Joe C. Warrington (2001) Joe Cali' Warrington was born in Malta in 1919 and emigrated to England aged 15. His destiny brought him back to his homeland as a defender during WW2.     See Joe's story.

Joseph Cali Warrington Convoy MW.10 consisting of four fast supply ships, H.M.S. “Breconshire” and the M.V.’s “Clan Campbell,” “Pampas” and “Talabot” departed Alexandria, escorted by three light cruisers – H.M.S. “Cleopatra,” H.M.S. “Dido,” H.M.S. “Euryalus” – and the converted anti-aircraft cruiser H.M.S. “Carlisle.”   The convoy included also Fleet Destroyers H.M.S. “Jervis,” “Hasty,” “Havoc,” “Hero,” “Kingston,” “Kipling,” “Kingston,” “Kelvin,” “Lively,” “Sikh,” “Zulu,” and six ‘Hunt Class’ destroyer escort. I was a member of a group of British Army officers and some 52 officers and men bound for Malta on H.M.S. “Breconshire” for duty with 69 Squadron at R.A.F. Luqa. We departed Alexandria early in the morning on Saturday, 20 March, 1942. The only alarm was for an Italian submarine called ‘Platino’ which was shadowing the convoy. Just before dusk six German Junkers Ju.52 transport aircraft, en route from North Africa to Crete, circled the convoy and reported our presence, course and the composition of the convoy and escorting task force.   Sunday started uneventfully except for the welcome appearance on the horizon from Malta's K Force, the cruiser H.M.S. "Penelope" and fleet destroyer H.M.S. "Legion." " the 'Littorio' alone . . . completely outweighed the fire power of the British escort force " At midday the P.A. system on the "Breconshire" announced that a British submarine on patrol from Malta had reported that an Italian Task force consisting of the two heavy cruisers, the "Gorizia" and the "Trento", and the light cruiser "Giovanni del Bande Nere", escorted by four destroyers had left Messina, bound on a S.E. course.   More news followed that the super battleship "Littorio" and four destroyers had also left Taranto and were on course to intercept the British escort force and Convoy MW.10.   It is interesting to point out that the "Littorio" alone -- with her 15-inch and twelve 6-inch guns -- completely outweighed the fire power of the British escort force whose heaviest calibre was the six 6-inch guns on H.M.S. "Penelope".   The three Dido-class cruisers were armed with 5.25 DP guns. At 1400 hrs on Sunday, on the N.E. horizon there emerged the shapes of the three Italian cruisers which immediately started to fire 'ranging salvoes'.   Adm. Vian immediately order the British ships to form 5 divisions and start to build up curtains of smoke.   One impression which remains vivid in my memory was to see the Royal Navy going to battle.   As the convoy swung to a S.W. course, the cruisers and fleet destroyers sailed past us with huge battle flags streaming from all yardarms.   It was a moving sight. The battle that ensued owed much to the convoy's salvation to the bravery of gun crews. The sea had reached force six, and the destroyers were awash with green water, making the firing of guns a hazardous affair. " the constant, wave after wave of German bombers attacking the convoy . . . " In the second battle it was not so much the naval action, but the constant, wave after wave of German bombers attacking the convoy.   From time to time the Italian torpedo bombers made resolute and courageous attempts to get through then drop their torpedo.   I saw two airplanes find a watery grave.   With dusk falling, the "Littorio" and her escort changed course from S.E. to N.W. and headed home in the gale force winds and waves. Admiral Vian ordered the convoy disperse and head for Malta independently with H.M.S. "Penelope", the six Hunt-class destroyer escorts and damaged "Kingston" and "Havant" to escort the four supply ships separately, knowing that Malta would be reached late Monday morning, 23 March 1942. H.M.S. "Breconshire" was hit by two bombs dropped by fighter bombers arriving on scene from the Dingli cliffs. A few miles I could see the island where I was born and which I had left at the age of 15 years.   For better or for worse I was home!   R.A.F. members -- Joe: standing, 2nd from right   "For better or for worse   I was home !" Of the two impressions which remain indelibly fixed in my mind, one was to see the work of the Air Raid Wardens; young teenagers in steel helmets helping the police, stretcher bearers, or a priest, giving aid where needed. On the Easter weekend of April, 1942, when for three or four days the 'taste' and smell of high explosive pervaded the atmosphere, I was impressed by the sight of a dark brown cloud of limestone dust and debris created by the huge tonnage of explosive raining ceaselessly on the island.   Nothing moved except A.A. guns being transported from one site to another and the odd converted truck to carry the injured. A turn for the better In late 1943 as the Allies edged northwards in Italy, I was posted to a Wing H.Q. in San Severo.   While I was on leave in Malta, World War 2 came to an end in Europe.   A week later I was bound for Britain and demobilization. In 1948, with the encouragement of my Group Captain Max Aitken, the son of Lord Beaverbrook (A Canadian), I left Britain and emigrated to Canada.   Shortly after my arrival in Canada I enlisted in the Canadian Armed Forces which gave me an opportunity to see that wonderful land from coast to coast. Canada has been good to me and my family. When I retired from the Canadian Forces in 1970, my last appointment was Exec. Sec. to the Vice Chief of Staff.   After many years in uniform, and by now aged 50, I was fortunate to accept a job with the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) as a project officer.   I served Canada in that capacity on three separate assignments. One year working with a Canadian team involved with OMO River and early man. My second was to work for two years with Canadian High Commission in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, on two interesting projects, and my final overseas assignment was in beautiful Kenya to work on a wheat project run by the University of Manitoba. I retired from work on my 65th birthday.   I keep active with painting (acrylic medium) as a hobby.   Pisac -- Peru -- by Joe M Cali' Warrington Finally I have completed six intensive research on the organisation, activates and operations of the Luftwaffe, the Regia Aeronautica and the Royal Air Force in the centre of Plato's wine dark sea -- the central Mediterranean. In capsule form this IS my account, I have met some wonderful people on the yellow brick road. I was fortunate to spend my boyhood days on a unique and beautiful island, and in the winter of my life in the best country in the world, namely Canada. Joe Cali Warrington

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