My late father was awarded, through your Ambassador to Australia, a medal with 1942 printed upon it. And upon the right front face of this medal with the cross of St George imprinted are the words in both Maltese and English “To bear witness to heroism and devotion”. I just wonder what my late father would have thought, when he was defending your country upon the sea as an Australian sailor, and the “mates” he lost aiding and assisting your country to survive, about the silly behaviour of some of your countrymen for not recognising, through a memorial, those who served and died in defence of your country during the last World war and other conflicts which your countrymen served with Australian and New Zealand Forces.

I had the privilege of serving with persons of Maltese descent in the Australian army during the Vietnam conflict and I therefore support the setting up of this memorial to ANZAC troops who served and died in defence of your country without compassion.

Jim Patterson

Vietnam Veteran

Royal Australian Engineers

youngest son of Chief Petty officer A. K. Patterson

HMAS Sydney, HMAS Stuart, HMAS Nizam Napier which all served in the Mediterranean

during the conflict of 1939-1945