Orders, Decorations and Medals

A rare and evocative Second World War siege of Malta M.M. group of five awarded to Acting Warrant Officer Class 2 W. H. Cross, Royal Artillery, who was decorated for his gallant command of a Bofors Gun Detachment on the famous Luqa-Safi Strip in the period December 1941 to April 1942: while the majority of military personnel sought shelter during the incessant bombing raids that became part of life on “Malta G.C.”, no such luxury was available to the hard-pressed gunners of the Royal Artillery and Royal Malta Artillery, who remained fully exposed to enemy attack

Military Medal, G.VI.R. (1601813 A./W.O. Cl. II W. H. Cross, R.A.), in its original named card box of issue; 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Defence and War Medals, good very fine (5) £2000-2500

M.M. London Gazette 18 February 1943. The original recommendation states:

‘This N.C.O. commanded a Bofors Gun Detachment at the edge of the Luqa-Safi connecting strip from December 1941 to April 1942. The position is dangerously located and invariably subject to the enemy’s main attack. Despite the nature of the position and the continued enemy attacks, this N.C.O., by his personal courage, leadership and rigid discipline welded his men into a team of the highest efficiency and fighting spirit.

With complete disregard to general danger he has always maintained a high standard of leadership. On one occasion, three bombs fell within 20 yards resulting in casualties and knocking over by blast the remainder of the gun team. This N.C.O., however, rallied his men immediately, picking up those that were dazed and shaken, and within a matter of seconds the team was rallied and the gun was in action engaging enemy aircraft with great effect.

His conduct was always a source of encouragement and an inspiration. The foregoing incident, which occurred on 20 April 1942, during a very heavy attack, was only typical of this N.C.O’s ability to deal with any situation, however awkward that might arise.’

Wilfred Harry Cross, a native of Chesham, Buckinghamshire, was serving in 59/74th Light Anti-Aircraft Battery, R.A. at the time of the above cited deeds, his recommendation being approved by Major-General R. M. Scobie, G.O.C. Malta. His unit was in fact charged with the defence of the famous Luqa-Safi Strip, a vital link between the airfields of Luqa and Hal Far:

‘Famous among everyone who has worked in Malta was the Safi Strip, a track winding through grey rock, small terraced fields, carob trees and scrub ... Many tons of bombs have been dropped on the Strip, and it was often considered an adventure to travel the length of it unless guided by someone who knew all the shelter holes’ (The Air Battle of Malta refers).

Alas, for the likes of Cross, such shelters were for use of everyone but the gunners of the R.A., who were subjected to incessant attack from the Luftwaffe and Regia Aeronautica, not least in early 1942, when with overwhelming numbers, limitless replacements and at high cost, the enemy adopted a brutal policy to bludgeon Malta into submission - the weight of bombs dropped in April alone was around 6,725 tons. A contemporary account from a Royal Artillery staff officer, praising the work of the R.A. defences manned by men like Cross, states:

‘The dust after a raid is terrific; but in Malta where the soil is so light and the stones so soft, the cloud of dust that rises is as thick as any smoke screen and makes the work of the gunners trying to see their targets doubly difficult. Sometimes an hour later one could see the dust cloud in a compact mass miles above the sea, driven along with the wind. The weight of these attacks was particularly severe on the gun positions surrounding the airfields. At first, the enemy made the actual airfield itself the main objective. Gun positions suffered from badly aimed bombs and from those released too early or too late, but very soon his main objective became the fringes of the airfield where the aircraft were lying. Combined with this, he made deliberate attacks on the anti-aircraft positions. These suffered severely as they could not be moved out too far lest the airfield runways became bereft of protection.’

And of April 1942 itself - known as the cruellest month - the official account of the R.A.F. in Malta 1940-42 continues:

‘On average there were 170 enemy bombers over every day, Ju. 88s and Ju. 87s coming in waves of 12 to 15 at a few minutes’ interval ... each raid usually lasted about one hour and the total time under raids during the month came to 12 days, 10 hours and 20 minutes ... The Anti-Aircraft Artillery for a time had the battle to themselves. They destroyed 102 enemy aircraft in the month, their best achievement. Thirty of these fell to them during one week ended 8th April. In the course of that week they achieved their record of ammunition expenditure. In one day an average of 69 rounds was fired for every Heavy Anti-Aircraft Gun and 56 rounds for every Bofors gun.’

Small wonder then that one Royal Artillery officer suggested to the B.B.C. that it cut down the scale of its bulletins by simply stating, “During the last month, Malta had six all clears, one of which lasted for twenty-five minutes”; nor, too, that German radio felt compelled to admit, “Malta’s Anti-Aircraft Artillery must be counted among Tommy’s very best, and plays the greatest part in the defence of the Island.”

Sold with original Buckingham Palace forwarding letter for the M.M.