For two and half years in what became known as the Battle of Malta, Italy and later Germany laid siege to Malta dropping more bombs on the tiny island than on the entire UK throughout the war.

With the King awarding the George Cross to the people of Malta for their bravery, the battle culminated in mid-1942 when Malta became strategically vital and the RAF’s premier fighter commander, Air Vice Marshall Keith Park arrived and turned the tide against the Luftwaffe.

Victory in the Battle of Malta was a vital precursor to the allies’ victory at the Second Battle of Alamein which formed part of General Sir Alan Brooke’s strategy for defeating Germany and winning the war.