Historically, the development of highly accurate, detailed topographic maps has largely been driven by military requirements. Army map reading training developed to a high degree of proficiency for the same reason.

It was not until the mid-19th century that maps were available to armies in useful quantities. During the Napoleonic wars commanders procured maps from a variety of sources, and in the Hundred Days one British general used a historical map, stuck to linen to give it durability. Strategic blunders were reflected in map issue. In 1870 the French army had a sketch map of ‘routes leading to the Rhine’ but few maps of eastern France in which it actually fought.

Maps had long been gridded with lines of latitude and longitude, and the practice of gridding them in accordance with their scale and numbering these lines (northings and eastings) enabled users to give references to indicate locations on the map.

Subsequent developments have both increased the accuracy of maps and enabled armies to produce them more rapidly

The late Mr Anthony Tabone hailed from Zejtun (family nickname Tal-Melliħija) and was recruited as soldier in the Maltese military since 1936. He also worked for one year at the H.M. Dockyard, another year with the Office of the Engineer and subsequently from 1944 up to 1955 with the Royal Army Ordinance Corps. After the war, he emigrated to Australia for one year and on returning to Malta was employed with the Royal Air force.

Before the war, Anthony, together with his father Carmelo (family nickname Ta’ Pataw) used to walk all the way from Zejtun to Birzebbuga to work in the salt pans at the Xatt tal-Melħ.

During wartime Anthony Tabone was attached to a British Army officer as his Batman. A Batman’s main tasks included such daily chores as cleaning the office and uniform of his commanding officer, and carrying his personal effects. The Batman was indeed a very trusted person and only trustworthy persons were entrusted with this work. Other work carried out by Mr Tabone was the destruction of high security and confidential maps, charts and documents that the officer used during his briefings and meetings with other officers. These were destroyed by burning them in an iron 45 gallon capacity tank.

Part of Anthony’s military training consisted of a quick-march from Mellieħa to Delimara. Anthony also used to pedal by bicycle from Mellieħa to Zejtun and vice versa. He married at Mellieħa in 1941. As a matter of fact, many servicemen from Zejtun were stationed in Mellieħa during wartime and quite a number married women from Mellieħa.

One incident recounted by his son, Mr Horace Tabone is when his father Anthony was stationed at Għajn-Znuber Radar Station on the high ground area known then as Tal-Kampijiet’ and during an air-raid, the Ammunition Stores were hit. Anthony went to inspect the aftermath of the devastation as he walked over all sorts of unexploded ordnance, handguns and other weapons. The abundance of weapons was in stark contrast to the scarcity of food that prevailed throughout Malta and did nothing to ease the hunger pains of Anthony.

One particular item that was passed on from Anthony Tabone to his son Horace, consists of a map of Malta and Sicily titled Sicilia showing invasion plans and proposed departure areas from Malta and landing zones in Sicily.

Interesting features that emerge out of analysing this map show that the map was prepared by the Army Map Service, Washington D.C for use by War and Navy Agencies and dated 1943. It was intended for use in daylight, under white, ultra violet and red and amber lights. The sea chart fathoms were based on Admiralty Charts. The references to the map show the sea invasion plan from St Paul’s Bay (Malta) to Licata (Sicily) and the departure zone of aircraft from Ta’ Qali airfield. The map gives significant indications of heavily defended areas in Sicily such as those defended by light and heavy anti-aircraft guns and also indicates where two squadrons of aircraft were based. These are marked in handwritten ink. The map also shows the coverage of the Radar system based at Gela.

Other important aspects of the map are the references that were of immense help to the invaders in familiarising themselves with the terrain and also man-made constructions. There is a key to land aerodromes, landing grounds, water aerodromes, hangars for airplanes, landmarks, radio electric stations, obstructions, marine lights, overhead high tension cables, danger areas and explosive areas, railways, state highways, main and minor roads, large towns and small towns and villages, rivers, canals, inland water and marshes (lakes and reservoirs) .

A grand total of 2,590 US and British warships – major and minor, took part in the invasion of Sicily, most of which were allocated to their own landing sectors in the invasion of Sicily in July 1943. The invasion of Sicily was codenamed Operation Husky.

The Royal Navy total included the covering force against any interference by the Italian fleet. The main group under Vice-Admiral Sir A. U. Willis of Force H included battleships Nelson, Rodney, Warspite and Valiant and fleet carriers Formidable and Indomitable. Seven Royal Navy submarines acted as navigation markers off the invasion beaches. Many of the troops coming from North Africa and Malta made the voyage in landing ships and craft.

As they approached Sicily with the other transports late on 9 July in stormy weather, Allied airborne landings took place. Sadly, many of the British gliders crashed into the sea, partly because of the weather. However, early next day, on the 10th, the troops went ashore under an umbrella of aircraft. The new amphibious DUKWS (or “Ducks“) developed by the Americans played an important part in getting the men and supplies across the beaches.

There was little resistance by the Italians and few Germans, and the counter-attacks that were mounted were soon driven off. Syracuse was captured that day and within three days the British Eighth Army had cleared the south east corner of Sicily. The Americans meanwhile pushed north and northwest and captured Palermo on the 22nd.

By then, Eighth Army had been checked south of Catania. Nevertheless, at month’s end the Allies held the entire island except the north-eastern part. As the capture of Sicily progressed, important political developments took place in Italy.

On the 25th Mussolini was arrested and stripped of all his powers. Marshal Badoglio formed a new government, which immediately and in secret sought ways to end the war. By August the surrender of Italy was being negotiated with the Allied powers.