Stamp Story No.46 First Siege Of Malta

Press, Volume C, Issue 29680, 25 November 1961, Page 8

Stamp Story No.46 First Siege Of Malta

[By KEN ANTHONY} FROM its vitally important strategic situation in the central Mediterranean, Malta has withstood two great sieges in its long history; and the Victory Church depicted on this current penny stamp of Malta was built to celebrate the ending not of the five-year blockade in 1945, but of tire earlier siege in 1565.

At that time the island was ruled by the Knights Hospitallers of St. John of Jerusalem, better known as the Knights of Malta. This Order originated at the time of the First Crusade, and its members’ reputation for caring for

the sick survives today in the name of the St. John Ambulance Association. In turn the Turks ousted the Knights from Palestine, Cyprus and Rhodes. Then in 1530. the Emperor Charles V (Charles I of Spain) presented them with Malta as their new home. They were not left in peace for long. For four bitter months under the inspiring leadership of Grand Master Jean de la Valette. the Knights and the islanders successfully defied the Ottoman hordes, just as their successors were to resist the Axis onslaught nearly four centuries later. The final defeat and withdrawal of the besieging Turks is considered to be one of the turning points of history. Afterwards the Knights built a new city named after their leader—Valetta, the present capital. By the end of the sixteenth century it had become an imposing place full of notable buildings, such as the Victory Church. The Knights continued to rule Malta for more than 250 years—finally giving way in 1798 before the might of Napoleon. The 700-year history of the Order is reflected in many interesting stamps of Rhodes as well as Malta. Some of the castles they built during the Crusades can be seen on stamps of Syria and the Lebanon. (Central Press Features, Ltd. All Rights Reserved.) Thanksgiving Day Dinner. —Thanksgiving Day was celebrated aboard the U.S.S. Atka at Lyttelton with a typical Thanksgiving Day dinner. The officers and men dined on turkey with cranberry sauces, potatoes, gravy, and all the usual “trimmings." followed by sweets and ice cream.