The first 25cm schwere Minenwerfer was introduced for the first time in the Imperial German Army in 1910. The minenwerfer and its’ ammunition were cheaper to produce. In 1916 a new version, with a longer barrel and operated with hydraulic was put into production. The two 25 cm schwere Minenwerfers (one manuall, the other hydraulic) found in the museum were brought to Malta after the end of the First World War by the British as war booty and deposited at the Palace Armoury.
Small Child's Respirator (Mickey Mouse)
This was the first gas mask issued specifically for small children in Britain and her empire possessions including Malta in the early years of the Second World War. After the formation of the Air Raid Precautions Organisation in July 1939 gas respirators for adults, small children and babies were distributed. The Small Child's Respirator (Mickey Mouse) was a typical gas mask worn by toddlers in case of gas attacks by the enemy as used in the Abyssinian War of 1935-36.
GLOSTER SEA GLADIATOR N5520 ‘FAITH’
The Gloster Gladiator first flew in 1934 and entered service in 1937. The Gloster Sea Gladiator N5520 ‘Faith’ was one of a trio of biplane aircraft that defended Malta in the early days and weeks of the war. By mid-February 1941 N5520 was maintaining meteorological flights until December 1941, when the aircraft lost its wings when a close by hanger was bombed. In September 1943 its fuselage was salvaged, repaired, decorated and presented to the people of Malta. It was exhibited in the Palace Armoury and later was restored by the RAF and exhibited in the newly opened National War Museum in 1975.
Apart from N5520 FAITH the museum has a range of aircraft wreckages such as the Rolls Royce Merlin engine of Spitfire BR108, which crashed at Marsalforn Bay in July 1942.
A Bomb Shrapnel embedded in envelopes
Malta had not been involved directly in a war since 1800. The Maltese were last on the frontline blockading the French behind the Valletta, Floriana and Cottonera fortifications assisted by their British led allies. Subsequently, Malta was incorporated within the British Empire, and no conflicts occurred on the Islands, until 10 June 1940, when Il Duce, Benito Mussolini declared war on the Allies. From the next day Malta suffering severe air raids. These stringed batches of envelopes, embedded with a bomb shrapnel were retrieved from the blitzed Muscat’s Emporium at Valletta which received a direct hit on 11 June 1940, reflecting the stark realities of war.
Various types of official and unofficial documents and records
The museum contains a considerable number of various types of documents, such as ration cards, coupons and diaries. An incredibly interesting set of manuscripts documenting the amount and duration of air raids, amount of deaths and other casualties suffered by Malta was compiled by Mr. Constanzo Busuttil, Chief Custodian of the Museums’ Department. Another interesting document is the war time memoirs compiled by Carmelo Galea in Italian, pregnant with pro-British sentiments against the Axis Powers.
Governor's State Box decoration remains
The Royal Opera House built in 1866 to the designs of Edward Middleton Barry was gutted by fire in 1873 and subsequently rebuilt to the designs of Webster Paulson, who retained the surviving façade. The last performance at the Royal Opera House was in January 1942 when increasing amounts of air raids deemed performances unsafe. In fact the Royal Opera House was hit by an aerial mine on 7 April 1942. Most of the interiors’ survived, including the Governor’s State Box aptly decorated with the Royal Arms which remains were later moved. To this day the remains and memories of the Royal Opera House are the most vivid vestiges of the Second World War.
George Cross
The George Cross was instituted on 24 September 1940 by King George VI, due to the strong desire to reward the many acts of civilian courage during the height of The Blitz on Britain in 1940-41. King George VI awarded the George Cross to the island of Malta in a letter dated 15 April 1942, addressed to the island's Governor Lieutenant-General Sir William Dobbie, so as to "….bear witness to the heroism and devotion of its people."
The museum has a large collection of other medals, decorations and Orders.
Model of the Texas Oil Company (TEXACO) Tanker SS OHIO
The SS Ohio was launched on 20 April 1940 at the Sun Shipbuilding Yard in Chester, Pennsylvania. Due to the meagre supplies rescued from the mid June convoys, it was decided to send a larger convoy which had to include a large and fast oil tanker . In early July 1942 the Ohio was transferred from American to British registry. For convenience in management, Ohio was handed over on July 25 to the British Eagle Oil and Shipping Company. In early August SS Ohio sailed down to Dunglass in the Clyde and loaded 11,500 tons of kerosene and diesel fuel oils.
The Convoy Operation ‘Pedestal’ entered Gibraltar in heavy fog on August 10. Several attacks and hits were endured by the tanker on her way to Malta, including until she arrived lashed between two destroyers, steered and towed by two others in the early morning of 15 August 1942. Malta and the allied cause were thus saved.
WILLYS MB ¼-ton 4 x 4 Army Jeep ‘HUSKY’
In the late 1930s he US Army suggested to the American automobile manufacturers to come up with suggestions to replace its existing light motor vehicles. Willys-Overland was awarded the contract to supply jeeps. The Willys Jeep MB ¼-ton 4 x 4 Army Jeep ‘Husky’ was brought over to Malta by General D. Eisenhower in July 1943. He named the jeep ‘Husky’ after the code name of that operation. It was subsequently used by the American President Franklin D. Roosevelt on 8 December 1943. Later, General Eisenhower presented the jeep to Air Vice-Marshal Sir Keith Park. The Royal Air Force presented this historic jeep to the people of Malta on 16 April 1955.
CANNONE DA 75/27 M1911 (VICKERS-TERNI 75mm) Field Artillery
The Cannone da 75/27 M1911 (Vickers-Terni 75mm field gun) was used by Italy for use with its Alpine and cavalry troops during World War One and was still in widespread Italian service in 1940. This particular example was manufactured in 1927 and was the first artillery piece to be captured by the British 51st Highland Division during the invasion of Sicily in Operation ‘Husky’. On Friday 22 October 1943 Major-General W.H. Oxley presented this field gun on Castile Square to Mr. Salvino Galea, Regional Protection Officer on behalf of the People of Valletta (Malta).
