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Local war hero honoured by Malta

It was a great privilege and honour to meet with Samuel Earl and his wife Jean at their home in Homersfield.

At the end of July, Samuel was proud to find a letter in the post containing a certificate confirming a citation he had received from Malta awarding him ‘Honorary Citizenship of Valletta for the life long virtues of courage, fortitude and perseverance shown during Operation Pedestal in August 1942’

Samuel and Jean Earl with the certificate which reads:-

“Known by all men, the historical importance of Operation Pedestal, one of the leading events of World War II, a turning point in the Defence of Malta and the survival of its people:
Grateful of the enduring participation of those who, bestowed with the virtues of courage, fortitude and perseverance, put their life at risk to serve others.
And in the memory of many more, who, endowed with the same virtues, lost their lives in the cause of peace:
Therefore by Resolution of 29th May 2002, the Valletta Local Council hereby bestows upon Samuel Earl the title of Honorary Citizen of Valletta for the life long virtues of courage, fortitude and perseverance shown during Operation Pedestal in August 1942”

The citation was signed by the Mayor, Paul Borg Olivier and Executive Secretary, Simon Cauchi in September 2002 and earlier this year Samuel was invited to Malta in order to be presented with the certificate however, a long spell in hospital meant that he was unable to go and the certificate was forwarded by post.

Samuel was on Active Service with the Royal Marines and saw many friends and comrades killed in great numbers during the bitter fighting and heavy bombardment that took place in the Mediterranean, In fact he himself was one of only three survivors when a ‘Buffalo’ landing craft was blown up killing 26 men all of them friends.

He was on convoy work to Malta for three years and during that time experienced arial and torpedo attacks as supplies to the island were lost time and time again but the last attempt saw the most powerful force ever to escort a convoy

Operation Pedestal was launched in August 1942 as a final attempt to get supplies to Malta which had resisted repeated onslaughts but now had serious shortages of food and fuel

Photo shows the bread queues n Malta

Convoy "Pedestal" put to sea, entering the Mediterranean in heavy fog with 14 merchant ships and an escort that included four aircraft carriers.
It suffered air attacks and torpedo attacks on an unprecedented scale with many ships being lost and approximately 400 men losing their lives.
Samuel said that he saw ships blown up, and still today he cannot forget the tremendous loss of life that he witnessed from the aircraft carrier HMS Indominitable which was also badly damaged.

Eventually five ships reached Valletta harbour with their cargo of vital provisions and fuel and this gave the island of Malta the supplies they so desperately needed.

Without the 55,000 tons of stores and fuel that the five remaining ships were able to deliver Malta would have been forced to surrender within a month. If Operation Pedestal had failed there would have been no time or ships to mount another attempt.

Photo shows HMS Indominitable and HMS Eagle taken from HMS Victorious.

Samuel Earl is now very ill yet he still remembers clearly the names of ships, friends and colleagues and the bravery of all those merchant seamen. ‘If I felt well enough I could talk for hours’ he said.

Sam is a member of the Bungay Branch of the Royal British Legion and, until recently took part in the annual parade on Remembrance Sunday wearing his beret with pride.
Peter Smith, author of ‘Pedestal – the Malta Convoy of August 1942’ is quoted as saying:
“I don't think we can imagine what it would have been like out there.
Yet all these men who survived are very modest. If I did half of what they did in Pedestal, I would be a very proud man."

I am indebted to Michael Buhagiar of Zabbar Malta wh has allowed the use of photographs. His very comprehensive and moving account of Operation Pedestal is amazing...... take a look. It is hard today to imagine all that these men had to endure in August 1942. Mike is 19 years old and the amount of time and effort he has put into researching this as tremendous.

As Mchael said: "After I read all the info and found some photos I put them on my website. I had done this not to make money or somthing but only to honour all those merchant navy man and gunners on the Maltese coast who defended the convoy so my country will stay free from the Axis
Please thank Samuel Earl for me and send him my regards".