Military Mtarfa

The Military Mtarfa is about exposing Mtarfa’s rich military history. Mtarfa played an important part in military history during the British period. Being so close to the airstrip in Ta' Qali, Mtarfa was home to a military hospital, cemetery and soldiers’ quarters in the Second World War.
This 7th edition will increase the awareness of Mtarfa’s rich cultural heritage which will mainly take place at the St. Nicholas Mtarfa Secondary School (ex David Bruce Naval Hospital) shall consist of:

Re-enactments:
o Air-raid stimulation attacks
o Victory kitchen
o Soldier's camp life
o Military field camp hospital
o Conscription Area o Skirmishes and battles
o Convoys around the locality
o Drill and Weapon displays using blank firing
o Food and drinks stands
o Traditional Maltese children’s games

Exhibitions of:
o Military vehicles,
o Uniforms
o Equipment and weaponry
o Malta railways
o Old photos of Mtarfa
o Military Die Cast Models
o Old military hospital ward
o Displays by the Armed forces of Malta and Air Soft
o War time film theatre

Guided tours and access to historical buildings:
o Military Hospital,
o Clock Tower,
o Officer’s mess,
o Shelter,
o Mortuary room,
o St Lucia historical chapel
o The Water Tower

Furthermore, for the first time, this year, the Mtarfa Local Council has embarked on a remembrance project with 3 other local councils from Malta, namely Isla, Birgu and Bormla, together with 3 entities from Italy and a municipality from Lithuania and another one from Latvia. Between April and October, there shall be remembrance events being held in Italy, Latvia, Lithuania and Malta with delegates from each country visiting the other countries in order to learn about the experiences of the residents with respect to WW2. This year’s Military Mtarfa event shall thus represent the commemoration of WW2 as lived by both the Maltese and the British Forces. A delegation from these various countries will also visit our activity in order to perform re-enactments and to put up representations of the events which occured in Latvia, Lithuania and Italy. The main issues to be tackled are resistance, occupation, displacement and defence.