From my File Pictures ~ The Siege Bell Memorial

I took this picture from the Lower Barrakka Gardens almost three years ago

during a Craft exhibition that I took part in as part of the traditional craft makers at work

presented by the Malta Crafts Council.during the very

First Notte Bianca held in Malta

The Siege Bell Memorial is situated on the bastion adjacent to

the Lower Barrakka Gardens

right above the entrance to the Grand Harbour.

It commemorates the award of the George Cross to Malta and

was inaugurated by Queen Elizabeth II to honour those

who lost their lives during the Siege of Malta in 1940-43

commemorating some 7000 servicemen,

merchant seamen and civilians who died during WWII

14,000 tons of bombs were dropped on the tiny island of Malta,

damaging and destroying 30,000 buildings and pushing the population to near starvation.

Yet the besieged Allied Forces and the Maltese themselves

operating from this tiny island

in the Mediterranean, were instrumental in altering

the course of the whole war.

~~~~~~~~~~

A PLAQUE WAS UNVEILED BY H.E. PROFESSOR GUIDO de MARCO

(then PRESIDENT OF MALTA)

ON 15TH APRIL 2002

on THE 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE AWARD

which reads:

THIS BELL TOLLS IN

MEMORY OF THOSE

WHO GAVE THEIR

LIVES DURING THE

SIEGE OF MALTA

1940-1943

The Best of Remembrance

is in the National

War Museum. Valletta