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30 August 1942: Rations Cut Again – Meat Only Twice a Week
From: Governor Malta To: Air Ministry 30 August 1942
Please pass to Secretary of State for the Colonies and Chiefs of Staff MidEast please pass to Minister of State Cairo.
1. Unloading and dispersal of supplies from convoy is now complete except for aviation and benzene, fortress can hold out until early December. Aviation spirit position has been reported separately to Chiefs of Staff in HQ Med Sig 0726 of 25/8. Benzine consumption has been reduced to 15,200 gallons per week but even so stocks will only last until mid-November. Benzine can be made to last until target date by drawing on 77 octane but this is likely to be required for blending with aviation spirit. We have 600 tons of 77 octane available, of which 250 tons are held as fortress reserve of MT spirit and 100 tons are needed for consumption by naval and RAF craft.
2. Target date of early December allows for following adjustments of consumption on civil side:
- (i) Bread ration for men between 16 and 60 will be increased by 3½ ounces per day to 14 ounces.
- (ii) Fat ration will be at half normal ration level during September but I hope to increase it to normal level at beginning of October.
- (iii) Regular issues of edible oil will be made at normal ration rates.
- (iv) There will be regular issues of coffee with possibly one period skipped.
- (v) Regular weekly issues of kerosene will be made as from 1st October but at summer rather than higher winter rate.
- (vi) Domestic electricity supply will be restored on 1st October.
- (vii) Brewing will be resumed as soon as possible.
- (viii) Present reduced rations of sugar and soap will be maintained, sugar being issued twice every three half-monthly periods and soap once very two periods.
3. Victory kitchens now have 60,000 persons registered and 170 kitchens are in operation. Further rapid expansion is possible but supply of vegetables cannot be further increased while potatoes are now almost unobtainable and meat supply is not as great as was expected and is already falling off. In future it will be possible to provide meat on only two days a week instead of five, and this may later have to be reduced to one if registration increases as expected.
Victory Kitchen
In this situation I have been carefully considering the future of the Victory kitchens. Allowing for small increases in rations now being made, calorie value of rationed foods per day for a man between 16 and 60 who is member of average size family is 1300, or 200 calories below figure normally taken as minimum. Outside rations, very little food is obtainable. Fresh meat, fish and vegetables are all too scarce to be rationed, even if this were possible from other points of view. Marketing of meat and vegetables is now under control of Government and no meat except poultry and rabbits and small amount only of vegetables is being sold on open market. Victory kitchens provide only satisfactory method of distributing evenly what meat and vegetables are available and if we were now to revert to old arrangement under which kitchens provide meals only on surrender of rations allowing majority of meat and vegetable supply to return to open market, effect would be that poorer classes would get very little, while those who are prepared to pay any price would obtain what they wished.
4. I am satisfied that in our present food situation it is essential to continue existing policy of providing one meal a day through kitchens outside rations so as to raise calorie value of diet to about 1800 calories. This can only be done by introducing considerable quantities of imported supplies into the menus. I have decided accordingly that all civil supplies of dried vegetables, dried eggs and cheese shall be allotted to the communal feeding department and that [pasta] shall be issued through kitchens on a substantial scale, estimated to absorb 230 tons of flour per month on an average registration of 150,000 persons. This allotment of flour has been allowed for in calculating target date. Menu will then consist of macaroni and cheese on two days, minestra on two days, meat and vegetables on two days and an egg dish on one day. I anticipate that effect of new policy will be to encourage rapid increase in registration.
5. In spite of increased issues described above, the civil food situation is still causing me considerable anxiety. Rates of rations and general scale of diet remain low. No signs of serious malnutrition have yet appeared but prolonged continuance of present food shortage must have its effect both on health and morale and shortage will be more seriously felt in winter. Anything which can be done by special means at any time before another convoy is run, to supplement diet by importing concentrated foodstuffs or food of small bulk, will help greatly. I will telegraph our immediate requirements of these types of food in the course of the next two days in case any special opportunity occurs to send such supplies.
AIR RAIDS DAWN 30 AUGUST TO DAWN 31 AUGUST 1942
Weather Fine; little or no cloud: visibility 15-20 miles. Wind variable becoming southerly; light.
No air raid alerts.
1105-1215 hrs; 1625-1725 Ten Spitfires 249 Squadron then ten 229 Squadron Ta Qali are scrambled on patrol: no enemy aircraft are sighted.
Military casualties Nil. Civilian casualties Nil.
OPERATIONS REPORTS SUNDAY 30 AUGUST 1942
ROYAL NAVY Clyde arrived from Gibraltar and was swept into Marsaxlokk by Hythe. Una sailed on patrol.
AIR HQ Day Nine Beauforts escorted by eleven Beaufighters were despatched to attack an enemy convoy. Night One Beaufighter carried out an intruder patrol over Sicily. Arrivals Two Hudsons from Gibraltar. Departures Four Beauforts to LG 224.
HAL FAR Ten Spitfires went out to area 15-30 miles south east of Correnti Island and patrolled at 20000 feet over returning Beauforts. No enemy aircraft seen.
TA QALI Final movement of 248 Squadron pilots to United Kingdom.
31 August 1942: Alerts Total 2225 in 25 Months
AIR RAID STATISTICS AUGUST 1942
- Total number of alerts to date 2225
- Total number of alerts this month 141
- Bombing raids day 39 night 20
- Raid-free days 3
- Night raids 37
- Raid-free nights 12
- Alerts for own planes 8
- Total time from air raid alert to raiders passed 2 days, 56 mins
- Average length of alert 29.1 mins
- Killed 41 (15 men, 12 women, 14 children)
- Seriously injured 33 (10 men, 14 women, 9 children)
- Buildings seriously damaged 58
OPERATION PEDESTAL UPDATE
Ledbury after Operation Pedestal, NWMA Malta
A total of 568 survivors from ships sunk during Operation Pedestal were landed at Malta. 207 of whom sailed in Penn, Bramham, and Ledbury on 18th August. The remainder being evacuated by air as opportunity arises. The bulk of the cargo was unloaded by 23rd August, about 12,000 tons of furnace fuel, 3600 tons of diesel fuel, and 32,000 tons of general cargo having been received. The enemy made no attempt to bomb any of the ships after they had arrived in harbour, or, in fact, once they were within comfortable range of shore based fighter protection.
AIR RAIDS DAWN 31 AUGUST TO DAWN 1 SEPTEMBER 1942
Weather Weather fine, visibility 20-30 miles. Wind south-westerly, light; varying north westerly, light to moderate.
Day No air raid alerts.
0915-1005 hrs; 1515-1645 hrs Four Spitfires 229 Squadron then four of 249 Squadron Ta Qali carry out patrols: no enemy aircraft sighted.
2221-2246 hrs Air raid alert. Two enemy bombers approached from the north but receded before crossing the coast.
Military casualties Able Seaman Arthur Jones, Royal Navy.
Civilian casualties Birzebbugia Carmela Ellul, age 30. Mqabba Emanuel Zammit, age 7; Joseph Zammit, age 6. Paola Emanuel Paris. Qormi Spiro Saliba, age 40.
OPERATIONS REPORTS MONDAY 31 AUGUST 1942
ROYAL NAVY ML carried out sweep of the area extending seaward of entrances to Grand Harbour and Marsamxett to the 40 fathom line, and swept two moored mines and one conical float.
AIR HQ Departures Two Hudsons to Gibraltar; one Bisley to LG 224.
INFANTRY R Company, Lancashire Fusiliers, took over area from E Company, 2nd Battalion Royal West Kent Regiment, and vice versa.
1 September 1942: Anti-Personnel Bomb Kills Two Children
MALTA FIGHTERS’ SCORE NEARS 1000
Malta Radar stations detect raiders (NWMA Malta)
Reports released today show that 936 Axis aircraft have been destroyed over Malta or by Malta-based aircraft since Italy entered the war in June 1940.
AIR RAIDS DAWN 1 SEPTEMBER TO DAWN 2 SEPTEMBER 1942
Weather Fine, visibility 10-15 miles.
1300 hrs One anti-personnel bomb explodes on Ta Qali aerodrome, seriously injuring three Maltese children: two of them die in hospital.
1858-1907 hrs Air raid alert for three enemy fighters. Five Spitfires 229 Squadron Ta Qali are scrambled to intercept but the raiders turn back five miles from the Island.
Military casualties Nil.
Civilian casualties Rabat Francis Sammut, age 16; Carmel Tanti, age 14.
OPERATIONS REPORTS TUESDAY 1 SEPTEMBER 1942
ROYAL NAVY P35 arrived and was swept into harbour, having sunk a southbound 5,000 ton merchant vessel.
AIR HQ 2150 hrs Five Wellingtons 69 Squadron were despatched to attack a 4000 ton tanker with an escort of two destroyers near Corfu. They dropped four 250lb and twenty 500lb bombs with several near-misses: the convoy continued on course. One Wellington missing. 0130 hrs One Beaufighter carried out an intruder patrol over Sicily. No enemy sighted.
Arrivals Four Beauforts, three Hudsons from Gibraltar. Departures Two Hudsons to Gibraltar. Aircraft casualties One Spitfire tyre burst on take-off, crash-landed: pilot uninjured. One Beaufighter undercarriage collapsed on landing: crew uninjured.
HAL FAR 0930-1035 hrs Four Spitfires Hal Far carried out a high level sweep over Correnti Island, Noto, Ragusa and Pozzala in Sicily. No enemy aircraft or shipping sighted. 1315-1325 hrs The Spitfire of Pilot Officer Cheek crash-landed on an air test: his tyre burst on take-off and he had to land ‘wheels up’.
LUQA Luqa beat the Gun Operations Room in a cricket match: results Luqa 108 (Neale 46), GOA 97. Camp Cinema: Captain Fury.
TA QALI 0705-0805 hrs Four Spitfires 229 Squadron carried out a sweep over Sicily: no enemy aircraft sighted. 1200-1315 hrs Nine Spitfires 229 Squadron and nine 249 Squadron Ta Qali on a sweep over Sicily saw ships believed to be tankers outside Licata Harbour. The Spitfires are met with heavy, accurate anti-aircraft fire over Licata at 11000 feet but see no enemy aircraft.
Nos 242, 314, 502 and 841 AME Stations, Observer Corps Detachments at Dingli, Torri L’Ahmar and Ghargur, Officers’ and Airmen’s rest camp at St Paul’s Bay taken over by this Station for administration and rations.
INFANTRY 0545 hrs Exercise to test the alertness of sentries and communications within 4 Brigade. Also rapid destruction of parachutists in the Brigade area. Exercise began with firing of three Verey lights around Marsaxlokk Bay.
1st Bn DURHAM LIGHT INFANTRY A Company are performing coast patrol duties at Il Kaus; B Company are manning Tal Virtu observation post.
2 September 1942: Malta Attacks Force Rommel’s Retreat
OFFENSIVE OPS CUT AXIS FUEL AND SUPPLIES
“We have some very grave shortages.” Letter from Rommel to his wife, 30 August 1942
Malta-based attacks on southbound convoys in the Mediterranean have forced Field Marshal Rommel to give up his attempt to retake El Alamein. The Island’s air and naval forces have starved the Axis of more than half of the supplies they need to continue the battle in North Africa. Rommel originally intended to begin a major offensive against British forces on 26 August but had to postpone due to a shortage of fuel, thanks to the sinking of two tankers in the Mediterranean.
Field Marshal Rommel’s plan stopped
With a promise that another convoy would set out immediately from Italy, at 2330 hrs on Sunday Rommel launched an attack at Alam el Halfa but came up against a massive minefield and a well-equipped British force under Lt Gen Montgomery. But nine Beauforts and eleven Beaufighters had already set off from Malta to attack the supply convoy, which had been spotted by 69 Squadron photo-reconnaissance pilots. At the same time destroyers, bombers and naval aircraft launched heavy attacks on Axis stores and workshops close to the battlefield.
Yesterday Malta-based submarine P 35 sank a southbound 5000 ton merchant vessel and the Island’s bombers stand ready to act immediately to any further attempts to re-supply the enemy. Attacks continued today with Wellington bombers targeting a tanker and Navy Air Service Albacores striking a merchant vessel and escort with torpedoes.
After three days of relentless allied bombing and artillery fire and faced with a precarious supply situation Rommel has been forced to call off the attack and withdraw his forces.
AIR RAIDS DAWN 2 SEPTEMBER TO DAWN 3 SEPTEMBER 1942
Weather Fair but cloudy.
0915-1020 hrs; 1015-1055 hrs Five Spitfires 229 Squadron Ta Qali at a time on intercept patrol and sweep: no sightings.
1015-1045 hrs Five Spitfires Hal Far are airborne on patrol: nothing sighted.
1303 hrs Three enemy aircraft are reported approaching Malta. Four Spitfires 249 Squadron Ta Qali on patrol sight one Macchi 202. F/Lt Hetherington, W/Cdr Donaldson and P/O Farmer each fire a burst in turn, all obtaining strikes. The tail of the Macchi is shot off and the aircraft goes down streaming glycol. The remaining aircraft recede without coming within 25 miles of the Island.
1930-1950 hrs Two Spitfires 229 Squadron Ta Qali on patrol: no sightings.
Military casualties Corporal Arthur Simpson, Royal Engineers, Malta Territorial Force.
Civilian casualties Nil.
OPERATIONS REPORTS WEDNESDAY 2 SEPTEMBER 1942
P34 HMS Ultimatum
ROYAL NAVY P34 swept out but returned to Marsaxlokk with a leaky DSEA hatch.
AIR HQ 1305 hrs An offensive reconnaissance by four Spitfires over Sicily. One Macchi 200 is shot down. Night Two Wellingtons were despatched to attack the tanker targeted last night, now 10 miles south west of Antipaxos. The drop six 500lb bombs on the tanker, scoring one hit and causing a large explosion, followed by clouds of white smoke.
Arrivals One DC3 from Shallufa two Beauforts one Hudson from Gibraltar. Departures One DC3 to LG 224. Aircraft casualties One Hudson tyre believed burst during take-off, crashed and burned out: crew uninjured.
HAL FAR 1720-1830 hrs Five Spitfires carried out a sweep over Sicily and encounter enemy aircraft. 2129-0235 hrs One Swordfish with flares and two Albacores NAS located and attacked a 5000 ton merchant vessel, escorted by two destroyers and a small flak ship, 15 miles north east of Cape Spartivento heading easterly. They located the target just off the toe of Sicily and score hits with two torpedoes, one aft of the funnel and one aft of the bridge, followed by a violent explosion. They leave the vessel down by the stern and belching clouds of black and white smoke. A later photo-reconnaissance report showed the merchant vessel aground close to where it had been attacked.
3 September 1942: Reconnaissance Pilots Praised for Axis Convoy Hits
“The Air Officer Commanding sends personal congratulations to 69 Squadron (Reconaissance) for successful attacks on two successive nights, when Wellingtons scored direct hits on an important tanker heading for North Africa and also near-misses on destroyers. The loss or even the disabling of the enemy tanker should greatly assist the British fighting Rommel.”
69 Squadron crew disembark Baltimore Luqa 1942 (c) IWM GM 1042
AIR RAIDS DAWN 3 SEPTEMBER TO DAWN 4 SEPTEMBER 1942
Weather Fair but cloudy.
0935-1030 hrs Five Spitfires Hal Far are airborne on patrol: nothing sighted.
1405-1510 hrs Four Spitfires 229 Squadron Ta Qali on patrol: no sightings.
1701-1720 hrs Air raid alert. Five Spitfires from Hal Far are scrambled to intercept approaching enemy aircraft. Two enemy fighters fly over Comino Channel at 20,000 feet. Spitfires chase them back to within 10 miles of the Sicilian coast but are unable to intercept.
1845-1930 hrs Six Spitfires 229 Squadron Ta Qali on patrol: no sightings.
Military casualties Nil. Civilian casualties Nil.
OPERATIONS REPORTS THURSDAY 3 SEPTEMBER 1942
ROYAL NAVY P34 sailed for trials and proceeded on patrol. Clyde and P43 were also swept out to sea.
AIR HQ Departures Two Beauforts to LG 224.
LUQA Camp cinema: Tarzan Finds a Son.
TA QALI 1540-1635 hrs Two Spitfires 249 Squadron on offensive reconnaissance circled Linosa and spotted a new building – ‘apparently’ a church. No enemy aircraft sighted.
4 September 1942: Navy Albacores Disable Axis Supply Ship
Fairey Albacore
Two Albacores Royal Naval Air Squadrons were despatched today to finish off the merchant vessel beached after their previous attack on Wednesday night. One Albacore scored a torpedo hit on the ship’s port quarter, while the other scored a direct hit with a 250lb bomb on the destroyer alongside, and straddled the merchant vessel with two other bombs. Photo-reconnaissance later showed that the merchant vessel had a large gap in her starboard side.
Later tonight two Wellington bombers took advantage of intense darkness to attack a small merchant vessel 30 miles east of Point Alice. They dropped a total of eight 500lb bombs on the ship but were unable to observe results, which will await confirmation by photo-reconnaissance.
AIR RAIDS DAWN 4 SEPTEMBER TO DAWN 5 SEPTEMBER 1942
Weather Local thunder; rain with bright periods. Visibility 10-15 miles.
0848-0908 hrs Air raid alert. Two enemy fighters approach at low altitude, apparently intending a low-level machine gun attack, but turn back while still eight miles off the coast. Malta’s fighters are airborne: no engagement.
1459-1544 hrs Air raid alert. Eighteen enemy fighters approach the Island; four are identified as ME 109s. Some of the raiders skirt the Zonqor coast, while others patrol five miles north of Gozo. Malta fighters are airborne: no engagement. Heavy Ack Ack fire pointer rounds.
1700-1750 hrs Four Spitfires 249 Squadron on intercept patrol: no sightings.
2230 hrs Observers of 1st Bn Dorsetshire Regt report a light out to sea, 80 degrees RA 4.
2313-2321 hrs Air raid alert. Two enemy aircraft approach the Island but turn back when 20 miles north west of Gozo, dropping bombs in the sea.
Military casualties Pilot Officer William Storer, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve; Private Ronald Rooke, 2nd Bn Devonshire Regiment.
Civilian casualties Nil.
OPERATIONS REPORTS FRIDAY 4 SEPTEMBER 1942
ROYAL NAVY Night Two Albacores RNAS were despatched to attack a merchant vessel beached eight miles north of Bianca.
AIR HQ 1720 hrs Six Beauforts and six Beaufighters were despatched to attack a convoy off Cape Spartivento but failed to locate the target. Night Two Wellingtons attacked a small merchant vessel 30 miles east of Point Alice, dropping eight 500lb bombs on the ship. No results are seen due to the intense darkness. Aircraft casualties One Spitfire had engine trouble, force-landed: pilot uninjured.
HAL FAR 1000-1115 hrs Four Spitfires carried out a Rodeo raid over Sicily but encounter no enemy aircraft. PM Seven Spitfires were despatched on a sweep over Sicily. The leader had a faulty radio and broke formation: owing to a misunderstanding the rest followed suit and as a result the Spitfires returned to base.
LUQA Luqa beat the RASC at cricket by nine wickets: RASC 36, Luqa 38 for one wicket. Camp cinema: Second Chorus.
TA QALI 0650-0750 hrs Four Spitfires 249 Squadron on Rodeo: no enemy aircraft sighted. 1320-1430 hrs Four Spitfires 249 Squadron on offensive reconnaissance sighted two unidentified aircraft but did not intercept due to a radio fault and subsequent misunderstanding.
1st Bn DURHAM LIGHT INFANTRY Major General Scobie, GOC troops Malta, visited the Battalion. This is the second time the Bn has been under his command – Tobruk October 1941 was the first.
5 September 1942: Dog Fight Over Grand Harbour
MILITARY SITUATION REPORT WEEK ENDING 5 SEPT 1942
From: Governor & C in C Malta To: C in C Middle East Rptd: The War Office
1. Enemy activity confined 48 fighter sorties by day and 6 bomber sorties by night. One JU 88 crossed coast; good [searchlight] illumination. Bombs on land. One Macchi 202 destroyed, two ME 109s probably destroyed. Own losses nil. Recently there has been a large decrease in the numbers of bombers and fighters in Sicily, particularly German.
2. Own air offensive continues. 150 Spitfire sorties over Sicily also 4 Beaufighters by night. Malta based air attacks on convoys to Libya continue resulting in 1 tanker blown up, 1 tanker stationary, 2 merchant vessels hit by torpedoes, one destroyer hit by bombs; near-misses one merchant vessel, one destroyer.
3. Military damage and casualties nil. Intensified training being carried out. Small parties employed on aerodromes.
AIR RAIDS DAWN 5 SEPTEMBER TO DAWN 6 SEPTEMBER 1942
Weather Fair; visibility 10-15 miles.
0735-0810 hrs Four Spitfires 249 Squadron Ta Qali on patrol: no sightings.
0910-0958 hrs Air raid alert. Six Spitfires 249 Squadron and five from Hal Far are scrambled to intercept approaching enemy aircraft. One Spitfire of 249 returns early, its hood blown off.
Grand Harbour
12 ME 109s and Macchi 202s cross the coast and circle over Grand Harbour area. Heavy Ack Ack fire pointer rounds. The Spitfires intercept some of the enemy over Grand Harbour and others 20 miles off Zonqor. 249 Squadron engage six ME 109s. P/O Williams scores strikes on one. P/O Giddings attacks a second; he sees no strikes but a panel flies off the port wing of the enemy aircraft. Hal Far pilot F/Lt Charney destroys one Macchi 202.
1440-1510 hrs Air raid alert. Eight Spitfires 229 Squadron are scrambled to intercept approaching enemy fighters. Heavy Ack Ack fire pointer rounds. The Spitfires see three ME 109s and four other fighters six miles east of Zonqor and chase them back towards Sicily: no engagement.
1725-1825 hrs Ten Spitfires Hal Far are scrambled to intercept a reported formation of enemy aircraft: raid does not materialise.
2250-2317 hrs Air raid alert. Two enemy bombers approach the Island; one recedes 40 miles from the coast. The other, a JU 88, crosses the coast and drops bombs in the area of Birkirkara. Malta night fighters are airborne: no interceptions. Searchlights effect one illumination and Heavy Ack Ack engage.
2230 hrs Observers of 1st Bn Dorsetshire Regt report several white verey lights off the Delimara area.
Military casualties Nil.
Civilian casualties Tarxien Joseph Bonnici, age 56.
OPERATIONS REPORTS SATURDAY 5 SEPTEMBER 1942
AIR HQ Arrivals One Beaufort, three Wellingtons, three Hudsons from Gibraltar. Departures One Hudson to Gibraltar; two Beauforts to LG 224.
HAL FAR 0640-0800 hrs Five Spitfires 185 Squadron carried out a sweep over Sicily: no enemy aircraft encountered.
LUQA Camp cinema: camp talent contest.
TA QALI 1145-1315 hrs Thirteen Spitfires 249 Squadron (two returned early) and nine of 229 Squadron (one returned early) were despatched on a Rodeo raid. Two enemy fighters are seen but not intercepted.
FORTRESS ROYAL ENGINEERS ENGINEERS Bomb Disposal UXB Reported 26. Dealt with: 7 High Explosives (2 x 500kg; 4 x 250kg; 1 x 50kg); 116 anti-personnel bombs, 18 oil incendiaries.
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Malta: War Diary 