History
On 15 April 1942, at the height of the siege of Malta, King George VI awarded the George Cross to the island in a letter to its Governor, Lieutenant General Sir William Dobbie, to honour the endurance and devotion of its people under sustained bombing and blockade. It was formally presented to the people and garrison at a ceremony in Valletta on 13 September 1942, once the raids had eased enough for the island to gather.
It is one of only three collective awards of the George Cross, with the Royal Ulster Constabulary and the National Health Service of the United Kingdom. The cross and the King's message are held in the National War Museum at Fort Saint Elmo in Valletta, and the George Cross has been borne on the flag of Malta since 1943.
Design & ribbon
The medal
The George Cross, instituted by King George VI in 1940 as the civilian equal of the Victoria Cross, is a plain silver cross of four equal limbs. At its centre a medallion shows Saint George and the Dragon within the inscription FOR GALLANTRY, with the royal cypher in the angle of each limb, and it hangs from a bar ornamented with laurel. The cross awarded to Malta is a single decoration held by the nation rather than a medal issued to individuals.
The ribbon
Plain dark blue, the ribbon of the George Cross.
The ribbon of the George Cross is plain dark blue. When the George Cross is worn by an individual recipient, a miniature cross is affixed to the ribbon, a distinction shared only with the Victoria Cross. The award to Malta, being collective, is not worn in this way.
Eligibility
This is a collective award, made to the island and people of Malta rather than to an individual.
- It was awarded to the people of Malta for their endurance during the siege of 1940 to 1943;
- It is one of only three collective awards of the George Cross;
- It is not a medal issued to, or worn by, individuals;
- It is held today in the National War Museum in Valletta and is borne on the flag of Malta.
Order of wear
An individual recipient of the George Cross wears it immediately after the Victoria Cross and before all orders of chivalry. The award to Malta, being collective, does not form part of an individual's order of wear; it is borne on the flag of Malta and held in the nation's museum.
Frequently asked questions
Why was the George Cross awarded to Malta?
To honour the endurance and devotion of the Maltese people under sustained bombing and blockade during the siege of Malta in the Second World War.
When was it awarded?
King George VI awarded it in a letter dated 15 April 1942, and it was formally presented at a ceremony in Valletta on 13 September 1942.
Is it an individually worn medal?
No. It is a collective award to the island and people of Malta, held in the national museum and borne on the flag of Malta, not a decoration issued to or worn by individuals.
How many collective George Crosses are there?
Three: to the island of Malta, to the Royal Ulster Constabulary, and to the National Health Service of the United Kingdom.
What does the George Cross show?
A plain silver cross with Saint George and the Dragon at its centre within the words FOR GALLANTRY, with the royal cypher in each angle, on a plain dark blue ribbon.
What is the Australian connection?
Australians served in the defence of Malta and in the convoys that supplied it; the cross itself was awarded to the Maltese people, and this page records that collective honour.