A British possession since 1814 and no bigger than the Isle of Wight, Malta sits in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, its strategic position playing a vital role during WWII, being the only Allied base between Gibraltar (985 miles) and Alexandria (820 miles). Because of the island’s close proximity to Italy Britain had decided it would be impossible to defend. After the departure of the Mediterranean Fleet to Alexandria in 1939, the Governor and Commander-in-Chief Malta, Lieutenant General William Dobbie, only had at his disposal a British infantry brigade, a local Maltese battalion, some coastal artillery, a few light anti-aircraft batteries, the twin 15in gunned monitor HMS Terrier, seven submarines, 12 MTBs and some minesweepers. The only available aircraft were four obsolete Gloster Gladiator bi-planes, but after one crashed…