A collection of cannon restored by Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna (FWA) was unveiled this morning at the site of the Saluting Battery at the Upper Barrakka Gardens, Valletta.

The collection represents some 300 years of artillery history in Malta, with the oldest gun dating to 1724 and the latest used until 1923.

The guns are an Armstrong 24 pounder, a French 18 pounder, a Blomfield 32 pounder, a Dundas 32 pounder, a Monk 32 pounder and a 32 pounder smooth bore breech loader.

Each gun is presented with historical interpretation and an example of the ammunition used to fire it. Some of the guns are on loan from Heritage Malta and the others belong to FWA. Some of them were literally rescued from the scrap heap.

The new collection is displayed close to other old cannon forming part of the Saluting Battery which were restored to working condition earlier by FWA.

Mario Farrugia, FWA chairman, said the collection will be enlarged later this year to include a light anti-aircraft gun of the type mounted on this site in the Second World War and a First World War quick firing field gun which equipped this battery between 1920 and 1939.

The collection is being supported by Bank of Valletta.

The Saluting Battery will be open for viewing this Sunday between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. at the reduced rate of €3 per person. Entrance will be free for children and FWA members. The morning event will feature a lecture on the cannon and the Saluting Battery.

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