The recent BBC 2 documentary, The Battle for Malta, was an evocative trip down memory lane for a great many people and a reminder to today’s pampered youth of the immense deprivations endured and sacrifices made by their ancestors.

This fascinating in-depth analysis gave us an insight into what it was like at that time with tiny Malta being the most-bombed country in the world whose people were being mercilessly attacked by Axis bombers.

Malta was fortunate that Rommel talked Hitler out of his invasion of the island, planned for the spring of 1942, to concentrate on his North Africa campaign. However, for me, two clear and unequivocal highlights were evident.

One was the ineptitude of the island’s governors and leaders at that time whose arrogant, high-handed and autocratic decision-making contributed greatly to loss of lives and the unimaginable deprivations of the Maltese population, but also the British defenders. How things change!

Two, was the indomitable spirit and faith of the Maltese people that eventually good will prevail and God will win in the end, because they were on God’s side and not the other way around.

This documentary showed how the award of the George Cross (awarded on April 15, 1942 but not announced to the Maltese until two days later) galvanised and re-energised the entire Maltese population and helped them immeasurably to carry on enduring the siege.

No one considered this award as a menial or condescending bestowal by an autocratic colonial King thousands of miles away on his feudal subjects, as it is being portrayed nowadays by some.

If one thing this excellent documentary has shown (and there are many) and is to be remembered for, is that if we do not learn from our past we will be condemned to repeat it.