The 69th Anniversary Commemoration of Operation Pedestal a.k.a. The Santa Marija Convoy will be taking place this coming Friday, the 12th of August, at a new venue, the Barriera Wharf, Grand Harbour, Valletta, (next to Pixkerija) from 6.50pm until 8.10pm.

The Apostleship of the Sea, based at the Emigrants Commission and under the directorship of Mgr. Philip Calleja, will once again be marking this important wartime anniversary with a poignant memorial service in the company of Government and foreign dignitaries, veteran associations, war veterans and members of the general public.

The activity consists of a historical narration of events, hymns and moments of prayer and reflection for those lost at sea during this epic Mission that went on to save wartime Malta from certain capitulation.

The solemn moments will be marked by the tolling of the Siege Bell, a Minute’s silence, a Gun salute by a group of WWII re-en-actors in military dress who shall be portraying a wartime Battalion as well as a wreath laying Ceremony at sea that will be witnessed by all present.

Once again, the commemoration will have the honour to be blessed by the attendance of war veterans Terence Mahon from HMS Ashanti and also Allan Shaw who is one of only two surviving crew men from the legendary oil Tanker SS Ohio, that was to prove so vital for the success of the beleaguered Island of Malta.

Mr Shaw was aboard SS Ohio throughout the entire onslaught and continuous bombardment of his ship en-route to Malta from Scotland, 69 years ago. Below is an account of his time on S/S Ohio as it approached Malta.

Allan G. Shaw- S/S ‘Ohio’ – Service Number: R197940. Began his seafaring Career in September 1939 joining an old Greek ship called ‘Alex’ as a Deck Boy.

Transferred to ‘Sutherland,’ a cargo ship in October ’40 where he stayed till November ’41 leaving her as an Ordinary Seaman and joined a motor vessel ‘Ripley’ on 7th January ’42 leaving her in April ’42 where on the 10th July ’42 in Glasgow, Allan signed onto the ‘SS Ohio’, a tanker requisitioned from Taxaco in the US by the US President Roosevelt following a direct request from Prime Minister Winston Churchill.

“A day after watching the HMS Eagle go down in Pedestal on the way to Malta, Allan was on the aft end of Ohio when the torpedo struck on the 12th August ’42. It was at about 20.00hrs and still daylight. Water and flame shot up to mast height and Allan and his mates grabbed extinguishers and went up to the flying bridge as the hoses where useless due to engine room damage. Allan helped rig emergency steering gear and used a single telephone line at the stern to take instructions. Allan remembers zigzagging through the minefields as Ohio followed a rigged up blue light on HMS Ledbury’s stern in the darkness. On the 13th , some crew and a life boat were reported as missing and on the morning of the 14th just before noon, a german Stuka crashed onto the fore deck’s Starboard side in front of the Bridge amidst continuous air raids and near misses. In the afternoon, a second plane bounced off the water onto the main deck aft of the Bridge where Allan helped to throw the bits overboard. An aerial bomb went through the funnel and blew the engine room out littering asbestos onto the crew that came down like snow. Cpt Mason ordered Abandon Ship and Allan transferred to HMS Penn for three hours following which Ohio was re-boarded. Ohio was then lashed to HMS Bramham and Penn, steered by HMS Ledbury astern but was again abandoned as she kept tearing away from her lashings. Reboarded again during the night, the 4 ship flotilla made progress towards Marsaxlokk, Malta and round the bend towards Valletta, where Allan tended to the lashings together with his crew. Allan was standing on Starboard when Ohio made for berth to a tumultuous welcome that Allan will never forget. He disembarked, was given tea and a tot of Rum following which we was taken to the Meadow bank Hotel in Sliema.

Stayed a month and got back on a Hudson Bomber to Gibralter for a day joining an Australian Destroyer, HMAS Quiberon back to the Clyde, where he was welcomed back by a letter from Lord Leathers, Minister of War Transport who granted a special 2 week Leave on full pay for his endeavor.”

The 69th Anniversary Commemoration of ‘Operation Pedestal'( August 1942) programme is as follows:

1845hrs ‘Amazing Grace’ (Choir) ‘Ismaghha l-ghanja’ , Lyrics: Dun Karm, Music: G. Caruana (Choir)

18.50hrs Introduction (Charles Coleiro)

18.52hrs ‘Lilek omm Alla’ (Choir)

19.00hrs Opening Prayer by Fr Joe Borg – Port Chaplain ‘Il-konvoy ta Santa Marija’ – Author: Victor Scerri ( read by C. Coleiro)

19.10hrs ‘Defiant and Triumphant’ (narration by Simon Cusens and Ninette Micallef)

19.20hrs ‘The Lord is my shepherd’ (Choir)

19.24hrs ‘Now welcome Malta’ -Roundel , poem by G. Cauchi Imbroll- (read by N. Micallef)

19.27hrs Bidding Prayers by Fr Joe Borg, Can. Rev. Simon Godfrey, Rev. Doug Mc Roberts

19.30hrs Re-enactment :Malta Command WWII Living History Group

19.40hrs “The Ultimate Sacrifice” (Audio clip)

19.44hrs ‘Last post’ (AFM Buglers)

19.46hrs One Minute Silence

19.47hrs “Reveille” (AFM Buglers)

19.49hrs Wreath laying at sea

‘Hail Queen of Heaven’ (Choir)

Tolling of Siege Bell

Bagpiper’s lament

‘Ave Maria’ ( Schubert ) (Choir)

20.05 hrs Return of Patrol Boat

20.10hrs Exhortation

20.15hrs Eternal Rest (Fr Joe Borg, Can. Rev. Simon Godfrey, Rev. Doug Mc Roberts)

20.18hrs ‘Innu Nazzjonali’ (Choir)

Acknowledgements

Compere: Charles Coleiro; Producer: Simon Cusens- Organising Committee: Fr Joe Borg, Louis Cassar, Fr. Steno Deraffaele SJ, Mgr. Philip Calleja ( President, Malta Emigrants Commission), Fr. Alfred Vella (Archbishop’s Delegate), Charles Grech. Organist and Musical Director: Dr. Dominic Degabriele.

Refreshments courtesy of the British High Commission shall be served to those in attendance after the Service.

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