Wartime pilot still wants commemorative GC medal

A British wartime pilot who through a mistake did not get a replica of the George Cross medal in 1992 has now been asked to sign a limited edition of a wartime Malta print to raise money for the George Cross Island Association.

Squadron Leader Cyril S. Bamberger, who was a Hurricane pilot between 1940 and 1941 when Malta`s air defences were very weak, had applied to receive the commemorative medal when the government invited those who served in Malta from June 1940 and September 1943 to do so.

Sqn Ldr Bamberger said he had applied to the Malta High Commission in London in June 1992 and had received a letter informing him that he would be sent the necessary forms which would then be verified by the George Cross Island Association.

"I spoke to the George Cross Island Association and it seems that the Maltese High Commission did not refer my application to them.

"Several months later I enquired about it and was told I could no longer apply as applications were time barred."

A letter has now been written to the prime minister on Sqn Ldr Bamberger`s behalf, arguing that, contrary to what he was told, he had applied in time.

During the war, Sqn Ldr Bamberger was a sergeant and had arrived in Malta on November 28, 1940, on the destroyer HMS Hotspur.

He had been a `spare` pilot on the aircraft carrier HMS Argus, from which 12 Hurricanes left for Malta on November 17 in what was called `Operation White`. The captain of the Argus was eager to see the Hurricanes leave as the Italian fleet was reported to be at sea.

The aircraft left in two scrambles of six each. Of the first wave, four reached Malta. Two had just four gallons of fuel left and one of them had just enough to land: the engine shut down as the aircraft was taxiing off the runway.

None of the aircraft from the second wave reached Malta. The loss of so many pilots, most of whom had experience in the Battle of Britain, was particularly damaging.

The Argus returned to Gibraltar and Sgt Bamberger, who already had two kills to his credit, was brought to Malta on the destroyer.

He flew Hurricanes with 261 fighter squadron from Ta` Qali and was later transferred to 185 Squadron, which also flew Hurricanes, but which was based at Hal Far.

He shot down a dive bomber on January 18, 1941, when enemy planes were attacking Hal Far and Luqa airfields to weaken air defences to enable them to finish off HMS Illustrious, which was in Grand Harbour.

He shot down another Stuka the following day, after evading three Messerschmitt 109s by diving and flying along a cliff edge along the coast.

In June, 1941, he was called back to the UK, returning to Malta in June, 1943, with 93 Sqn, then equipped with the superior Spitfires.

Sqn Ldr Bamberger returned to Malta from North Africa and flew missions providing aerial cover for the invasion of Sicily.

He flew 100 sorties over Malta. He had two confirmed kills and damaged three enemy aircraft. By the end of the war, he had six confirmed victories to his credit. He retired in 1959.

Frank Rixon, the PRO of the George Cross Island Association, said he would do his best to help him obtain the medal.

"The association strives to keep alive the memory of those momentous years for future generations and we try to raise funds in various ways," Mr Rixon said.

The association had erected the Malta Siege Bell memorial, which was dedicated by Queen Elizabeth II on the 50th anniversary of the award of the George Cross to Malta in 1992.

He said he was aware that Sqn Ldr Bamberger had been contacted together with other veterans and informed that the George Cross Island Association would be producing a limited edition print from a specially commissioned painting by John Young showing a key moment in the defence of the island.

Sqn Ldr Bamberger also received a letter from Malta`s High Commissioner in London, George Bonello DuPuis, informing him that the limited edition print "will be individually signed by 20 distinguished veterans of the siege drawn from all services and the civilian population".

Sales of the print will contribute substantially to the continuing work of the association, Dr Bonello DuPuis wrote.

Dr Bonello DuPuis urged him to lend his support to the George Cross Island Association and the publishers "in the preparation, signing and marketing of this historic limited edition".

Sqn Ldr Bamberger said he had been reminded about the matter again when he asked to sign 600 prints, which he had agreed to do.

"I have now been sent forms and told I could buy the medal from the foundry that made them. I joked about this with our parish priest, who is Maltese, who took it very seriously and referred it to his brother in Malta," he said.

The parish priest`s brother, Joe Agius wrote in his letter to the prime minister that there should not be a time limit "for Malta to show its gratitude to these people. On the contrary, we should try to find the few surviving heroes and show them our gratitude for their bravery and heroism in defending our island in those dark and cruel times".