the Malta story
……a petrolium tanker called the Ohio, attacked several times, hit on 5 occasions with bombs, set afire, sinking, abandoned and reboarded, most of the crew killed or injured. After the most heroic effort she was lashed to a Navy destroyer and limped into the harbour at Malta. Without this tanker Malta was lost. The whole town turns out as do the British military. In silence they watch the smashed,smoking and listing tanker leaning against the destroyer with 2 tugs in attendance creeping across the harbour.
All the top brass are assembled with the Admiral watching from their HQ, the admiral on seeing the carnage realised the bravery that was unfolding before him turns to his adjadent and said (with trembling lip)
“Sound the Alert!”
“But she’s not a ship of war,sir”
he turns and looks at the devastation again….
“Isn’t she?…….Sound the Alert!”
As the bugle plays all the officers and men of the RN, RAF and Army around the harbour walls snap to attention and salute.
A remarkable tribute shown by the military to a civilian ship
A great moment in a great film.
Baz
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