A noble fight or a monstrous waste of life? A worthy sacrifice or lions led to the slaughter by lambs?

As British historians and MPs wrestle with how to appropriately mark the centenary of the start of World War I, it seems commemorations will be much more muted in Malta.

The Office of the Prime Minister said the Foundation of National Celebrations was not planning any events to mark the centenary of the ‘Great War’, which was fought from 1914 to 1918.

“This does not fall under the competence of the foundation,” a spokesman said.

Malta was known as the ‘nurse of the Mediterranean’ during World War I because thousands of injured Allied soldiers were brought to the island for treatment and convalescence.

The Allies used Grand Harbour as a naval base in their war against the Central Powers (Germany, Austria-Hungary and the Ottoman Empire).

Event does not fall under the competence of the celebration foundation

German submarines attacked Allied shipping in the Mediterranean, leading to shortages of imported food items.

Mark Fitzgerald from the Commonwealth Grave Commission explained that Maltese soldiers who fought in World War I would have been classified as British citizens.

Among the most well-known Maltese contributions to the conflict were the 800 volunteers of the Maltese Labour Battalion who dug trenches for the Allies at Gallipoli.

Australia and New Zealand revere this 1915 battle, which was their forces’ first major military action, and remember it each year on Anzac Day – April 25.

A spokesman for the Australian High Commission in Malta said it will hold a commemoration at Pietà Commonwealth War Grave Cemetery as usual this year.

Next year – the 100th anniversary of the Gallipoli campaign – “we will be looking to make this a significant date of remembrance,” he said.

Do you have a WWI story?

Does your family have an interesting story to tell about Malta or the Maltese in World War 1? E-mail pcooke@timesofmalta.com if you are willing to share it.