Alfred Conti Borda writes:
I met Major Clews for the first time in 2012 when I had decided to interview him for a projected short biography about his life in The Sunday Times of Malta. He immediately impressed me with his willingness to help and smart outlook, characteristic of the service he had carried out with great efficiency and enthusiasm over the years.
Born in the UK, he received his education in England and Malta because his father, who had joined the Royal Navy, used to shuttle very frequently between the two countries.
Stanley decided to take up a short service commission with the British Army, which eventually ended up as a permanent stay. After having undergone the tough practical training on the field and successfully passed the prescribed examinations, he became a second lieutenant in the Royal Engineers.
During the war in North Africa in early 1943, his job was to locate and defuse enemy mines that were hampering the Allies’ advance. It was at that point in time when, while he was leading a convoy of lorries on a rainy day at Wadi Akarit, near the Tunisian border, his truck suddenly skidded and hit an anti-personnel mine.
This blew up, killing his driver, while Stanley was catapulted out of the roof hatch of the truck which was open. He landed metres away, suffering bruises all over his body, concussion, a dislocated shoulder and a punctured right ear drum. However, in our conversation, he made fun of this handicap and instead advised me to direct my questions into his left ear, which I did.
His army commitments took him to liberated Messina, Sudan and back to London. He gradually advanced to lieutenant, captain and finally major. After his retirement from the British Army, he was appointed sports editor of The Sunday Times of Malta, and in 1959 took up the post of welfare officer with Bailey Ltd, advancing to personnel manager in 1963.
Moreover, he had a colourful career as time rolled by. He became chairman of the Industrial Tibunal, published the Malta Year Book (1990) and became chairman of the Malta branch of the George Cross Island Association. This saw the inauguration of the Siege Bell monument by Queen Elizabeth to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Santa Maria Convoy. Subsequently, he received an honorary MBE by British High Commissioner Sir Peter Wallis in June 1994. He was also appointed board chairman of the MMDNA in 2005.
Stanley’s wife Vera had passed away in 1983. They had two children, Michael and Lauren, followed by a number of grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
In 2013, he gave me a book highlighting his autobiography and for this I shall ever be so grateful towards this very kind gentleman. I will keep it in memory of him.
May he rest in peace.