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Ettore Raffi_1_25.09.2017

  • MT NAM MEM-0001ER-01-01
  • File
  • 25/09/2017
  • Part of Memorja

In the interview, Ettore Raffi spoke about his experiences of life at sea and his voyages to Tunisia, Panama, Mississippi and the Mediterranean. He travelled to Malta three times during different periods. He shared memories regarding trade between Lampedusan fishermen and sailors and the Maltese. The Lampedusans used to consider Malta as a rich island because of the availability of tobacco, sugar, chocolate and bars of soap. He recalled relations between Maltese, Italian and British sailors, as well as the nightlife in Valletta, particularly related to Strait Street, and Maltese women. Ettore Raffi gave us his opinion about Maltese culture, the period between 1964-1979, the Dom Mintoff government and the changes after Independence.

Giovanni Frangapane_1_24.09.2017

  • MT NAM MEM-0002GF-01-01
  • File
  • 24/09/2017
  • Part of Memorja

Dates covered: 1800-2017. Giovanni Fragapane is considered the historian of Lampedusa. He started the interview with an explanation of his research, the sources he used and the history of Lampedusa. He traced the relations between Lampedusa and the Knights of Malta. He described the origin of the Maltese colony in Lampedusa from 1800 to 1843 and its impact on the Island. In the second part of the interview, he focused on his experiences and memories about Malta. He described the conference for peace in the Mediterranean after the Gaddafi crisis and the Mintoff period. The last part of the interview focuses on the history of the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lampedusa, the history of the statue and the religious feast.

Laurence Mizzi_1_16.10.2017

  • MT NAM MEM-0008LM-01-01
  • File
  • 16/10/2017
  • Part of Memorja

Dates covered: 1931-1945. Laurence Mizzi spoke about the Italian declaration of war and the subsequent bombardments which had forced his family's relocation to Gudja as refugees. Laurence remembered the way of life in the rural areas, the disparity between the city dwellers and the villagers, the new living conditions which the former had to get accustomed to, the air raids, the black market, Victory Kitchen songs, the convoys and his take on the Maltese-born Italy-serving spy Carmelo Borg Pisani.

Major Henry Louis Gatt_1_08.02.2018

  • MT NAM MEM-0007HLG-01-01
  • File
  • 08/02/2018
  • Part of Memorja

Dates covered: 1882-1979. Major Henry Gatt (retd.) talked about his wartime experiences: his family's relocation to Rabat from Valletta, the shelters, the arrival of Spitfire aircraft and his military service. The second part of the interview consisted of his post-War service, especially his posting in the final months of the British Mandate of Palestine. He remembered the King David Hotel bombing, the terrorist groups, the so-called 'Sergeants Affair' and he finished off by recalling the rundown and the final withdrawal of British forces from Malta.

Major Henry Louis Gatt_2_15.03.2019

  • MT NAM MEM-0007HLG-01-03
  • File
  • 15/03/2019
  • Part of Memorja

Dates covered: 1882-1950. Major Henry Gatt's (retd.) father was the late Brigadier Alfred Joseph Gatt and during the interview Henry talked about his father's military service in Gallipoli during the First World War.

Mikelina Vella_27.06.2017

  • MT NAM MEM-0012MV-01-01
  • File
  • 27/06/2017
  • Part of Memorja

Dates covered: 1927-2017. In her interview, Mikelina Vella described her wartime experiences in Mosta. She talked about the air raids, the Air Raid Precautions (A.R.P.), the scarcity of food, the black market and the Operation Pedestal convoy. She finished off by singing a wartime song from her childhood.

Salvatore Davi_1_9.11.2017

  • MT NAM MEM-0003SD-01-01
  • File
  • 09/11/2017
  • Part of Memorja

During the interview, Salvatore Davì focused on his life experiences both in Lampedusa and in Malta. He lived in Lampedusa until 1968. That year he met his future Maltese wife and subsequently relocated to Malta in 1970. During the interview he spoke about the exchange of products between the two Islands. He also described how he adapted to life in Malta and how he managed to integrate with the Maltese. He spoke about Salvatore Gervaso and the Stella di Mare company, two names which are important for the theme 'The Malta-Lampedusa Connection.' His memories about the British, Valletta, Marsaxlokk and the Dom Mintoff administration were positive. However, contraband was a problem.