An air raid siren and a “very rare” sound deflector were rescued by heritage organisation Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna from the top of the clock tower of Mosta’s Tarġa Gap school.

The historic items, used in World War II, were carefully lowered from the clock tower last week by a 150-metre crane under the watchful eye of the organisation’s chairman Mario Farrugia.

Electrical sirens were used in the war to announce the approach and departure of enemy planes and there were 14 in operation all over Malta, especially around the inner harbour area.

Sirens emitted a warbling sound with three very loud wails to warn of an approaching raid and a long protracted wail to indicate the end of a raid. The public was expected to stay indoors for at least 10 minutes after each raid to avoid getting injured from falling debris from the sky.

The siren and its hood will be restored and eventually displayed at the new Malta at War Museum at Couvre Porte, Vittoriosa.

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