THE HMS ILLUSTRIOUS BLITZ OF 1941
The day after Italy entered the war against the Allies, Malta immediately came under attack from the Italian air force, the Regia Aeronautica. The very first raids on the island happened on the 11th of June, 1940. Fear spread quickly. Families from Cottonera and other towns around the Grand Harbour rushed out of their homes and took refuge in villages further inland, hoping for safety and peace of mind. But as time went on, people grew used to the bombing. The initial shock faded, and many eventually returned home, driven back not by courage, but by the sheer discomfort of living as refugees.
Being an island, Malta depended almost entirely on supply convoys for food, fuel, and ammunition. On the 6th of January, 1941, a convoy called Operation Excess sailed from Gibraltar, bringing vital supplies to Malta, Alexandria, and Greece. It was heavily attacked by German and Italian aircraft, with one ship in particular becoming the main target: the British aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious.
During the onslaught, 126 crew members lost their lives and another 91 were injured. The carrier itself was struck six times, suffering massive damage. Yet, against all odds, Illustrious limped into the Grand Harbour on the evening of the 10th of January, 1941. She was berthed at Parlatorio Wharf, and dockyard workers immediately set to work on repairs.
For several days, no further raids came. But on Thursday, the 16th of January, the Luftwaffe returned. Over a hundred German aircraft launched a ferocious attack on the Grand Harbour, with the carrier still as their main target. Bombs rained down on the dockyard. Illustrious escaped with only minor additional damage, but the surrounding towns did not. The Parish Church of Isla was hit in the first attack. Later, the sacristy of St Lawrence Church in Birgu was struck while more than 40 people were sheltering inside. Many were trapped under the rubble for hours, their cries for help echoing as rescuers struggled desperately to free them. Sadly, the tragedy claimed more than thirty lives.
Just a few days later, on Sunday, the 19th of January, further raids caused even more destruction. The Convent and Church of the Annunciation in Birgu were hit, and the Parish Church of Isla was struck again. This devastation forced most of Cottonera’s residents to abandon their homes once more and scatter to villages in the countryside. Finally, under the cover of darkness on the 23rd of January, 1941, HMS Illustrious quietly slipped out of Malta. She sailed first to Alexandria, before heading on to America for the heavy repairs she so desperately needed.