Malta Memorial

The 285 men from the Royal Canadian Air Force whose names appear on the Malta Memorial were involved in operations carried out from widely scattered bases during the Second World War. They are among the 2,297 commemorated at Malta, representing all parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire. They helped to guard and to keep open certain of the most vital sea routes linking the various countries. In gaining mastery in the air, the men commemorated here sacrificed themselves. The Memorial is built on a site provided by the Government of Malta.

The Memorial takes the form of a column, 15 metres high, of Travertine marble from Trivoli in the Sabine Hills near Rome. It is carved with a light netted pattern and surmounted by a gilded bronze eagle 2.4 metres high. The column stands on a circular base around which the names are inscribed on bronze panels. At the base of the column itself, a bronze panel bears the following inscription:

OVER THESE AND NEIGHBOURING LANDS AND SEAS THE AIRMEN WHOSE NAMES ARE RECORDED HERE FELL IN RAID OR SORTIE AND HAVE NO KNOWN GRAVE MALTA GIBRALTAR MEDITERRANEAN ADRIATIC TUNISIA SICILY ITALY YUGOSLAVIA AUSTRIA PROPOSITI INSULA TENAX TENACES VIROS COMMEMORAT *

From the base of the Memorial, a fine view is obtained both of Grand Harbour on the east and of Marsamuscetto Harbour on the west. Twelve metres below its foundations runs a tunnel through which from 1885 until 1907 ran Malta's only railway, from Valletta to Intarfa. Many families sought refuge in this tunnel during air raids.

* "An island resolute of purpose remembers resolute men"

Directions

The Malta Memorial is situated in the area of Floriana and is easily identified by the Golden Eagle which surmounts the column. The memorial is located to the south side of the Triton Fountain at the entrance to Malta's capital city, Valletta.