Heritage Malta’s latest research has produced information that sheds new light on the series of events leading to the award of the George Cross to Malta, which was officially presented on the 13th of September 1942.

It was explained that while the new material does not rewrite history, it adds significant details to this chain of events, particularly the purely incidental circumstances which started the award procedure.

Conducted by Kenneth Gambin and Giancarlo Azzopardi at the Royal Archives of Windsor Castle, the research has been published in the new Heritage Malta book The George Cross: its untold story, produced to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the National War Museum celebrated in May this year.

Heritage Malta said that the highlight of this research includes a hand-written citation and other correspondence by King George VI himself. The King had been informed of a letter sent to the editor of the Times of London and published on 10th April 1942.

The letter, written by a retired British army officer with a Maltese connection, suggested that Malta should be honoured for its contribution to the Allied war effort.There had been previous suggestions about awarding Malta for its resistance, but nothing had ever materialised. This time, however, the King took a very personal interest in the matter. He accepted the suggestion wholeheartedly and even wrote the citation accompanying the George Cross medal – dated 15th April 1942 – in his own hand.

Heritage Malta said that the fact that he took the time and effort to write the citation and even correct it himself indicates that he felt strongly about the critical situation in Malta and the tribulations of the Maltese people. “Also worthy of note is the fact that this interest was shown in private correspondence that was never meant to be published, and not in a stately or official declaration.”

Governor John Gort’s initial plan to erect a small building in Valletta specifically to host a display of the George Cross and citation is also new information discovered during this research, albeit the building did not materialise.

Heritage Malta noted that the award of the George Cross was generally welcomed by the Maltese at the time, as demonstrated also during the King’s visit to Malta the following year. However, there were others who commented that the George Cross was their least concern – they were much more worried about the food shortage and the general situation.

“Whatever the case may be, the award of the George Cross was probably the only instance in the millennial history of Malta where the valour of its people was formally and publicly acknowledged by a foreign ruler,” said Heritage Malta.

A replica of the George Cross will be on display at St Paul’s Catacombs on the 20th of September, during the Rabat and Mdina edition of Heritage Malta’s event ‘Museums by Candlelight.’

Photos: Heritage Malta

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