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It does not take long to spot the signs that foreign powers have left behind on Malta; whether it is the forts dotted around the country, the popularity of foreign ingredients or the red post boxes in town centres.
Yet Malta has also managed to fashion all these influences into something unique, with a mix of Mediterranean and British culture, a creative and adaptable nature and a language that borrows from several others.
Every group that has come to the island has always left something behind. As locals like to jokingly say, the British left Malta with their work ethic while the Italians left their culinary skills – thankfully it wasn’t the other way around!
Island of Bravery
"To honour her brave people I award the George Cross to the Island Fortress of Malta to bear witness to a heroism and devotion that will long be famous in history,” the king said in a letter in April 1942 to the governor of Malta at the time, Lieutenant-General Sir William Dobbie.
In his reply, Dobbie said, "By God's help Malta will not weaken but will endure until victory is won."
The George Cross is second only to the Victoria Cross in importance among British medals and is the highest gallantry award for civilians. The silver cross is now on display at the National War Museum in the capital, Valletta, and is also proudly incorporated into the top left hand corner of the country’s flag. |
