Malta Memorial

Malta Memorial
Malta Memorial
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Floriana War Memorial.jpg
Dedicated to Second World War Commonwealth aircrew
Used for those deceased
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 Valletta
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

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.

The Malta Memorial is identified by the gilded bronze Golden Eagle which surmounts the 15 m (49 ft) column of Travertine marble, from Trivoli 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:

References

External links