Beschreibung:

'I wish to express my greatest admiration of your officers and men for the excellent way in which they are defending this island. I have been out when raids have been at their height, and I have seen your gun crews engage the enemy regardless of their own safety. For sheer guts, determination and hard work, your men can never be beaten. You must feel very proud of them. The attack at Ta Kali was directed quite as much against your gun positions as against the aerodrome. I was in the target area, so I am not retailing hearsay evidence. I wish to express my warmest admiration and appreciation of those gun crews for their magnificent work. It was a scene I shall never forget. Although the bombs were directed at the gun positions and there was immense noise, smoke and dust, your gun crews engaged each aircraft one by one. No wild firing. Just waiting for each bird and then within range letting him have it. A great sight, and a performance of which you may feel justly proud. Then the attacks on the Grand Harbour with the magnificent barrage and light A.A. going for each bird. It takes terrific courage. Your officers and men have it in spare. Everyone in the Valetta area has the profoundest admiration for your work and courage. It is superlative and epic. Very well done - all of you. Magnificent.' A Royal Artillery Special Order of the Day, dated 28 March 1942, quotes Malta's A.O.C., Air Vice-Marshal Hugh Pughe Lloyd. An extremely rare and quite outstanding defence of Malta D.C.M. group of six awarded to Battery Sergeant-Major E. B. 'Ted' Bailey, Royal Artillery, who commanded a Bofors gun team in 32nd Light Anti-Aircraft (L.A.A.) Regiment at Ta Kali airfield and in Grand Harbour, Valetta: at the height of the famous siege in March-April 1942, an artillery officer suggested the B.B.C. scale down its endless bulletins by simply stating, 'During last month, Malta had six all clears, one of which lasted for twenty-five minutes' Unlike other military personnel who were permitted to seek shelter, the gunners of the Royal Artillery and Royal Malta Artillery remained fully exposed to enemy attack. An indication of their steely resolve is to be found in all manner of startling statistics, among them the expenditure of 43,260 rounds by the island's L.A.A. batteries in March 1942 alone and a gunner casualty return of 149 killed and 290 wounded by the end of the following month Even a Berlin radio communiqué was moved to announce 'Malta's Anti-Aircraft Artillery must be counted among Tommy's very best'. Italy's Foreign Minister, Count Ciano, went one step further and concluded that airborne or seaborne invasion was impossible owing to 'the unimpaired efficiency of the anti-aircraft and coast defences of Malta' Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.VI.R. (967465 Sjt. E. B. Bailey, R.A.); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Italy Star; France and Germany Star; War Medal 1939-45, together with the recipient's enamelled D.C.M. League lapel badge, extremely fine (7) D.C.M. London Gazette 13 August 1942. The original recommendation states: 'This N.C.O. is Detachment Commander of a Bofors gun on Ta Kali aerodrome. On 12 March 1942, during a raid on Ta Kali, a number of bombs fell in this position, demolishing the billet and destroying ammunition. He kept his gun firing against enemy bombers and displayed great coolness. On 20 March 1942, during a very heavy raid in the morning, his gun position was again bombed while he was engaging planes coming in from another direction. Heavy bombs again fell within 20 yards of his gun but by his example, the detachment remained steady and continued engaging until a further stick of bombs fell close to the gun putting it out of action as a result of bomb splinters. One man was wounded and several of the detachment received slight injuries from blast. Another gun was put in place early the following morning and in the first engagement with Me. 109s, Sergeant Bailey's detachment successfully engaged - three hits were obtained a