Churchill and Malta

The compelling story of the special relationship between Churchill and the people of Malta

Sir Winston Churchill visited the island of Malta on six occasions. He first sailed in to the Grand Harbour of Valletta on the evening of October 2, 1907 when at the age of 33 he was Under-Secretary of State at the Colonial Office. His last visit took place in January 1945 when, as Prime Minister, aged 70 and on his way to the Yalta Conference, he arrived at dawn on his special Skymaster aircraft. Told wherever possible in Churchill's own words, this is the story of his understanding of the strategic importance of the island in two wars and his determination to defend what became, in the World War II, the most bombed place on earth.