11 January 1942: Church Bells Warn of Invasion

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11 January 1942: Church Bells Warn of Invasion

11 Jan

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CHURCH BELLS SILENCED PENDING GENERAL ALARM

St Publius Church

Malta’s church bells will no longer signal the ‘All Clear’ but will instead only be used to raise a ‘General Alarm’, such as for an invasion. Since the onset of war, bells have been silenced except when required for the war effort.

The ‘Alert’ will now be signalled by a warbling note on a siren or the firing of three petards. The ‘Raiders Passed’ signal will be a steady note from the siren.

ARMY LABOURS THROUGH HEAVY WEATHER

Army working parties are continuing the construction of dispersal facilities at Luqa and Safi, despite appalling weather conditions. Heavy showers and gales are making the ground heavy to work and affecting progress on these essential facilities.

AIR RAIDS 0001 HRS TO 2359 HRS 11 JANUARY 1942

Weather Cloudy, cold and windy; heavy showers.

0901-0904 hrs Raid does not materialise.

0914-0940 hrs One aircraft approaches from the south and drops bombs in the sea, receding before guns can engage. Two Hurricanes give chase but do not make contact.

1247-1302 hrs One aircraft approaches from the north and crosses the coast near Kalafrana, dropping bombs at Hal Far, Gudja and San Pietru where slight damage is caused at a Heavy Ack Ack (HAA) gun position. HAA fire barrages.

1409-1429 hrs Three bombers approach the Island from the north east but none crosses the coast. Bombs are dropped in the sea ten miles east of the Island.

1517-1535 hrs One JU 88 approaches from the north, crosses the coast near Dingli at 13000 feet, descends to 9000 feet and drops bombs on Luqa – causing no damage. Heavy Ack Ack engages but a barrage is not possible due to friendly aircraft over Luqa.

Military casualties CSM John Busuttil, 1st Bn, King’s Own Malta Regiment.

Civilian casualties Luqa Rosina Vella, age 47.

1615-1654 hrs Raid does not materialise.

2252-2353 hrs One aircraft approaches from the north and carries out a patrol to the east of the Island, dropping bombs in the sea. Heavy Ack Ack fire immediate barrages.

Night Two nuisance raids only. Bombs dropped in the sea.

OPERATIONS REPORTS: SUNDAY 11 JANUARY 1942

AIR HQ Arrivals two Beaufighters, one Blenheim from Gibraltar. Departures: four Blenheims, one Beaufighter to 108 MU; two Blenheims to El Adem; one Catalina to Cairo.

LUQA 69 Squadron One Maryland SF15 patrol. 40 Squadron Five Wellingtons attacked shipping in Tripoli Harbour.

TA QALI Aerodrome unserviceable: no scrambles. 61 airmen posted from Luqa for maintenance of fighter Blenheims. Army exercise for defence posts asked for and arranged for 12 January.

FORTRESS ROYAL ENGINEERS Bomb Disposal UXB Reported 3; not including anti-personnel bombs and incendiaries.

Malta: War Diary