Arthur Wait recounted his life as a child in Birzebbuga and the hardships endured by the Maltese during the post-Second World War years. He described how he joined the navy and what life was like in the navy. He retired in Malta in 2007.

HMS Fisgard, Torpoint

Arthur Wait (front row, bottom right) and his class/fellow recruits at HMS Raleigh. The photo was taken during Royal Navy training.

HMS Surprise at Grand Harbour, Valletta. There are various smaller vessels around her.

This manuscript was written by Arthur Wait and proofread and edited by Sandra Blake of the National Archives of Malta. The author dedicated this book to "all Maltese boy seamen who served in the Royal Navy aged fifteen years, and who joined HMS Ganges; some of whom are no longer with us. I salute you all".

Dates covered: 1940-1980. Arthur Wait was born in 1940. He came from a long standing naval family. He described life as a child in Birzebbuga and the hardships endured by the Maltese in the post-Second World War years. He recounted how he joined the navy and his life as a Maltese man in the British navy. He also mentioned the closing of the military base in Malta and how it affected those people who worked with the British Forces.

Arthur Wait, Aunty Jenny, Uncle Lorry and Cousin Annette at RAF Luqa on 18/11/1956. The photo was taken just before Arthur Wait flew to the UK for training after joining the Royal Navy.

A Gloster Meteor, a Devon and a Seahawk aircraft flying over Royal Naval Air Station Hal Far.

This photograph was taken during Arthur's active service in the Royal Navy.

Arthur Wait by some bunk beds; Arthur on board a ship; a group photograph of Arthur with fellow seamen-in-training. The photos were taken during Royal Naval training.

Arthur Wait's paternal great-grandfather in his Royal Navy uniform.

Arthur Wait (seated, bottom right hand side), his twelve fellow recruits and their commanding officer at HMS Raleigh during Arthur's Royal Navy training. HMS Raleigh is the basic training facility of the Royal Navy at Torpoint, Cornwall, United Kingdom.