Birgu Dom Mintoff Freedom Day
Leave your feedback
LEAVE YOUR FEEDBACK

Video ID: 1120

Submitting Feedback

Ceremony marks end of British military base in Malta

Description

 

The last minute of 31st March 1979 marked the end of an era as Malta ceased to be a British military base for the first time in 180 years.

Thousands of people crammed into the square in Vittoriosa, others watched from the boats crowded near the foreshore or viewed the event on live television.

The focus of the evening was at the Vittoriosa seafront where distinguished guests gathered for the flag-raising ceremony.

Prime Minister Dom Mintoff arrived just five minutes before the ceremony began.

Moments later a young British sailor, Signalman David Gilchrist, 23, of HMS London, slowly hauled down the Union Jack, carefully wrapped it round his left arm, then moved forwards to shake hands with Carmel Boxall, 22, of Vittoriosa, an employee of the Malta Public Works Department.

There were cheers and applause as the Union Jack was slowly lowered with more cheering and clapping a minute later when Alfred Xuereb, 45, of Cospicua, a dockyard welder, hoisted the Maltese flag. A police bugler, PC Richard Cauchi, 28, of Hamrun, stood by.

The four men are represented in bronze to this day on the monument that celebrates the historic day in Vittoriosa.

More places from Birgu

Ceremony marks end of British military base in Malta
Birgu Dom Mintoff Freedom Day
  The last minute of 31st March 1979 marked the end of an era as Malta ceas...
The real story behind the Malta riots in 1958
Birgu General Workers Union
The political arguments over the future of Malta degenerated into violence on Sa...
Malta’s maritime city: Meet the people of Vittoriosa (Birgu)
Birgu
This is a short extract from a documentary which was first broadcast in 1978. It...

Places Nearby

Restoration of Tarxien Parish Church
TARXIEN
The parish church of Tarxien was built in 1595 and is dedicated to the Annunciat...
It’s an emergency! Meet the Malta Police Fire Brigade
Floriana Malta Fire Brigade
This is Malta Fire Brigade in action at Floriana fire station in the 1960s. The ...
Good Friday celebrations in Malta and Gozo over the years
Valletta, Malta Easter in Malta
Holy Week has always been important in Malta and Gozo. The celebrations before E...
The Vulcan plane crash that devastated Zabbar
Zabbar Vincenza Zammit RAF Luqa Vulcan
This is the shocking aftermath of one of the worst aviation disasters in Malta&#...
The history behind Malta’s beloved Chadwick Lakes
Rabat Sir Osbert Chadwick Chadwick Lakes
Chadwick Lakes have long been popular with families who enjoy picnics in the Mal...
Honouring Maltese social reformer Manwel Dimech
Valletta, Malta
This film from the archives shows the installation of a statue of Maltese social...
How Malta survived the Second World War
Valletta, Malta second world war malta
Malta became the most bombed place on Earth in 1942. In total, 15,000 tonnes of ...
Soaking up the sun in Sliema in the Swinging Sixties
Sliema, Malta Sliema
It’s no surprise that Sliema has always been popular. The seafront resort ...
Malta’s Carnival celebrations are almost 500 years old
Valletta, Malta
Carnival has had an important place in the Maltese cultural calendar for just un...
Digging deep to uncover Malta’s ancient history
Dingli
This archive footage from 1966 shows archeologists exploring one of Malta’...
Archive film of one of Malta’s most popular beaches
Ghajn Tuffieha
Summer in Malta means sun, sea and sand. And it appears it has been that way for...
How Floriana has never played second fiddle to Valletta
Floriana Sir Maurice Dorman Floriana football club
Floriana has a rich history. The town, a stone’s throw away from Valletta,...