Malta Memorial

Malta Memorial
Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Dedicated to Second World War Commonwealth aircrew
Used for those deceased
Unveiled 3 May 1954
Location 35°53′40.57″N 014°30′28.27″E / 35.8946028°N 14.5078528°E / 35.8946028; 14.5078528 (Malta Memorial)Coordinates: 35°53′40.57″N 014°30′28.27″E / 35.8946028°N 14.5078528°E / 35.8946028; 14.5078528 (Malta Memorial)
near Floriana
Total commemorated
2,298
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
Plaque informing the public at the start of the walkway

The Malta Memorial is a commemorative war memorial monument to the 2,298 Commonwealth aircrew who lost their lives in the various Second World War air battles and engagements around the Mediterranean, and who have no known grave.[1][2]

After the war ended, and with its pivotal contribution to the air war in the Mediterranean, Malta was the chosen location of the memorial. Built on land generously donated by the Government of Malta,[3] it is located in the area of Floriana, to the south side of the Triton Fountain close to City Gate, the entrance to Malta's capital city, Valletta. It was inaugurated by Queen Elizabeth II on 3 May 1954.

The Malta Memorial is identified by the gilded bronze golden eagle which surmounts the 15 m (49 ft) column of Travertine marble, from Tivoli in the Sabine Hills near Rome.[4] It is carved with a light netted pattern and surmounted by a gilded bronze eagle 2.4 m (7 ft 10 in) 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:[3]

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*

The Latin epigram may be rendered in English: AN ISLAND RESOLUTE OF PURPOSE REMEMBERS RESOLUTE MEN.[3]

Those remembered on the memorial include:

See also

References

  1. "CWGC in Malta" (PDF). Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Retrieved 2008-10-29.
  2. Cemetery Details
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Malta Memorial, Malta". Veterans Affairs, Canada. Retrieved 2008-10-29.
  4. "Malta Memorial, Malta". Veterans Affairs, Canada. Retrieved 2008-10-29.
  5. Casualty details—Trigg, Lloyd Alan, Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Retrieved on 29 October 2008.
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