IMCSE Past President, Mike Groves BEM, observed a minute’s silence at the Malta Bomb Disposal Memorial, September, 2023. As the WW2 Italian and German bombers unleashed 15,000 tons of explosive payload during a 2 year, 3,000 raid bombing campaign against Malta, resulting in the island becoming the most bombed country in the world, two Royal Engineer Bomb Disposal Sections had the task of making safe the thousands of UXO. Between 1940 and 1942 the 2 Sapper units comprising 6 officers, 7 NCOs and 16 Sappers covering an area the size of Greater London, which had 100 BD Sections, made safe 1562 high explosive, 4552 anti-personnel and 388 incendiary bombs. Working with the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force, responsible for the docks and airfields respectively, the RE personnel developed the most effective tools and procedures to undertake their 24/7, all weather work which was often continued while bombing raids were underway. A network of Air Raid Wardens, military observers and civilians would help the teams track and record the locations of UXB. The Royal Engineers continued their bomb disposal work in Malta until 1970 when the responsibility was transferred to the EOD Section, 3 Regiment, Armed Forces of Malta. In September 2017 the Prime Minister of Malta, Dr Joseph Muscat, unveiled the Bomb Disposal Memorial Plaque.
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