Maltese Serving with the British Forces

whole: the ten images occupy the majority. The title is separate and positioned across the top edge, in black. The text is separate and placed alongside each image as a caption, in black. The coat of arms of Malta is located at the top edge centre. All set against a white background. image: ten separate photographs depicting soldiers from Maltese regiments involved in various military activities, such as manning anti- aircraft guns, and in training. text: MALTESE serving with the British Forces... Looking back on Malta's heroic performance it seems appropriate that while other Colonials went overseas to serve with the British Army, the British Army came to Malta to serve with the Maltese. Later, when the situation changed, an anti-aircraft battery of the Royal Malta Artillery took over a defence position in Egypt. Photo shows one of the guns ready for action. Memories of Malta's vigil: A Maltese sentry looks out through an old bastion. The world will never forget how Malta stood, bombed but unbroken, shelled but unshaken, for three long years. At Malta's Ricasoli Barracks recruits go through an eight weeks' course in the rudiments of musketry, foot-drill and gunnery. This picture shows a party of recruits learning to operate the Lewis gun. Instructors are usually N.C.O.s from Britain. Solemn consecration of a regiment of the Royal Malta Artillery performed by the Archbishop of Malta. The R.M.A., formed in 1888, had its origin in the old Royal Fencible Regiment. During the last war over 1,000 officers and men of the R.M.A. served with the Forces. A Maltese soldier watches the coast. In the early days of the war the Malta garrison was engaged mainly in defence. Then Malta became Operational H.Q. for the attack on Sicily, and since then has remained a base for offensive operations. Salvaging operations off Malta: Soldiers of the Malta Garrison salvaging goods from a sunken merchant ship near the island. They are pumping precious oil from the sunken ship into drums. The training of a recruit. Saviour Xuereb, a twenty-year old shipwright, joined up to play his part in the defence of Malta. He is here seen going out for Lewis-gun training. During his eight weeks' training at Ricasoli Barracks, recruit Saviour Xuereb is taught, among other things, to aim and fire his rifle. His instructor is an N.C.O. from Britain. Passing-out parade of undergraduates of the Royal University, Malta, who go through an intensive course of training during their vacations. Taking the salute is Sir William Dobbie, G.C.M.G., K.C.B., D.S.O. Some of these students return to their studies, others are commissioned in the Royal Malta Artillery, which mans more than half of Malta's anti-aircraft batteries. The strength of Malta's defences can be gauged by the fact that by May 7th, 1943, 1,238 enemy aircraft had been destroyed. Malta's Home Guard on parade: Forces raised in Malta include the Royal Malta Artillery and the King's Own Malta Regiment, manned and officered by Maltese. In the first few months of the war there were about 1,300 Maltese with the Royal Navy. G.P.D./365/82

GPD/365/82 Similar posters were produced giving details of other colonial peoples serving with the British Army - Cypriots (PST 16000), Mauritians (PST 16002), West Africans (PST 15392) and East Africans (PST 15364 and PST 15365)