From as early as the year of Trafalgar in 1805, British forces had used part of the enormous and beautiful Auberge de Castille [as often as not, shortened to Castille] as their Malta HQ's. The Castille, now fully restored to former opulence and grandeur is in Valletta, in Castille Square, just behind the bombed-out former Opera House visible on the right as one enters the city from the bus station. From 1972, it has been the Office of the Prime Minister of Malta. This is what it looks like.

  Note the symmetry. The left hand side (wing) of the front door/upper gallery was the HQ of C-in-C Mediterranean and the right wing was The most famous signal station in the world, both peacefully working together from the earliest of times* right through to 1942, when the 'Siege of Malta' was still a dangerous threat by the Axis forces. In 1942, the right hand side of the building took a direct hit, and put paid to the operations of the signal station. The C-in-C and his Command worked in a piecemeal fashion as regards communications some of which were done from capital ships whilst other stations on the Island, like the RN Signal Station at Dingle for example, were used to help control the transmitting and receiving stations assets. Transmitters in the UK, Gibraltar, Alexandria and Beirut increased power and used diverse frequencies to cover for shortfalls in services. However, after the Castille was bombed in 1942, the C-in-C left the Island with his staff and travelled to Algiers where he flew his Flag in HMS Maidstone the submarine Depot Ship. This section comes from my story about 'Malta and her Submarines'..... There, the Brits controlled their naval operations for the years 1941 to 1943. This led to a very rare sight indeed. On January 21 1943, at 0800 sharp, the C-in-C's Flag (the St George's Cross) was hauled down in the Flagship (Maidstone) and in its place the Union Flag was hoisted. Why? Because on that day, the C-in-C, Andrew Browne CUNNINGHAM was promoted to an Admiral of the Fleet, the Union Flag being a five-star officers personal Flag..... In May 1943, what was left of the German Army (now under a new Commander, Rommel having left in March 1943) surrendered in North Africa and all eyes looked north to the Italian mainland. By September 1943 the Italian Nation had also surrendered, and that allowed the C-in-C to leave Algiers to set-up camp in Italy with other Allied Commanders. A couple of months later, some of these Allied Commanders had joined the Supreme Commander, and in less salubrious surroundings, were in Southwick House (the home of HMS Dryad the Navigation School) at Southwick, Portsmouth, planning the final attack on Europe namely that executed on D-Day 6th June 1944. The Navigation School had to move, and they upped, lock stock and barrel, to the Seaman's Hospital at Greenwich where they stayed until after the war.

  * In 1860, a signal station was set-up on the roof of the building to communicate with ships in harbour.

  The C-in-C's new HQ's from 1943 until early 1946 were in the Royal Palace, in the town of Caserta, 22 miles north of Naples. Here, he used communication hardware assets abandoned by the Italian Navy and also new hardware assets rapidly engineered by the Americans and the British forces. The software (personnel) assets were British Communicators. The C-in-C had a good eye for quality surroundings in both Malta and in Italy. They were:-

     1942 - Acting Admiral Sir Henry Hardwood
     1943 - Admiral of the Fleet Sir Andrew Cunningham
     1943 - Admiral Sir John Cunningham
     1946 - Admiral Sir Algernon Willis

Below three pictures of the Royal Palace.
    

  In 1944, with still over a year of the war left to prosecute, it was decided to build a new HQ's for the C-in-C in Malta. They chose the ex-army barracks at Lascaris situated immediately above Customs House and its famous steps. In March 1946, the new Malta Main Signal Office (MMSO) was opened on the top floor of this Lascaris HQ, and in June another signal station was mounted on top of this building. At this point, Palace Tower Signal Station (on top of the Castille) which had continued to act as the Port Visual Signal Station after the C-in-C had left, was closed down and reduced to being a harbour look-out post. Since the new (top) Lascaris Signal Station could only serve the Grand Harbour and eastern approaches, another small one was built on the roof of the Manoel Island Canteen to cope with Sliema and Lazzaretto Creeks. The Flag Officer, Destroyers (FOD) had his HQ's in Fort Manoel which of course we all knew as HMS Phoenicia. Lascaris and FOD held regular communication exercises which were called 'MARSEX', the MAR for Marsamuscetto Harbour.

  When the Lascaris MSO opened, the staff comprised of RN, RNVR, WRNS and civilians and the traffic was said to be heavy. The staff totalled in the region of 400 (yes, 400!) and handled over 1500 signals a day. Naval ratings were accommodated a ten minute walk away in Camarata Barracks, wherein the station swimming pool was to be found as well as a small Signal Training Centre (STC). The Wrens lived in temporary accommodation in a three star hotel in Sliema. Lascaris was still finding its feet and dubbed "semi operational" when troubles in the Adriatic and in Palestine flared up, which saw the start-up of the first RT/P (Radio Teleprinter link, later called a Fixed Service) with Admiralty.

  Now nothing is new and the hard times the Armed Forces are facing today in 2011, have been repeated several times over the years, not least in early 1948. Just as Lascaris was finding its feet, draconian reductions and economies took precedence over operational needs. The war had emptied the Governments coffers and they needed to be refilled. In a very short period of time, the RNVR Signal Officers were gone replaced by a couple of Chief Yeomen, and virtually all the Wrens had left amid floods of tears. The Fleet suffered heavily, a fleet destroyer having its complement reduced to one senior and two junior rates in both the V/S and W/T departments rendering a watch-bill useless and reducing its continuous watch to DOP's or SOP's (Double Operator Periods - Single Operator Periods) a communications watch expected of a very small vessel.

  Ever heard of a 'false economy' ? Tell me about it!

  Guess what happened next? Lascaris could not cope: surprise, surprise!

  Civilian employment then had a boost and a WCO (see below) donned a brassard marked "Foreman" and had his work cut out interviewing hundreds of ex-Army signalmen, RAF T/P operators, and young ladies of all shapes and sizes. Efficiency suffered. Not all were taken on!

  Malta in those early post war years wasn't the place many of us remember from the mid 1950's onwards. The obvious downside was, was it an accompanied draft or not? - and the answer may be ascertained from this personal message from the C-in-C of 1948, Admiral Sir Arthur Power.

  The following is the text of a message from the C-in-C re Malta accommodation.

  "Everyone knows there is a housing shortage in Malta, but the severity in causes may not be so well known. Malta was heavily and extensively bombed, and the normal building programme ceased during the war period. Although house-building and repairing is now going ahead, there is a world shortage of equipment and of such materials as steel, timber and cement which is impeding progress. Furthermore, the population of Malta has grown during the war years due to a complete stoppage of emigration, which is proceeding very slowly now. This shortage makes it most difficult for any person now to find accommodation for his family; and even if he is so fortunate as to prove successful in his search, as some of the early comers were, it is almost certain that the standard will be much below that to which his family is accustomed and also very expensive...I can earnestly counsel you to consider deeply before you arrange to bring out your family unless you are in the fortunate position of having secured accommoation that is both suitable in kind and requires no more rent that you should reasonably afford."

  Let's face it, Malta was fun because there were families and because there always lots of Wrens to make the party go with a bang. At this time, Malta had very few British ladies, whatever their availability! It is unnatural not to have girls around!

  Returning to the economies made in early 1948, by the time Summer was at its best in July 1948, someone had seen sense, and on the Lascaris books at this time we count no fewer than 18 signal Wrens and two Wren officers. Ten (four leading Wrens and six Wrens) work in the Cryptographic Office and the remainder (two PO's and six leading Wrens) in the Secret Cryptographic Office. These last eight arrived fresh from their conversion course. They are overseen by two WCO's# (Warrant Communication Officers) and two CYS (Chief Yeomen of Signals) and gave a good professional account of themselves. By this time, the temporary accommodation in Sliema has been replaced by the splendid proportions of Whitehall Mansions at Msida, but not filled by any means at this period. In those days, all Msida Creek had to offer Whitehall Mansion viewers was an old reserve fleet destroyer plus a few minesweepers all painted in light blue instead of pussers grey which became the pan navy colour irrespective of where the ship served. However, almost coincident with the arrival of our (communicator) Wrens was the arrival of HMS Forth with her submarines. She was to be the constant companion of Whitehall Mansions for twelve years returning home to the UK for duties in Devonport in 1960.

  # In late 1947 (under AFO 4190/47) the ranks of Warrant Telegraphist and Signal Bosun were abolished and they were amalgamated into one communication branch rank known as Warrant Communication Officers. WCO's were the first of our commissioned officers from the rate of CYS and CPO TEL as this cartoon clearly shows with of course the proverbial wardroom title of 'MR'.

  Meantime, all who were already Warrant Officers in 1947 became Branch Officers, the under 10 year seniority Warrant Officer becoming a CCO, the over ten year seniority WO becoming an SCCO, the Commissioned WO becoming a Communication Lieutenant and a former WO who had been promoted to Lieutenant became a Communications Lieutenant Commander.

   In 1949 WCO's were abolished and they became part of the Branch Officer scheme as CCO's. In the normal course, CCO's became SCCO (Senior Commissioned Communication Officers) and then Communication Lieutenants - no higher! However, the norm wasn't always the case, and an outstanding CCO could bypass the rank of SCCO and be promoted to Communication Lieutenant: this list of officer appointments in 1948 gives a good idea of WCO's, CCO's, A/CCO's, Temporary WCO's, Temporary Acting CCO'S - note the entry of W.L. Driver from CCO to Communication Lieutenant.

  Although not shown here, the Communication Branch was a very busy affair having in addition to those mentioned, a CCO (Air), Telegraphists (F) and Telegraphists (S), where 'F' meant Flying (the old TAG - Telegraphist Air Gunner) and 'S' Special. By the start of the war and with an ever increasing role for the FAA, TAG's were needed in great number. Fortunately this was met by direct recruiting of HO's into the TAG Branch and by 1941 there over a thousand of them. They took the full share of the brunt of the conflict, many of them being killed in action or lost at sea and many were taken prisoners. After the war it was thought that the Fleet would be sustained by single-seat aircraft especially relevant to jet aircraft. So the TAG branch was disbanded and abolished. Those that remained became aircrew and were not trained for TAG duties. Then the policy changed to having bigger and more sophisticated aircraft packed full of electronic gear.

   The navy decided to recruit a new breed of aircrew with specific duties for electronic gadgets. From the Fleet they asked for volunteers from the seaman branches, the V/S sub branch and the W/T sub branch and all were trained and subsequently employed as 'Flying Telegraphists' - Telegraphists (F), virtually all of them in anti submarine aircraft, particularly in the ASW Gannet though others flew in the AEW Gannet's. Surprisingly, this phase in the history of the FAA was short lived. New techniques in submarine hunting required a different type in the back seat of the aircraft and the training of Tels (F) ceased in July 1957. As their periods of four years with the FAA expired, they were returned to the Fleet into their original branches, being allowed to keep their wings and to volunteer again should the need arise: it never did.

  The TEL 'S' Branch was in its embryonic days just after Christmas leave 1954 as this article shows:-

TEL S BRANCH

  Once again we commence our article with an appeal for still more volunteers. During the present build-up period we are in need of P.O. Tels. (not W.I.s) (Portsmouth and Chatham), L.Tels (all depots), Tels. and O. Tels. (mostly Portsmouth). As in a previous article it is emphasised that we welcome the right type of rating???the man who is interested in this specialised work. We are not keen on the character who changes over to Tel. (S) purely to avoid some disagreeable job or draft chit. If you are genuinely interested in a conversion course, do not hesitate to put in your request. We look forward to seeing you in North Camp, Mercury, and can assure you that, if life has become rather hum-drum, it will not be so in the future. (For confirmation of this, see Tel. (S) ratings employed on B.B.9). Now to the more domestic side of the branch. At the time of writing there is the usual deathly hush in the North Camp section (office excepted), peculiar to ???springtime??? in the Tel. (S) branch. A Mercury contingent numbering nineteen is at present showing the flag with the Home Fleet, and enduring the rigours of Gibraltar (???eyes down???). C.P.O. Tels. (S) Couper, Swathwaite and Wilkinson are the bandmasters on this occasion. The survivors here are almost all employed on watchkeeping duties. Even so, we have not been reduced to the level of the Bonfire 9 period when Minnie was obliged to wear a pair of ???phones.

  One of the main topics of conversation among Tels. (S) at present is the proposed new drafting plan for the branch, of which we have heard faint whispers. As the plan is still more or less in the embryo stage, any comment and/or criticism must be withheld until some future date. This at least can be said???a great deal of work is being put into the setting out of this plan, both at Admiralty and Mercury, in order to ensure a fair drafting cycle for all ratings. Mr. Ash fully endorses that last statement, and, to prove the point, one dayman is employed with a watering can keeping Rll???s desk and surrounding area at a workable temperature!

  On 26th January, Lieutenant Commander Mann vacated Rl???s chair, which is now occupied by Lieutenant Commander Prince. Lieutenant Commander Mann does not take up his new appointment as Sailing Master to H.R.H. the Duke of Edinburgh until April, but all the branch will join in wishing him good luck and fair weather in the future. Of one thing he may be sure???during his period of office, his "ship" was a happy one. We welcome our new R1 with the hope that his stay with the Tel. (S) branch will be both pleasant and rewarding.

  Since our last article we have bid au revoir to C.P.O. Tel. (S) Horn, L. Tels. (S) Pilley, Arrowsmith and Tel. (S) Carr, who have taken the plunge into civilian life. We wish them well in their future careers. It would seem that having led the "gypsy" life of a Tel. (S) for so long, the wanderlust remains even after donning the bowler hat. Of the four above, Mr. Horn is now in Canada and Mr. Arrowsmith in Australia. Earlier last year Mr. Holbrook left for New Zealand.

  Somebody, obviously thinking about smoke signals and Red Indians, set this poem to the tune of "My Bonny Lies Over The Ocean".

MORSE FLAG POST-MORTEM My wireless is right out of action. The flag-hoists I never can see. And flashing drives me to distraction. So bring back the wigwag to me. Bring back, bring back, etc. Last night as with hand-flags I struggled, I kept making W for Z, You'll guess why the letters got juggled, I dreamt that the wigwag was dead! Bring back, bring back, etc. The heliograph doesn???t matter. The sun seldom shines all that bright. While ???voice??? drives me mad as a hatter And telephones give me a fright. Bring back, bring back, etc. Oh, send your waves over the ocean By Five-Unit Code???S.S.B., Of such things I haven't a notion. So bring back the wigwag to me. Bring back, bring back, etc.

  Any CCO/SCCO could be appointed as an Acting Communications Lieutenant to fill a specific appointment, and when this happened (which was quite often) on being reappointed, the former CCO became an SCCO and the former SCCO was reappointed as a Communications Lieutenant. Just for interest, a WEO today, is a Weapons Engineer Officer (at first, Weapons Electrical Officer) but in 1948, a WEO was a Warrant Electrical Officer usually followed by the letter 'R' or 'L'.

  The tiny STC mentioned above in Valletta's Camarata Barracks (and before that in Verdala Barracks (HMS Euroclydon)), moved in 1948 across the harbour to Fort Ricasoli, named HMS Ricasoli. It is a very large establishment/area and not only has a more than generous STC (about the biggest in the navy), but also a Leadership School - Cookery School - Fleet Photographic Centre - Fleet Target Centre and Rifle Range - Football, Cricket and Hockey pitches inside the Fort - and just outside and below in Grand Harbour is the Fleet Bathing Lido complete with rafts, diving boards and a water polo pitch. For indoor sport and leisure there is a cinema, a canteen with billiards and table tennis, a renowned bar called the 'Blue Label', a fully equipped gymnasium, a boxing ring and a badminton court. What more could you ask for? The poor old Malta STC had yet one more move to tolerate, that being from Ricasoli to Manoel Island. By 1966 it too had closed and all communications training was done in Lascaris situated in Lascaris Tower from where harbour exercises were also conducted.

For further reading on Malta see Malta and all Comms together