Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna through its partnership with Bank of Valletta is organising a WWI weekend at Fort Rinella in Kalkara on the 100th Anniversary of the Great War.

The event, being held on Saturday, the 8th and Sunday, the 9th of November, between 10.00am and 5.30pm, will also feature the firing of the 100 ton gun.For this event, Fort Rinella will take us back 100 years with a full-scale infantry trench complete with barbed wire entanglements in the grounds of the fort and a 20 men detachment kitted in British WW1 kit. A full-scale WW1 battle scene will be re-enacted starting at 2.00pm.

This event is being complemented by a military headgear exhibition covering over 1,000 years of military gear evolution, the display of a genuine WW1 Vickers 18-pdr field gun, interactive displays about WW1 trench warfare and informative talks about period weaponry and equipment.

The event was launched by Mario Farrugia, CEO at Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna and Michael Galea, Chief Officer, Operations at Bank of Valletta.

“Although lacking front-line action, Malta played an active role during World War I with over 30,000 people participating in the war effort, from a total population of under 200,000,” said Mr Farrugia.

“From her role as the nurse of the Mediterranean, the Maltese also participated by enlisting in the Royal Air Force and Royal Naval Reserve, mine sweeping, submarine warfare and ship-building.”

“WWI is symbolised by trench warfare, and this event aims to bring the hardships and strife of this period to life,” continued Mr Farrugia. “The smell of rotting corpses and exposed latrines, the constant threat of a gas attack or enemy advance, rats and body lice, mud and disease were among the factors that the trench warriors had to face to conserve our freedom. In this event, we try to give the visitor a snapshot of the life that soldiers had to endure on days on end during the great war.”

“We are delighted to partner with Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna and support the professional organisation of re-enactments that showcase Malta’s rich cultural heritage and promote the appreciation of our history,” said Mr. Galea.

“Bank of Valletta’s long term partnership with Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna is of support to the Foundation’s efforts to restore historic sites around the Maltese islands and to create awareness of different eras of Maltese history,” added Mr. Galea.

He congratulated the team at Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna for their commitment and dedication that are resulting in events of such high quality that can be enjoyed by Maltese and tourists alike.

Programme of the event:

Gas mask display: 10.00am-17.00pm (throughout the day in between displays)

Bayonet Exercises: 11.30hrs

Sword Exercises: 12.30hrs

Lunch break: 13.00 – 14.00hrs

Foot Drill Display: 14.00hrs

Cavalry Display (including tent-pegging competition): 14.30hrs

Battle simulation: 15.30hrs

Firing of the 100-ton gun: 17.00hrs

Permalink: ‘The Trench’ – A World War 1 Centenary event at Fort Rinella