Fr Theuma was uncovered as well. The four victims were buried at Santa Maria Addolorata Cemetery, Paola.

Seventy-five years have passed since this horrible ordeal; 75 years have elapsed since Prof. Ġużè Aquilina (1911-1997) found himself encouraged, on February 12, 1941, to put pen on paper and write the elegiac sonnet ‘In Memoriam’, which he dedicated “To the beloved memory of my late Colleague, the Reverend Canon John Theuma Relf, victim of the Luftwaffe”. It reads as follows:

Sad is the grief that fills the heart with pain,

And brings the tear of sorrow to the eye;

Not sad because you went – we must all die,

And though we shrink, yet we dare not complain.

But to be torn to pieces, cut in twain,

By steel hurled from above with hideous cry,

That freezes blood and nerves, that crushes thigh

And chest to lumps – that’s torment to the brain.

Good, martyred friend, colleague, whom I loved well,

Even as a brother, dearer still than life,

Your blood cries out for justice to Thy Lord.

Above this horror, this tremendous strife,

Destruction of our churches, all this hell,

God shall avenge you, martyr, with His sword.

Sign up to our free newsletters

Get the best updates straight to your inbox:
Please select at least one mailing list.

You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the link in the footer of our emails. We use Mailchimp as our marketing platform. By subscribing, you acknowledge that your information will be transferred to Mailchimp for processing.