Royal Malta Artillery: Sgt. Francis Xerri (1940)

1. 3/11 Regt. RMA(T)
Sgt. francis Xerri
My late father Sgt. Francis Xerri served with the only Maltese
army unit to serve outside Malta during WWII. He served in
Egypt in 1940 under Capt G.C. Micallef Eynaud, who later
became Colonel of the 3LAA Regt. RMA. My father used to
recount how his unit left Malta for Egypt on Tuesday 7 May of
1940. Under the command of Major JV Abela, more than 200
men from the 5HAA Battery were given a very big farewell as
they marched down to Grand Harbour, Valletta to board the SS
Strathmore for Alexandria. On arrival in Egypt the Battery,
with their 3.7 Heavy guns, was positioned at Aboukir. From
about August of that year, there were several German air-raids
on Aboukir and Alexandria with some direct hits and several
casualties. At that time General Wilson, the British C-in-C
visited the Maltese Battery. My father also recalls the help
received from the Maltese community of Alexandria. About
Christmas time that year, the Maltese soldiers received the bad
news that Malta was under siege and was suffering from
shortage of food. Several food parcels were organised by the
Maltese Battery and sent to Malta. My father Sgt Francis Xerri
returned to Malta with his Battery in March 1943 and passed
away on the 22nd of December, 2007.

2. Sgt. Francis Xerri, Egypt 1940 with two unidentified Gunners

3. 5HAA Battery, Egypt, 1940

Godwin Hampton comments: The Rear Axle which, together with the front axle rendered
the gun mobile, can be seen stowed in brackets in front of the gun. It was raised off the
ground using block and tackle or raising gear attached to 2 davits (one visible) to be used as
a counterbalance as most of the weight of the gun is behind the pivot. When it was
intended to travel, the gun would be jacked up and the axles refitted to the platform.

John Demanuele comments: How many men did it take to service a gun Godwin?
o
Godwin Hampton comments: 9 men, not counting the tractor driver.

4. 5HAA Battery, Egypt, 1940
Godwin Hampton comments: Better view of the 2 davits and the
raising gear hand wheels and the rear axle in the mounting
brackets.

5. The Officers of 5th HAA Battery RMA at one of the anti-aircraft sites near
Aboukir, Egypt, 1940.
Left to right:
2/Lt (later Major) E.J. Axisa
2/Lt (later Lt Col) E.J. Gatt
Capt (later Lt Col) G.C. Micallef Eynaud
Lt Col G.L. Stanley-Smith (Commanding Officer 9th Regiment RA)
Major (later Lt Col) J.V. Abela (the Battery Commander)
Lt (later Lt Col) R.F. Jacono
2/Lt (later Brigadier) G.V. Micallef
2/Lt (later Capt) M.P. Mifsud (died in Egypt in 1942)
Peter Micallef comments: Never seen this picture of my father as a 2/Lt. thanks for sharing

6. With Sgt Francis Xerri and Sgt George O'Neill.

7. Brd. Francis Xerri in Egypt 1940
Godwin Hampton comments: Behind Bdr. Xerri one can see the 3.7"
Mobile AA Gun's front axle, removed when bringing the gun into action.

8. 5HAA Battery, Egypt, 1940, Christmas Party

9. 3/11 Regiment Royal Malta Artillery (PDF Library).
1. Royal Malta Artillery 1800-1970.pdf
2. The Birth and Demise of a Regiment(1941).pdf
3. Memories of 11th Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment(1951).pdf
4. 3/11 Regt. RMA(T) in the Infantry role(1967).pdf
5. Major Victor D'Ugo(1936).pdf
6. Major Louis Radmilli.pdf
7. Last of the Bofors.pdf
8. Sgt Alfred Aquilina(1940).pdf
9. Sgt. Francis Xerri(1940).pdf
10. Ftit Ritratti min Francalanza.pdf
11. Bofors Heritage.pdf
12. 3/11 Regiment at Sports.pdf.
3/11 Regt. RMA(T)
Updated 8 March 2014
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