A N Z AC 2 0 2 3 i n M a l t a

Malta and Australia are two islands separated by continents and seas but firmly linked by ties of family and history World War I that began the close relationship between the two countries During the terrible conflict, Maltese and Australians lived, fought and died together

Over 10 per cent of Malta's 222,000 people had volunteered for far-related duties, with almost 1,100 members of the Malta Labour Corps working with Australians at Gallipoli, Lemnos and Mudros The Maltese served gallantly with Australian regiments, six receiving decorations for their service in the 7th Brigade

The Anzac legend was born on 25 April, when some 16,000 Australian and New Zealand Army Corps soldiers landed under fire on the shores of Gallipoli, Turkiye They formed part of the expedition to capture the Gallipoli peninsula and open the Dardanelles to the Allied navies

They were the first time soldiers of the two fledgling nations fought together.

At the end of 1915, the Allied force was evacuated after both sides suffered appalling casualties Over 56,000 Allied soldiers were killed in the campaign, including more than 11,000 Australian and New Zealand troops

Several Maltese served with the British armed forces in World War I, including 800 volunteers who supported the Gallipoli campaign Some 58,000 wounded and sick Allied troops got evacuated to Malta from the Dardanelles. In total, 28 hospitals and convalescence camps were operational in Malta during the war as the island became the resting place of 204 Australians and 72 New Zealand soldiers Malta's position in the Mediterranean made it an important strategic location in both world wars

In Malta, Anzac Day on 25 April has been commemorated since 1916 In 1979 the service began to be held at the Pietá Military Cemetery, containing the highest number of ANZAC war graves (231) in Malta.

HE Ms Jenny Cartmill, High Commissioner for Australia cohosted this year's impressive service with the New Zealand High

Andy Busuttil

Anzac Day has always held special meaning for me Not so much because I see it as the 'birthplace' of Australia, my adopted home, (which I don't, by the way), but because I see it as a useless and senseless loss of young life

What many do not realise is that Malta was the place where so many of the young wounded and sick from the Dardanelles were sent to recover Many did and many died on the Island, to be buried and for their graves to be maintained and cared for into perpetuity

Notwithstanding, I have performed the Anzac concert over a good number of years and with a number of fabulous performers.

My links with Anzac Day became further

Commission (accredited from Madrid), which was attended by several personalities that included HE Dr George Vella, the President of the Republic of Malta, Mr Kevin Bonnici, the New Zealand Honorary Consul, HE Mr Erdeniz Sen, Ambassador of the Republic of Turkiye, Mr David Agius the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Malta, and representatives of the UK, Germany, France, The Netherlands, the USA, India and Italy Embassies or High Commissions They all laid wreaths and flowers at the foot of the monument

Other organisations in Malta with affiliations to Australia or New Zealand also laid wreaths They included the Maltese-Australian Association, the Council of the Maltese Living Abroad, and the editor of The Voice of the Maltese on behalf of its readers. The Australian High Commission also hosted an Anzac Day reception at her residence