Tal-Handaq Nostalgia

Memories of the Royal Naval School, Malta, 1947 - 1978.

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Naval & Military
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 Ark in GH269 viewsHMS Ark Royal with Fairey Gannet taking off and SS Freshpring or Freshspray alongside delivering water, November 1960.admin
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 The Parting Shot311 viewsFinal Farewell - the then President of Malta Anton Buttigieg giving the last goodbye as HMS London departs the Grand Harbour on 1st April 1979, the last British naval vessel to leave Malta on the ultimate withdrawal from Malta. She wears the flag of the last Commander of the British forces in Malta, Rear Admiral O N A Cecil CB.

The end of an era - nearly 180 years of the Royal Navy at Malta.admin
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 Farewell to BFBS Malta, 40 years ago367 viewsFarewell to BFBS Malta, March 1979 - open the LINK HERE and click on the small black panel to listen.2 commentsadmin
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 On the beach247 viewsA Royal Navy hovercraft glides onto the sand at Mellieha Bay in 1970.

Photo : Miguel Bonelloadmin
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 Relic of St Angelo232 viewsNow on display in the re-opened Fort St Angelo with the ship's badge centre. Well worth a visit.
Although a 'Stone Frigate' HMS St Angelo was a commissioned ship, Flagship of Rear Admiral O N A Cecil, last Commander British Forces Malta (the two red circles in his flag denote rear admiral).
See Wikiadmin
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 Crab Air afloat - almost311 viewsRAF pinnace off Gozo taken when it ran into a rock and gouged a large hole in its side. Photo thanks to Caroline Roberts whose Dad was a passenger on it that day, circa 1962.admin
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 Fairey Fireflies over Ghar-id-Dud during the Battle of Britain flypast in September 1952307 viewsPhoto : Charles B Grech, former Times of Malta photographer. Paul Demajo Albanese Collection. (Negs lost in fire at the Times of Malta offices).admin
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 Canberras & Shackleton 1969308 viewsTeam formation of an Avro Shackleton MR Mk.3, XF705 ‘C’ of 203 Squadron with a pair of English Electric Canberra PR Mk.9s of 13 Squadron pictured off the coast of Malta in July 1969.

Photo : Aviation Classics Editor’s collectionadmin
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 Canberras 1970295 viewsEnglish Electric Canberras over Grand Harbour in 1970 during exercise Lime Jug.

Photo unattributedadmin
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 Trooper R Martin d. 1918297 viewsWhat does Trooper Martin have to do with Malta's part in World War One? Malta, 'Nurse of the Mediterranean' cared for casualties from the Gallipoli and Salonika campaigns. Martin died like thousands of others - but only after surviving one of the world's first open heart surgeries AND being operated upon by one of the first woman surgeons. He has become famous 100 years later.

Read MORE

...and HERE

...and HERE

We will remember them.1 commentsadmin
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 Painting by OldBat321 viewsFresh water - but can you spot the difference from the photo?

Copyright © Liz Mardel3 commentsadmin
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 Freshspray (L) & Carbine (R) 1960 ©277 viewsSister ship Freshspring (also at Malta) is currently being restored. Google it.

Copyright © Liz Mardel (OldBat)admin
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 Caption competition399 viewsOutside Astra cinema Luqa.

Answers on a postcard. No prizes, just the kudos.1 commentsadmin
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 Feeling chuffed392 views"Train" rides round St Andrew's, Airborne Forces Day 1969.

Lisa & Jane Williams, 1st & 2nd left at rear of truck.admin
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 Not waving but drowning306 viewsHRH transfers between HMS Eastbourne and HMS Walkerton off Malta, April 1960.admin
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 Whaler (L) & gig (R)344 viewsHMS Sultan's crew jolly 1877

R Ellis photographer Malta

Wreck of the Sultan at Comino 1889

admin
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 RFA Blue Ranger 1952314 viewsSmall Replenishment Tanker
Copyright © Phill Roseadmin
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 SGTS MESS CHRISTMAS PARTY. ROYAL SIGNALS552 viewsProbably taken at Sgts mess in Floriana. Anybody you recognise ?!1 commentstedhebden
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 Mtarfa water604 viewsThe photo shows my sister helping with a water delivery to our married families' quarters in St Patrick's.

Copyright © Bruce Williams1 commentsadmin
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 On This Day - Vulcan crash 14 Oct 1975711 viewsTimes of Malta headline.

Full story here (from 2010)admin
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 On This Day 648 viewsLt George Carroll - Hero of Mosta - died 23 May 2012

Lt Carroll (pictured left) is believed to have been responsible for tackling more unexploded bombs than any other Royal Engineers bomb disposal officer in World War II, across all theatres of war.

Remarkably, he was the only bomb disposal officer from the Army, Navy and Air Force active during the siege of Malta not to be decorated, though this did not bother him.

See TIMES OF MALTA

And UXB MALTAadmin
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 Another mess 'do' - HMS Falcon, Hal Far 1950s566 viewsWith my parents Olive and Len Reed.

Sue Lewis SC-UK
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 Birzebuggia Xmas party c1952496 viewsMe in plaits. 'Waiters' in uniform.

Sue Lewis (nee Reed)SC-UK
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 Bridesmaid456 viewsAs bridesmaid at a family friend Wren's wedding Kalafrana 1950s.

Sue Lewis (nee Reed)SC-UK
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 Leonard Reed399 viewsMy father Len Reed in the garden at St George, Pretty Bay c1951.

Sue LewisSC-UK
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 Hal Far - HMS Falcon434 viewsMy father Leonard Reed second from right c1951.

Sue LewisSC-UK
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 Mess Ball - Hal Far?457 viewsMy parents and pals.

Sue LewisSC-UK
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 Hal Far - HMS Falcon445 viewsMy father Len Reed was in the Royal Navy when he became in charge of a small unit of the Fleet Air Arm at Hal Far in 1950-53. I think he went up in planes fixing electrical faults connected with the radios and communications. (He didn't care much for that part !)

Sue LewisSC-UK
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 HMS Galatea - 1978 - 420 viewsA PR shot found by Russ Palmer when clearing out one of the ships offices prior to going in to refit.SC-UK
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 Ark Royal 1955572 viewsWhen new.Prefect
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 HMS Antrim 1973431 viewsPrefect
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 HMS Devonshire 1963420 viewsPrefect
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