This Friday is the 93rd anniversary of Armistice Day, the end of the First World War. Lawrence Vassallo speaks to Peter Farrugia about his father’s Royal Navy service across two World Wars.
Speaking with Lawrence Vassallo, it’s clear a love of adventure on the open sea runs in the blood. His maternal family all somehow served in the Royal Navy, “since my great great grandfather Ritchie, who was colonel and gentleman-at-arms to the Duke of York,” says Vassallo.
My father lost all his teeth while injured in the sea
“All his brothers were bankers but he decided to join the Navy, and that set the course for his descendants. He came to Malta, met his wife and never left.”
Vassallo’s father, Paolo Vassallo, served in both World Wars and survived three naval attacks – once in the First World War onboard HMS Russell and twice in the Second World War aboard HMS Kelly and HMS Culcutta.
“He joined the Royal Navy in 1904,” says Vassallo, “but in 1907 it was discovered he was underage. In 1909 he signed up as a regular, and served on HMS Ocean.”
When the commission ended, Paolo Vassallo transferred to other ships until the declaration of war in 1914. Europe was suddenly turned upside down by the prospect of catastrophe, and Malta, far from being peripheral, had its part to play.
“He was serving on HMS Lowestoft in the Mediterranean at that time and the ship was dispatched to join the rest of the Royal Navy in the UK.”
In 1916, Paolo discovered that the HMS Russell was coming to Malta for maintenance works so he took the opportunity to join that ship and return to Malta to get married. But HMS Russell was suddenly diverted on arrival, to participate in the evacuation of Allied troops from Turkey. At the time, Turkey had been invaded by the German Army and was in desperate need of help.
“When the ship returned to Malta it was too late to enter the harbour so they had to spend the night on patrol. About six miles from the entrance, the ship struck a mine. Many lives were lost and there were numerous casualties,” says Vassallo.
“My father was among the injured and he was taken to Bighi Hospital. On his recovery he was immediately sent on another overseas commission, again missing the opportunity to get married.”
On his return to Malta at the end of the war in 1919 he finally got married, and had five children.
“I was the third, and I served in the Navy from 1945 to 1967.” After the end of the First World War, Paolo Vassallo continued to serve until 1933 when he was honourably discharged. He was then employed at the Royal Navy Wireless station until 1939.
“But there was more work to be done,” says Vassallo. “At the outbreak of the Second World War, my father decided to go back in the navy and was drafted to Chatham. There he joined the leader of a new destroyer flotilla called the HMS Kelly under the command of Lord Louis Mountbatten.”
The ship’s first mission was to take part in the evacuation of British troops from Dunkirk. In the course of duty, the ship was badly damaged and many of the crew were forced to abandon ship. A good number were saved by HMS Bulldog which escorted HMS Kelly to Scotland. “My father was among the survivors taken aboard HMS Bulldog.”
Most of the fleet was called to assist in the evacuation of Allied troops from Crete, which was occupied by airborne German troops. A battle took place and several ships were sunk, including HMS Culcutta and HMS Kelly. Maltese staff were all saved, except for one.
“My father was again a survivor and was taken to Alexandria,” says Vassallo, “He lost all his teeth while injured in the sea. When he was stationed there, he was drafted to Admiralty House in Port Said.”
Paolo was due leave for Malta but no transport was available. In the end, he came home on the only available submarine and spent his leave with the family. He then joined a landing craft and took part in the invasion of Italy, assisting American troops who were advancing on Rome. He remained there until the war ended and was again honourably discharged with a higher pension.
However, his love of the sea was undaunted and he joined an auxilliary ship of the Royal Navy involved in the evacuation of Israeli prisoners-of-war to Cyprus.
“At the time, Israel was trying to invade Palestine and many soldiers were taken as prisoners-of-war. The Americans offered to replace the British troops, so my father ended his sea-going career and was awarded the Palestine Medal. During his service he was awarded numerous decorations.”
He died in 1963 and was survived by his wife and four of his children. “What I remember most of all were the presents and souvenirs he brought back from his travels,” says Vassallo with a smile.
“My father thought the Second World War would be over fast and would certainly not be as bad as the First World War. He never imagined there would be so many aerial bombardments and submarines. Though life was difficult and dangerous, he never regretted his decision to serve.”
Indeed, the part played by Malta throughout the war by all the Maltese, whether in service or not, provides a valuable glimpse into the indomitable spirit of an island whose heroism, in the words of Franklin D. Roosevelt, “will be read by posterity with wonder and gratitude through all the ages”.