Malta Command


Malta Command was an independent command of the British Army. It commanded all army units involved in the defence of Malta. Once mobilised the Command deployed its headquarters to underground hardened shelters and its combat units were deployed to fixed points in the Maltese countryside, from where they operated from. This mobilised, but largely static army garrison would be tested by aerial bombardment and naval blockade during the Second World War. Whilst Malta Command was already a functioning command structure before 1939, it had existed in the Great War and was specifically mentioned in a House of Commons debate of 12 February 1917; the Second World War would see the Command operate as a genuine war-fighting headquarters, albeit in a static defensive role.
On 15 April 1942 the Island of Malta was awarded the George Cross by King George VI in recognition of the stalwart defence and fortitude of service personnel and civilians against a much more powerful Axis foe. Malta an Island of only 117 square miles had been more heavily bombed then London had been during their blitz.

World War 1 and the Interwar Years

There is evidence that Malta Command existed in 1916, 1917 and in 1929.
Between 1935 and 1936 the following infantry battalions were on the Island and part of Malta Command:
Malta's garrison was a single infantry brigade; comprising the 2nd Battalion the Devonshire Regiment, 2nd Battalion the Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment, 1st Battalion the Dorsetshire Regiment and the 2nd Battalion the Royal Irish Fusiliers. An infantry territorial unit was also present, the 1st Battalion The King's Own Malta Regiment. The Malta garrison's artillery was largely fixed and consisted of light and heavy anti-aircraft; and coastal defence artillery regiments drawn from the Royal Artillery and Royal Malta Artillery. The Royal Engineers were also in evidence with British and Maltese serving in the Corps on the Island.

The Reinforced Army Garrison

On 11 March 1942 Malta Command became subordinate to General Headquarters Middle East.

Infantry

In late 1939 the pre-war garrison was reinforced up to an infantry division. The original infantry garrison, plus the three brigades that reinforced the island's regular British Army were titled 1, 2, 3, and 4 Brigades; but were subsequently renumbered in 1943 as follows:
Personal weapons such as the.303-in SMLE, 9mm Sten or.38 service revolver are not included in this study.

Artillery

The anti-aircraft defence was understandably dense and British and Maltese anti-aircraft units were interwoven into the following ORBAT:
By 1940 Malta Command had a small amount of modern mobile field artillery, much of its artillery was located in fixed positions in the anti-aircraft and coastal defence royal. It was manned by members of the Royal Artillery and Royal Malta Artillery.
NameTypePhotoNumbers on Island and Remarks
.303 Vickers Heavy Machine GunBattalion fire support weaponEach infantry battalion had four guns normally in a single Machine Gun Platoon
3 Inch MortarInfantry mortar - battalion indirect fire supportEach infantry battalion had 6 mortar tubes
2 Pounder GunInfantry anti-tank weaponEach infantry battalion had two carried portee or dismounted in a 15cwt truck
18 Pounder Field gun/HowitzerMulti-role mobile field artilleryOne RA coastal defence regiment of 24 guns
25 Pounder Field gun/HowitzerMulti-role mobile field artilleryOne RA field regiment of 24 guns

For details of fixed artillery see Royal Malta Artillery's equipment list.

[Royal Armoured Corps]

By 1942 Malta Command Tanks had a small mixed force of Royal Tank Regiment tanks known as "Malta Tanks" during its time on the Island. The only other armoured vehicles were the Universal Carriers of the infantry units.
NameTypePhotoArmament & Numbers on Island
Vickers Light Tank Reconnaissance TankDual turret fit of a Vickers.5in and.303 or Dual turret fit of a Besa 15mm and 7.92 mm Machine Guns - Three Deployed
Matilda Infantry Support Tank2 Pounder 40mm gun & Besa 7.92 mm coaxial machine gun - Four Deployed
Cruiser Cruiser Tank2 Pounder 40mm gun & Besa 7.92 mm coaxial machine gun - Eight Deployed
Valentine Infantry Support Tank2 Pounder 40mm gun & Besa 7.92 mm coaxial machine gun - Four Deployed
Bren Gun CarrierLightly armoured tracked Infantry Weapons Carrier.55 Boys anti-tank rifle and/or.303 Bren Light Machine Gun - 10 deployed with each infantry battalion

Combat & Service Support Units

Critical to the success and resilience of Malta's was local commitment and bravery the following units were fully integrated in Malta Command:
On 2 December 1944 Malta Command regained its status as an independent command and it ceased its command relationship with GHQ Middle East in Cairo. The British would remember the war in a somewhat detached and romanticised fashion in films like The Malta Story; the Maltese never had a chance to record their views being viewed as 'plucky' citizens of a British colony. In 1954 Headquarters Malta Command occupied the Auberge de Castille, known locally as "The Castille". Malta Command would be reduced from 1964 and this led to acrimony between the Maltese and British Governments, and the post independence period was a period of bitterness, British forces on the Island in the front line of Maltese antipathy. Malta Command was largely wound up by 1977 with all major units repatriated to the UK. Salerno Company of 41 Commando Royal Marines finally left the island aboard a Royal Fleet Auxiliary Sir Lancelot Landing Ship Logistic on 31 March 1979.