Archive for November 2nd, 2014

  • Imħabba sa wara l-mewt

    Il-Kuratur tal-Muzew Nazzjonali tal-Gwerra, Charles Debono, quddiem l-esebiti ta' Warburton u Ratcliffe.JPGIl-qabar ta' Wing Commander Adrian Warburton (Ritratt - Find a Grave).jpg

    Christina Ratcliffe ma' Wing Commander Adrian Warburton u l-orkestra taghha (Ritratt - Heritage Malta).jpgEman Bonnici biswit il-qabar ta' Christina Ratcliffe.JPG

    Hekk kif illum qegħdin niċċelebraw Jum l-Erwieħ kollha, deherli li għandi nippreżentalkhom ġrajja li xi ftit jew wisq, għandha x’taqsam ma’ dan il-perjodu. Madanakollu, aktar milli nikteb dwar in-niket li ġġib magħha l-mewt, permezz ta’ dan l-artiklu nixtieq nuri illi t-tmiem ta’ persuna jseħħ biss jekk din tintesa. Sakemm tibqa’ l-memorja ta’ dak li jkun almenu f’moħħ individwu wieħed, dawk li ħallewna jibqgħu ħajjin fostna daqslikieku qatt ma telqu.

    L-iskoperta ta’ din il-ġrajja seħħet bla ħsieb meta jiena mort inżur il-Mużew Nazzjonali tal-Gwerra fil-Belt Valletta. L-għan tiegħi kien li niltaqa’ mal-Kuratur Charles Debono sabiex fi ħdan iċ-ċentinarju mill-Ewwel Gwerra Dinjija li qegħdin infakkru din is-sena, nifhem aħjar x’kien li qanqal dan it-taqbid qalil.

    Il-Kuratur Debono kien infurmat sewwa dwar din l-era mdemmija u meta rani interessata biex inkun naf aktar, huwa baqa’ jdawwarni mal-mużew sabiex niddiskutu wkoll it-Tieni Gwerra Dinjija. Ma kienx hemm oġġett li ma kellimnix dwaru u b’hekk wara li lestejna, kelli materjal kemm irrid fuq xhiex naħdem.

    Iżda ġara, li fost il-memorji u l-istejjer kollha li smajt, kien hemm ġrajja ta’ mħabba li seħħet bejn il-leġġendarju Wing Commander Adrian Warburton u l-maħbuba tiegħu Christina Ratcliffe, li ma stajt inneħħija b’xejn minn moħħi. Personalment, qatt ma kont smajt b’din il-koppja u għalhekk tħajjart insir naf aktar dwarha.

    L-esebiti fil-Mużew Nazzjonali tal-Gwerra

    In-narrattiva ta’ din il-ġrajja tnisslet permezz ta’ ħames esebiti li jinsabu fil-mużew. Dawn huma: Midalja tal-Imperu Brittanniku, beritta tal-RAF, ġakketta ta’ uniformi militari, tazza tal-metall li ntrebħet waqt attività sportiva u parti minn ajruplan tat-tip P38 Lightning aircraft.

    It-tifsira ta’ dawn l-oġġetti se tifhmuha waqt li taqraw dan l-artiklu.

    Żmien li nissel l-eroj

    Hekk kif bdejt ir-riċerka tiegħi dwar Warburton u Ratcliffe, sibt li kien hemm diversi kotba miktuba dwarhom. U permezz t’hekk, bil-pass il-pass, irnexxieli nsegwi xi ftit mill-ħajja tagħhom sabiex nieħu idea dwar min kienu dawn iż-żewġ persuni u anki minn xhiex għaddew.

    Ftit ftit, ħassejtni donni miexja lura lejn is-snin erbgħin; żmien meta kemm il-pajjiż tagħna u kif ukoll niesna għaddew minn l-eħrex tbatijiet u ġew mgħasra sat-tarf tal-limiti tagħhom, sakemm finalment, minn fosthom ħarġu l-eroj.

    Adrian Warburton

    Adrian Warburton twieled f’Middlesborough, l-Ingilterra fl-10 ta’ Marzu 1918. Imma missieru Godfrey, li kien kmandat żagħżugħ tas-sottomarini u li kien diġà rċieva l-unur prestiġġjuż għas-servizz distint tiegħu (Distinguished Service Order), iddeċieda li jgħammdu ġewwa sottomarin li kien qiegħed sorġut hawn Malta.

    Jidher li bosta mill-membri tal-familja Warburton kienu magħrufa għall-atteġġjament eċċentriku tagħhom, speċjalment f’mumenti li jikkonċernaw il-gwerra. U kif kiteb l-awtur Tony Spooner, fil-ktieb tiegħu ‘Warburton’s War’, l-unuri tad-DSO kienu xi ħaġa komuni f’din il-familja.

    Infatti, akkost li Adrian Warburton ma għex ħajja twila, anki hu rċieva dan l-unur darbtejn. Fosthom, wieħed minn dawn l-unuri ngħatalu minħabba l-kuraġġ li wera waqt missjoni partikolari li suppost kellha tinvolvi t-teħid ta’ ritratti mill-ajru tal-vapuri tal-għadu. Iżda ġara li waqt din it-titjira, il-kameras ma ħadmux u meta ra hekk, Warburton niżel tant fil-baxx bl-ajruplan tiegħu minn bejn il-vapuri tal-gwerra Taljani li kienu jinsabu f’Taranto, li dawk li kienu miegħu, setgħu jaqraw isimhom u jieħdu nota tagħhom. Din l-informazzjoni wasslet biex l-armata Ingliża setgħet twettaq attakk effettiv fuq l-għadu aktar tard f’dak il-lejl.

    Warburton jgħaddi bi żbrixx bħala pilota

    It-tajba hija illi waqt it-taħriġ tiegħu biex isir pilota, Warburton ma tantx kien impressjona wisq lil dawk ta’ fuqu u għalkemm għadda mit-testijiet involuti, huwa ġab l-inqas grad possibbli. Probabbli, apparti mill-fatt li hu spiss kien jazzarda żżejjed, jista’ jkun li din kienet ir-raġuni vera l-għala huwa kraxxja kemm il-darba waqt il-missjonijiet tiegħu, għalkemm b’xi mod jew ieħor, dejjem reġa’ lura. Forsi dan kien ukoll il-mottiv il-għala meta hu baqa’ ma rritornax wara l-aħħar titjira tiegħu fl-1944, ħadd ma ried jemmen li hu kien miet….

    Warburton trasferit lejn Malta

    Kien fis-6 ta’ Settembru 1940 meta Warburton niżel fl-ajruport ta’ Ħal-Luqa wara li ġie trasferit biex jaħdem f’Malta. Huwa ma damx ma beda jiġbed l-attenzjoni fuqu minħabba li kien juri li ma jibża’ minn xejn. Ngħidu aħna, darba minnhom waqt li kien kienet fuq titjira b’missjoni li jinġibdu ritratti ta’ tkixxif fuq l-għadu, hu u żewġ suldati oħra li kienu miegħu, irnexxielhom jisparaw u jwaqqgħu ajruplan Taljan tat-tip Z.506B.

    Kif bdiet il-ġrajja ta’ mħabba

    Il-ġrajja ta’ mħabba bejnu u bejn Christina Ratcliffe bdiet meta hi sabet ruħha maqbuda hawn Malta, peress li fl-10 ta’ Ġunju 1940, l-Italja ddikkjarat gwerra lill-Ingilterra u lil Franza. Oriġinarjament, Christina kienet ġiet Malta flimkien ma’ grupp taż-żfin sabiex jagħmlu spettaklu tal-kabaret. Però meta mbagħad sabu ruħhom f’pajjiżna bla mpjieg, dawn l-artisti qabdu u ffurmaw grupp għal rashom bl-isem ta’ Whizz Bangs u bdew joffru spettaklu għat-truppi.

    Christina ma damitx ma għamlet il-ħbieb hawn Malta. Fost dawn, kien hemm il-pilota Franċiż Jacques Mehouas li waqt il-laqgħat tagħhom, kellu ħabta jsemmilha lil Warburton fejn kien jiddeskrivih bħala pilota Ingliż formidabbli u ta’ kuraġġ kbir. Ironikament, kienet il-mewt ta’ dan il-Franċiż li ressqet lill-koppja Warburton u Ratcliffe flimkien, hekk kif Adrian, li kien ukoll ħabib ta’ Mehouas, mar jagħti l-kondoljanzi lil Christina.

    F’kitbiet tagħha, Christina tistqarr li sa minn din l-ewwel laqgħa tagħhom, hi kienet diġà ntilfet wara Adrian. Fosthom tgħid illi b’dak ix-xagħar bjond, lewn id-deheb, u b’dawk l-għajnejn koħol sbieħ, stħajjlitu xi alla Grieg.

    Koppja simbolu ħaj tal-ispirtu tal-gżejjer Maltin

    Fl-1939 Warburton kien iżżewweġ lil Eileen Mitchell wara biss ftit żmien li kien ilu jafha. Imma jingħad li hu kien telaqha minnufih wara li skopra li din kienet ħbietlu li kienet iddivorzjata u li kellha wild.

    Min-naħa l-oħra, fi Christina huwa sab is-sieħba perfetta għalih u huma ma damux ma saru waħda mill-aktar koppji popolari ta’ dak iż-żmien. Bħal Adrian, Christina kienet sabiħa, kariżmatika u avventuruża. U kif iddeskriviehom tajjeb Spooner fil-ktieb tiegħu: bil-personalitajiet, bil-kuraġġ u bid-determinazzjoni tagħhom, huma saru simbolu ħaj tal-ispirtu tal-gżejjer Maltin, li ma seta’ jiġi qatt mirbuħ.

    Fil-fatt, minbarra li għall-ewwel Christina baqgħet taħdem bħala żeffiena, wara xi żmien hija vvolontarjat ukoll bħala telefonista mal-RAF. Imbagħad bdiet tagħmel ix-xogħol ta’ plotter fil-Kwartieri tal-Gwerra l-Belt, sakemm eventwalment, hija saret l-assistenta tal-Kontrullur u b’hekk kellha tabbanduna l-grupp Whizz Bangs.

    It-tmiem ta’ din il-ġrajja ta’ mħabba

    Sfortunatament, din il-ġrajja ta’ mħabba ntemmet ħesrem meta fit-12 t’April 1944, Warburton intbagħat fuq missjoni ta’ tkixxif sabiex jieħu r-ritratti minn fuq il-Ġermanja. Imma wara dakinhar, qatt ma rritorna.

    Għall-ewwel in-nuqqas tiegħu ma ttieħedx bis-serjetà għax ma kinetx l-ewwel darba li hu waqaf x’imkien apposta bla ma qal lil ħadd, ħlief forsi lil Christina; bħal meta darba niżel il-Greċja biex jixtri l-alkoħol għax f’Malta ma kellux. Iżda meta ż-żmien beda dieħel u l-ġranet inbidlu f’xhur, kulħadd beda jispekula x’seta’ ġara. Fosthom kien hemm min qal li Warburton kien wettaq suwiċidju għax kien xeba’ f’din il-ħajja ta’ gwerra. Imbagħad, kien hemm ukoll min ġietu l-idea li dan tant xeba’ minn Christina li kien iddeċieda li jiskappa u jisparixxi, forsi anki għax kellu xi tfajla ġdida…

    Intant, wara dan l-inċident, Christina nbidlet drastikament. Il-ġirien tagħha jiftakru li kienet inqatgħet għal kollox min-nies. Bdiet tippreferi tgħix ħajja iżolata fl-appartament tagħha li kien jinsab f’7/3, Vilhena Terrace, Triq Vilhena, il-Furjana. Kull ġurnata kienet tgħaddiha tistenna li jħabbat il-bieb u li ssib lil Adrian quddiemha. Bdiet anki tagħtiha għax-xorb u ftit ftit spiċċat b’ta’ fuqha senduqha.

    Ċertament, kienet tassew ħasra li mara bħal dik, li fl-1943 kienet onorata bil-Midalja tal-Imperu Brittaniku bħala rikonoxxenza għas-sehem tagħha waqt it-Tieni Gwerra Dinjija, tiġi f’dan l-istat. Matul ħajjitha, Christina ddeċidiet li tagħti b’donazzjoni din il-midalja tagħha flimkien ma’ parti mill-uniformi u t-tazza li kienu tal-għażiż Adrian tagħha lil Mużew Nazzjonali tal-Gwerra fil-Belt Valletta, sabiex b’hekk, il-ġrajja tagħhom tingħaqad flimkien ma’ dik tal-pajjiż li huma kienu ltaqgħu u nħabbu fih.

    Warburton jinstab

    Kien biss fl-2002 meta nkixef id-destin ta’ Warburton. Dan seħħ meta Frank Dorber, riċerkatur tal-avjazzjoni, skopra l-fdalijiet ta’ dan il-pilota ġewwa kabina ta’ ajruplan imwaqqgħa, li kien midfun f’madwar żewġ metri fond, f’għalqa ġewwa l-villaġġ Egling an der Paar li jinsab fil-Bavarja, 34 mil bogħod minn Munich.

    Wara li saret eżaminazzjoni tal-ajruplan imġarraf, instabu numru ta’ toqob tal-balal ġewwa wieħed mill-iskrejjen tiegħu u dan indika li l-għadu kien spara fuq Warburton u waqqgħu. Eventwalment, minħabba l-ġrajja li semmejna hawn fuq u l-involviment tiegħu f’pajjiżna, parti minn dan l-ajruplan, ngħatat bħala donazzjoni lill-Mużew Nazzjonali tal-Gwerra fil-Belt u din ngħaqdet mat-tifkiriet li kienet ħalliet Christina.

    Sadanittant, skont ir-regolamenti tal-Commonwealth, fl-14 ta’ Mejju 2003, Warburton ġie onorat b’funeral formali u ġie midfun fiċ-Ċimiterju tal-Gwerra tal-Commonwealth f’Durnbach, fis-Sezzjoni 11, Row H, Qabar Nru. 27. Fatt kurjuż huwa li għal din iċ-ċerimonja, attendiet ukoll martu Eileen li ħafna kienu ilhom li għodduha b’mejta.

    X’ġara minn Christina?

    Naturalment, wara din is-sejba, dawk li kienu jafu bil-ġrajja ta’ din il-koppja, bdew jistaqsu x’kien sar minn Christina Ratcliffe?

    Waqt ir-riċerka tiegħi, sibt illi Christina kienet ġiet midfuna fiċ-ċimiterju tal-Addolorata u wara li kont qrajt tant dwarha, ħassejt l-obbligu li mmur inżurha.

    Għalhekk, fthemt mal-ħabib tiegħi Eman Bonnici li huwa l-Assistent Librar taċ-Ċimiterju tal-Addolorata u riċerkatur ta’ dan is-sit, sabiex jakkumpanjani sal-qabar tagħha. Miegħi ħadt ukoll bukkett fjuri sabiħ b’turija ta’ rispett lejn din il-mara li waqt din il-gwerra, apparti li ħabbet lil Warburton, ħadmet ukoll għal pajjiżi u għenet lil niesi.

    Skont in-notamenti taċ-ċimiterju, jidher li Christina Ratcliffe mietet fl-1988 u ndifnet f’qabar fis-sezzjoni tal-Commonwealth. Iżda aktar tard, fl-1993, il-fdalijiet tagħha nġabru u ndifnu mill-ġdid f’qabar privat li nxtara minn xi familjari tagħha. Dan jinsab fid-Diviżjoni tal-Lvant, Sezzjoni MA-D, Qabar Nru. 4.

    Bonnici infurmani wkoll illi skont deffien mill-Furjana li kien jgħix fl-istess blokka ta’ Christina, din il-mara tant kienet ftaqret, li l-ġirien kellhom jiġbru somma bejniethom sabiex jingħatalha funeral xieraq.

    Viċin ir-ritratt tagħha, ilmaħt il-kitba ‘Christina of George Cross Island’ u hemmhekk erħejt il-fjuri tiegħi. F’qalbi xtaqt bi ħrara kbira li hi kienet qed tarani ħalli tifhem li għadha ma ntesietx.

    Għalkemm forsi ma tantx hawn Maltin li jafu b’din il-ġrajja, Bonnici qalli li numru ta’ barranin, l-aktar mill-Ingilterra u mill-Iskozja, regolarment iżuru l-qabar tagħha bħala sinjal ta’ rispett lejn eroina li għarrfet tħobb tant anki waqt żmien daqstant turbulenti. Fuq kollox, huma sikwit jistaqsu, jekk finalment wasalx iż-żmien biex dawn iż-żewġ maħbubin, anki jekk wara mewthom, jingħaqdu mill-ġdid flimkien?

    (Dan l-artiklu ġie ppubblikat fit-Torċa tat-2 ta’ Novembru 2014)

    2014.11.02 / no responses / Category: Torca - Features & Articles

  • Far more than walking on a winter wonderland

    Going on a husky sleigh-ride in Santa's village.JPGEnjoying toboganning rides on slope.JPG

    Moving around on a tobogann.JPGGoing for a reindeer-sleigh ride.JPG

    We had always wished to spend Christmas in some foreign land in order to see how this event is celebrated in other countries. Ideally this place had to be similar to the ones that we saw on Christmas cards; that is with wooden log cabins, fire-places and much much snow.

    Eventually, a brilliant idea came to our mind! What if we went to visit Santa’s land itself in Lapland, Northern Finland?

    Although many of us have grown up to believe that Father Christmas is just a legend, my daughter and I are sure that he is real. Well, he comes to visit us each year and he always leaves a lovely present for Martina. So surely, after ten annual visits to our home, we decided that it would be nice of us to exchange the courteousy.

    That was how we found ourselves at Gatwick airport being led away from the usual crowded queues by a special officer who rang a bell in order to call for those whose destination was Ivalo airport.

    Soon, several families with excited children joined the group and off we went on a charter airplane which was waiting to take us to this magical land. Everything was superb from the start, even this flight which was completely dedicated to entertain the children with enjoyable games. Then, when we were approaching land, all the children turned to the airplane’s window in order to watch for Santa’s flying sleigh. We did not succeed to see it but deep beneath the fluffy white clouds, there appeared a strange landscape of dark land, remarkably patterned with plentiful shiny rivers and lakes. So that was how the Arctic Circle looked!

    Our airplane landed smoothly down at Ivalo’s minute airport in Lapland, North Finland and soon we found ourselves walking in the crunchy snow. Mischievous, brightly dressed elves slid out together with our luggage and greeted us with playful tricks, whilst a traditionally dressed Finnish Sami, who forms part of the indigenous people of this area, welcomed us to his land in the company of a large reindeer. A coach transferred us to the tourist resort in Saariselkä which was only 25 minutes away.

    Since in Saariselkä, the temperature goes down well beyond zero degrees, we had to pack a couple of cosy clothes in our luggage. However, on arrival, everyone was provided with a complimentary thermal outer-suit, along with woolen socks, snow boots, outer gloves and hats, in order to guarantee a comfortable stay since there the temperature could go down to -30 degrees celcius.

    There is a good choice of hotels wherein to spend this holiday: starting from Santa’s Kieppi which is built in the traditional Finnish style, and moving on to the modern style Santa’s Holiday Club which includes an indoor pool with waves and chutes. We chose to stay in Hotel Kieppi because we considered it to be more authentic. Its owner, Matti Välitalo, informed us that in Finnish, the word ‘kieppi’ referred to the burrow where animals hibernated during winter, and surely this place was warm and snug contrasting to the icy coldness outside.

    Between the beginning of December and the first days of January, Saariselkä experiences the polar night as the sun does not rise. However the place does not lie in total darkness since the light of the moon, the stars, and the magnificent Northern Lights are reflected by the snow, and therefore one can move around easily at whatever time. During this period, at about ten in the morning, the dusky blue sky turns into an unusual blend of silver and blue colours which is later imbued with different hues of blue and red, until at about three in the afternoon, when it starts getting dark again. This entire ambience felt strange at first but once we got used to it, it enhanced each and every moment and turned it into a unique Christmas experience. We really felt as if we had stepped into another world.

    Even the activities that we could do were extraordinary and it didn’t take very long to see the adults being transformed into joyful and happy children. It’s bound to be! For how can one resist the feeling of a true white Christmas whilst squishing or toboganning in the milky Arctic snow? We were provided with free toboganns from our hotel and Martina took the opportunity to be pulled all along the way. I have to admit that it was somewhat frightening at first because we had never experienced this sport. But when we saw very young children shooting down confidently, we walked up the small snowy hill and off we went. Oh my! It felt like flying! An amazing experience! Anyhow, we lost count how much rides we did.

    Each time we travelled by coach, our guides made their utmost in order to help us feel the Christmas spirit. Once more, we found the atmosphere quite captivating as we sang heartily a couple of old Christmas songs along with people coming from various countries around the world, under a sky packed with twinkling stars.

    However surely, the best moment of this holiday for each visitor, whether adult or young was the special visit to the village of Father Christmas in the Arctic Circle. Here, with activities ranging from ice fishing, toboganning, reindeer sleigh rides, snow hockey, skidoo rides, and an igloo bar, who can wish for more? Yet there was more! In fact, after providing us with the required instructions, we were offered to drive a pack of huskies in the snow. My husband controlled the huskies and my daughter and I huddled up in the sleigh wrapped up in reindeer skin. What a delight!

    Still, more followed since each family, at some point or another, was secretly and quickly hurried upon a snowmobile-sled in order to search for the elves who knew how to point the way to Santa’s log cabin which was craftily hidden in the icy woods. It was a really enthralling experience to enter into the warmth of Santa’s magical hut and to find him sitting in his huge wooden chair amid a multitude of colourful presents. Martina was dumbfounded as she noticed that Santa was holding and reading her own hand-written letter which she had sent him some days ago by post from Valletta! When she found some courage, she told him that many of her friends told her that he did not exist.

    “Well now you have seen that I do!” he told her warmly as he laughed heartily and gave her a beautiful teddy bear. Martina hugged Santa as if to check that she was not dreaming and she even kissed him on the cheek. Once our private meeting with Santa was over, we were taken back to the rest of the group but Martina was simply entranced by this experience.

    On Christmas day, we attended a gala dinner where we discovered that in Finland, ham is the Christmas food specialty. However we were treated to a bountiful meal of different meats and fish, together with a selection of pastries and delicious wild berries.

    We surely missed the company of our dear family members and the sweet presence of baby Jesus in his crib which was nowhere in sight in these locations. Yet in Saariselkä everything was designed to entertain visitors and one will absolutely not have time to feel a trace of sadness.

    We spent only four days in Santa’s Lapland but the surrealism of the place mystified the aspect of time and we felt as if we belonged there. Surely no other Christmas will ever match this one.

    (This article was published in the Travel Supplement of The Sunday Times of Malta dated 2nd November 2014)

    2014.11.02 / no responses / Category: The Sunday Times - Articles