I still vividly remember attending the Freedom Day ceremony on the morning of March 31, 1989. I was then the young and idealistic president of the Għaqda Zgħazagħ Soċjalisti (Socialist Youth Movement). The soldiers of the Armed Forces of Malta were parading in front of the Vittoriosa Freedom monument, when suddenly, the Freedom Day march began to blare from the overlying speakers placed there by the Malta Labour Party.
It was a blunder, which wreaked havoc on the Armed Forces parade, as the soldiers could not hear the orders to drill. The parade turned into a shambles. I saw tears in the eyes of some of the soldiers at the humiliation. The watching crowd jeered.
It was at this point that the then Commander of the Armed Forces John Spiteri expressed his frustration and fury at what was happening. It must be said that at that time, the colonel was also acting police commissioner. This appointment was, to say the least, very unpopular with many Labour Party supporters, who interpreted it as a throwback similar to the military rule of the Greek colonels.
A roar of anger erupted and the crowd surged forward towards the unpopular figure. The troop contingent, too small to protect their commander, was overrun. During the ensuing melee, I partially deflected a sword blow, struck at the head of Spiteri. It was the ceremonial sword seized moments earlier from the AFM commander by the frenzied crowd.
There was no other option for the colonel but to jump off the Freedom Monument wharf and into the sea, to escape serious injury or worse. I could see he was still stunned by the blows he had sustained.
At that moment, I did not think about politics or the painful memory of my thwarted army career. I had proudly served with the Helicopter Flight Unit in my student days and my calling for the army was and is still paramount. I jumped into the sea, in all my finery, and swam towards the colonel to assist him.
He was still in a state of shock but recognised me. I was observing the enraged mob on the shore, including an angry-looking man, who was pointing a firearm and yelling at me to get out of the line of fire. I merely shook my head in refusal and kept my station, covering the injured Spiteri. Thankfully, not a shot was fired or bottles thrown.
Eventually the crowd calmed down and order was restored. I could see that many onlookers were now also concerned for my own safety. I must thank my old friends Alfred Kitcher, a Labour Party stalwart, and Raymond Tabone, then secretary general of the Għaqda Zgħazagħ Soċjalisti. These courageous individuals dived into the oily sea and hauled me and the AFM commander to the shore. I was given dry clothes, by a kind Vittoriosa family and whisked home.
I am content to have done my duty that day. Me, a proud British-born individual, who helped to save the life of the commander of the Armed Forces of Malta, when the nation was actually celebrating the Freedom Day anniversary. I often ponder on the irony of it all.
Last August, I was severely injured and for a time at death’s door, while trying to cross from a parking area to the newly allocated Transport Malta offices in Paola where I work. I am lucky to be alive and still recuperating. It is this recent brush with death, which has spurred me to record my personal narrative of what I witnessed, nearly 30 years ago.
Doctors have forecast a long road ahead, yet my spirit is still as undaunted as ever. I am still a soldier at heart – presently serving in the swelling ranks of a forgotten army, while opportunistic Vlasov regiments and Kaminski brigades strut about.
I am grateful for the constant support of my parents, family, hospital staff and many true friends, including Transport Malta senior management and personnel. They have staunchly and loyally stood by me, in my hour of need.
Today is Freedom Day.
How time flies.
Chris Agius is a former deputy mayor, Marsascala local council.