PM remembers war dead on visit to Malta

1.00pm - By IAN STUART

MALTA - Prime Minister Helen Clark has remembered war dead from both world wars in a brief ceremony in Malta today.

The Prime Minister returns to Italy later today and will then join veterans from several countries in a New Zealand service to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Battle of Cassino.

She laid a wreath at the Pieta Military Cemetery in Malta where she has been on a flying goodwill visit for talks with the president of Malta, Dr Edward Fenech-Adami and Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi.

The Pieta Cemetery is the final resting place for 61 New Zealanders, most of whom died in World War 1, many after they were evacuated from Gallipoli.

However, several other cemeteries around Malta hold the remains of another 103 New Zealand war casualties.

At one of them, the Malta Cemetery, the name of a New Zealand Victoria Cross winner is inscribed on the roll of honour.

Flying Officer Lloyd Allan Trigg was 29 when he is believed to have become the only person to win the Victoria Cross on the recommendation of an enemy.

His body was never recovered when his Liberator bomber crashed into the sea after delivering a fatal depth-charge blow to a German submarine in the Mediterranean in August, 1942.

He was on a routine patrol when he spotted the surfaced German U-boat and prepared to attack.

During his bombing run to drop depth charges he was hit several times by the U-boat's main gun but he continued his attack and by the time he straddled the U-boat with several depth charges, his aircraft was on fire and he crashed into the sea about 400 metres away.

The entire crew of the Liberator died. The U-boat sank and the survivors climbed into a rubber raft released from the crashed plane.

Flying Officer Trigg was awarded the Victoria Cross posthumously after the U-boat captain, who was subsequently captured, reported the incident and recommended him for the Commonwealth's highest award for bravery.

Today Helen Clark said the ceremony at Cassino would be a very significant anniversary.

"The Italian campaign was long, bitter and hard fought and none more so than the Battle at Cassino itself.

"It is also very significant because the 60th anniversary is the last major anniversary at which we will have a significant number of veterans and it has been very emotional for them."

She said many Italians still have vivid memories of the New Zealanders who stayed at their homes as they moved up the Italian Peninsula.

"Many families have memories of what New Zealand did to free Italy of German occupation."

She said it was important to both Italy and Malta that New Zealand remembered the significance of what happened in Italy during the war.

She said Malta became a hospital base for wounded New Zealand soldiers from Gallipoli in World War 1 and New Zealand airmen played a significant role on the defence of Malta during World War 2.

After meeting with Prime Minister Gonzi, Miss Clark said they had discussed several issues, including a working holiday agreement, social security payments for expatriates from both countries and Malta's entry into the European Union.

She said Malta was a very old friend. She said New Zealand had developed strong arrangements with the EU.

"We know we can count on Malta as an old friend at the EU table being well versed in what New Zealand's needs and interests are," Miss Clark said.

During the brief visit which lasted less than 24 hours Miss Clark also visited the cathedral of St John's Church in Valletta and the pre-historic Hypogeum -- an underground temple which dates back to more than 3000 years before the birth of Christ.

- NZPA