War veterans invited back to mark Battle for Malta

Veterans who fought or supported Malta's war effort will be meeting in Malta between September 22-29 next year to mark the Battle for Malta, on the 60th anniversary of the victory in Europe and the end of the Second World War.

Wing Commander Brian Essex, the project leader of this venture and who lives in Malta, said in an interview: "Malta played an incredibly vital part in the overall victory of Europe. We had the commemoration of Operation Pedestal two years ago, marking the arrival in 1942 of the Ohio convoy, which was a very specialised and important event in Malta's history.

"And this is an opportunity perhaps for the last time - because the group we are talking about is aged between 80 and 100 - to get these people together for a week of celebration and commemoration in Malta."

The celebration will be open to veterans of the British and Allied forces, the Merchant Navy and all those who served or directly supported Malta, including those who served on convoys.

Wing Cdr Essex said it was impossible to say how many people who served in this way were still around and would be able to come to Malta next year.

"I suspect the group will be around 300 strong, including accompanying family or carers." He stressed that this would not be a ceremony just for the visiting veterans but an opportunity to integrate and reunite with the Maltese veterans of the King's Own Malta Regiment, and the Royal Malta Artillery."

He said the reunion would be integrated with the Malta International Air Show and the Merlins over Malta project (a project which should see wartime Spitfire and Hurricane fighters, powered by Merlin engines, flying over Malta once more).

In the middle of last year, the British government announced a Heroes Return scheme to provide financial assistance to all wartime veterans to return to their place of battle during WWII.

This funding, to the tune of £10 million, was taken from National Lottery money. The fund is managed by the Veterans' Agency at the Ministry of Defence. They will provide financial assistance to a veteran, whether widow or a widower - because there are lady veterans as well - or accompanied by a spouse, as well as for a carer.

The Battle for Malta Veterans Reunion has been awarded adjudication authority by the fund for the Heroes Return scheme, which means it will be the first to filter the applications to check for authenticity.

Wing Cdr Essex spent 33 years in the military and recorded 10,000 flying hours. He served in Malta between 1974 and 1978 in 203 Squadron, flying Nimrod aircraft.

Sqn Ldr Colin Pomeroy is the UK representative of The Battle for Malta Veterans Reunion and Lt Col the Baron E. von Brockdorff is the Malta representative.

The Reunion 2005 project is a totally private, non-commercial, non-profit making venture which is being organised with the approval of the British High Commission in Malta and is recognised by the Maltese and British governments.

www.battleformaltareunion.freeservers.com