You Cast Thy Shadow Upon My Head

From the water looking towards the Siege Bell Memorial. (P. Ferguson image, April 2005)

From the water looking towards the Siege Bell Memorial.
(P. Ferguson image, March 2005)

Malta’s Siege Bell Memorial

With commanding views of the Grand Harbour, Valletta, Malta’s Siege Bell Memorial is located at the lower part of St. Christopher Bastion. The Siege of Malta occurred between June 1940 to November 1942 became one of the most heavily bombed areas of the Second World War. The island of Malta was of strategic significance to the Mediterranean, being located between Italy and Africa. In recognition of the courage of its citizens and defenders the island was awarded the George Cross, now exhibited at the National War Museum, Fort St. Elmo, Valletta, Malta.

The Siege bell and resting soldier. The Grand Harbour in the background. (P. Ferguson image, April 2005)

The Siege bell and resting soldier. The Grand Harbour in the background.
(P. Ferguson image, March 2005)

In 1992 Queen Elizabeth II unveiled the memorial. The memorial’s rotunda houses a great 13-tonne bronze Santa Maria bell ornamented with the Madonna in flames. A bronze soldier rests upon another pedestal symbolizing the losses of the second great siege. Every day at noon the bell rings for two minutes in remembrance. Several commemorative plaques are also on site of which a memorial tablet in Latin references Psalm 140, You cast thy shadow upon my head during the time of war 1940-1943.

The memorial and sculpture were designed by Michael Sandle, R.A.

Projice umbram tuam super caput meum. (P. Ferguson image, April 2005)

Projice umbram tuam super caput meum.
(P. Ferguson image, March 2005)

 


About The Author

pferguson
Paul has worked with the Paradigm Motion Picture Company since 2009 as producer, historian and research specialist. Paul first met Casey and Ian WIlliams of Paradigm in April 2007 at Ieper (Ypres), Belgium when ceremonies were being held for the re-dedication of the Vimy Memorial, France. Paul's sensitivity to film was developed at an early age seeing his first films at RCAF Zweibrucken, Germany and in Sardinia. Paul returned to Canada in 1967 and was further amazed by David Lean's "Lawrence of Arabia" and "Bridge on the River Kwai". Film captivated Paul and with time he became increasingly interested in storytelling, content development, character, direction, cinematography and soundtracks. At the University of Victoria, Paul studied and compared Japanese and Australian film and became interested in Australian film maker Peter Weir and his film "Gallipoli" (1981). Paul was entranced when he learned Weir had visited the beaches, ridges and ravines of the peninsula. The film "Gallipoli" alone led Paul on many journeys to sites of conflict in England, France, Belgium, Holland, Germany, Malta, Hawaii, Gallipoli and Salonika. It was, however, when Paul watched documentary filmmaker Ken Burns, "The Civil War", that Paul understood how his own experience and insight could be effective and perhaps influential in film-making. Combining his knowledge of Museums and Archives, exhibitions and idea strategies with his film interests would be a natural progression. Paul thinks like a film-maker. His passion for history and storytelling brings to Paradigm an eye (and ear) to the keen and sensitive interests of; content development, the understanding of successful and relational use of collections, imagery and voice. Like Paul's favorite actor, Peter O'Toole, he believes in the adage “To deepen not broaden.” While on this path Paul always remembers his grandmother whose father did not return from the Great War and how his loss shaped her life and how her experience continues to guide him.

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