80-year-old Toni Xiberras.

Seventy-five years ago, on October 10, 1942, two large enemy bombs were dropped on the village of Sannat, leaving 18 dead and a trail of devastation. Houses were damaged or destroyed.

Among the victims was Lydia, who was 18 months old. About 70 people also suffered various wounds. Among these was a certain Toni Xiberras, who is now 80 years old.

At the time of the bombing, Toni, who was five years old, was on the roof of his grandmother’s house, playing with his brother and sister. The two-storey house was hit by one of the bombs at around 11am and they were all buried under the rubble. Toni fractured his two legs and his left arm, his brother Kelinu, who is now dead, had his left heel badly injured and his sister Margerita, who is still alive, ended with a fractured jaw. Toni spent 34 years in the police force and ended the service as a police sergeant.

To mark the anniversary, Sannat archpriest Michael Curmi celebrated Mass together with Mgr Anton Mizzi. Afterwards, Fr Curmi blessed a marble plaque, incorporating part of one of the bombs, that commemorates the 18 victims. The plaque is affixed to the back of the parish church which is dedicated to St Margaret.