Language selection

Government of Canada / Gouvernement du Canada

Search veterans.gc.ca

Saving Malta

Heroes Remember

Saving Malta

Transcript
But this plane was coming straight towards us and I could not see any possibility of that ship missing us. But in a few, in the few seconds that it took place, this plane barely cleared the top of the foremast and crashed into the ocean on the opposite side of the ship. I think that was the closest that our ship had been to sustaining any serious damage. Oh, we had had bombs alongside us and everything but we had been fortunate and did not sustain any direct hits. Other ships were not so lucky but the whole of Malta on the, on the morning, following morning turned out to greet the ships that had made it through that perilous journey and as a result of this, Malta was saved, the siege was broken and we were able to get surface ships through more frequently following that particular battle. It was a battle that saved Malta but the loss of life and the loss of ships was tremendous but it was achieved.
Description

Mr. Rusling talks about events during the breaking of the siege of Malta.

Frank Rusling

Frank Rusling was born in Belton, Lincolnshire, England on January 30, 1922. His father moved the family to the county of Suffolk in England where he grew up. He joined the Royal Navy at the age of 15 because of his love for the ocean. He entered the communications’ department of the navy and trained in visual signalling where he was very successful during his training and very rapidly reached the rank of Yeoman of Signals. The first vessel he was on was the HMS Sheffield. However, he did work on other vessels and travelled to several parts of the world with the Royal Navy. After the war he joined the Canadian Pacific police where he served for 30 years. He now resides in Saint John, New Brunswick.

Meta Data
Medium:
Video
Owner:
Veterans Affairs Canada
Duration:
01:47
Person Interviewed:
Frank Rusling
War, Conflict or Mission:
Second World War
Location/Theatre:
North Africa
Branch:
Navy
Rank:
Yeoman of Signals
Occupation:
Signalman

Copyright / Permission to Reproduce

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook Youtube

Related Videos

Attack on Hellville (Part 1 of 2)

Attack on Hellville (Part 1 of 2)

Mr. Rusling describes the attack on Hellville with 20mm guns and mortars. It was the first time that he saw a grenade being thrown. Fortunately, no one was injured.

Attack on Hellville (Part 2 of 2)

Attack on Hellville (Part 2 of 2)

After the initial attack they had to search all the buildings one by one.

Nature's beauty

Nature's beauty

Mr. Rusling talks about the boat trip that they had made up the river and how beautiful the scenery was. He remembers the beauty of the jungle when he was sitting up on the mountain waiting and that he will never forget that beauty as long as he lives.

Merchant ships and the Ohio tanker

Merchant ships and the Ohio tanker

Mr. Rusling talks about the tanker Ohio and the damage she sustained after being bombed again on the way to Malta as part of that fleet. She was the last ship to reach Malta.

Battle near Malta

Battle near Malta

Mr. Rusling talks about a battle that took place close to Malta and the time when he was on deck and he saw a German torpedo bomber heading for their vessel, the Marksman. However, this bomber never fired its guns on the Marksman. He really thought the end had come for him.

HMS Manxman's demise (Part 1 of 3)

HMS Manxman's demise (Part 1 of 3)

Mr. Rusling talks about the Manxman being torpedoed, and her eventual demise and how they lost 4 men that day.

HMS Manxman's demise (Part 2 of 3)

HMS Manxman's demise (Part 2 of 3)

Mr. Rusling talks about lowering a boat in to the water to rescue a man. They also found the body of one of the stokers in the water but he eventually died as a result of his wounds.

HMS Manxman's demise (Part 3 of 3)

HMS Manxman's demise (Part 3 of 3)

Mr. Rusling concludes his story about the Marksman being torpedoed with her eventual demise. He also talks about close friendships that developed on the ship.

Date modified: