Faithful through Hard Times: the uncensored story of WW2 Malta

by Jean Gill

Four years: 3 million bombs: Zero Hour Food approaching

The true story of WW2 Malta from an eye-witness account written at the time in a secret diary, a diary too dangerous to show anyone, and too precious to destroy.
Four years, 3 million bombs, one small island out-facing the might of the German and Italian air forces - and one young Scotsman who didn't want to be there.
Private George Taylor arrived on Malta in 1940 thinking that shiny buttons would earn him fast promotion; he left four years later, a cynical sergeant and a Master Freemason who never said, 'I was there,' without a bitter smile.
Despite the times he said, 'It's me for the next boat', despite his fears that Nettie had forgotten him, George kept the motto of the Royal Army Medical Corps 'In arduis fidelis', 'faithful through hard times' and only told his diary the inside story of four long years.
Now, the truth can be told.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, War

276 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 30, 2008

About the author

Jean Gill is a Welsh writer and photographer living in the south of France with two scruffy dogs, a beehive named 'Endeavour', a Nikon D750 and a man. For many years, she taught English in Wales and was the first woman to be a secondary headteacher in Carmarthenshire. She is mother or stepmother to five children so life was hectic.

Publications are varied, including prize-winning poetry and novels, military history, translated books on dog training, and a cookery book on goat cheese. With Scottish parents, an English birthplace and French residence, she can usually support the winning team on most sporting occasions.

Sign up for Jean's newsletter at www.jeangill.com for updates and a free book. If you review one of Jean's books you can add a dog to Jean's Readers Dogs Hall of Fame on her website. Contact Jean at jean.gill@wanadoo.fr with comments or questions. She loves to hear from readers.

Reviews

[JD · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is unique as it is based on the diary of a young Scottish soldier based in Malta during the siege in World War 2. It tells of the hardships faced by all and of the spirit of the people living there during this time. That said, I mostly only enjoyed the extracts from the diary. The parts about him joining the Freemasonry is boring and some of the made up "conversations" between the men (as the author states) just did not add value to the book for me (especially when Marilyn Monroe is mentioned in 1942 [chapter 17+19], when she was still only 16). A fast read though.

[Fiona · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very interesting book based on a diary written by the author’s father whilst based on Malta during the Second World War. I knew nothing about the role Malta played in the war or the terrible conditions the locals and the troops faced so it was a real eye opener.
George’s diary tells his story with a humour and warmth so typical of his generation during this time, how else could you get through it? The interspersion of facts and the official lines between diary entries brings the true horror vividly to life.
However, I found the sections on the Freemasons a bit of a chore. I realise that this was an important part of George’s life but I just couldn’t get interested in it and so this spoiled the book a bit for me.
My thanks to TBConFB for this copy.

[Cassandra MADEUP BookBlog · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my second book by Jean Gill, and i was thoroughly impressed with how entirely different it was to the previous.

I Wholeheartedly recommend this for anybody with an interest in history or the world wars, although i would suggest anyone give it a try!

I loved that the story was a mixture of the authors fathers experiences, and information and facts about the place and the situations which occurred.

I found that the added facts gave the tale substance and made it easier to keep in mimd that this is far from “just a story” but is in fact a key part of history.

This book gives us a valuable insight into the lives of those involved in the conflicts and those in the periphery, and helps to garner some semblance of understanding of what it would have been like to be there, and to experience it.

The story is well told, drawing us in with such a skill as to recreate the time in our minds, to place us in the situation and both intrigue and horrify in a way, because we can empathise with the people. This is a book that can educate in so many ways, sharing the horrors of the time in such a way as to forever remind us that this DID happen.

My reading time here is no reflection on the book, in fact more a compliment in a way. With an keen interest in the wars myself, this story made me need to go away and think before continuing, and has encouraged me to go and do some further reading in some areas.

I loved the quotes at the start of each chapter, they linked beautifully with each one and gave an interesting addition that provoked a lot of thought, and the photographs made picturing the time a simpler process, the whole effect being a sense of realism so that we didn’t become “distanced” from the facts.

Beautiful work from a very talented Author! I can’t wait to see what else Jill comes up with!

[Geoff Nelder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Any aficionado of things Maltese and World War Two will love this book. It tells of the personal experiences of a Scottish soldier stationed on Malta and seeing firsthand the deprivations, disease yet heart-warming accounts of bravery. Diary entries log the comings and goings of bombed convoy ships and plucky minesweepers along with the mixed feelings some had for the plucky yet often arrogant RAF pilots. George loved the island and its stalwart people and it shows. He had a girl at home and the difficulties of communications meant their romance was as much stretched to breaking point as the Malta defences. In between the bombs and deprivation, George was inducted into the Freemasons and this account is one of those rare insights into that secretive society along with symbols and odd handshakes. Many of my Maltese and British friends will enjoy this book and will recognise places and the ennui on the islands.

[Jayne Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was interested in this book because I lived in Malta for three years in my teens, and knew something of its wartime ordeal. The books is excerpts from the author's father's diary, interspersed with factual recounting of the situation in Malta. It was a fascinating read, especially things like the level of censorship in letters home from Malta, as well as the details of day to day life.

[Ursula · Rating 4 out of 5]

(I read a paperback copy published on 4th March 2018.)

Jean Gill has taken a unique resource kept by her family and lovingly shared it with the English speaking world. Many people are aware that the island of Malta was awarded a George Cross for bravery. This personal account of one young man's experience brings that period to life.

I enjoyed the detail of learning about the Royal Army Medical Corps, about Malta during the war, about Freemasonry. I liked the inclusion of many black and white photographs, a couple of maps and a useful glossary. I found much honesty and pathos in the diary entries and letters home, an endurance test of four long years of danger, hardship and toil.

But I found many of the details, particularly of the Freemasonry, to be just slightly out of reach; described in terms of a report without those tangible details which would bring the experiences to life. I suppose I wanted the writer to fill in gaps in a creative way more suited to fiction than the memoir this book is.

[Patrice Gotting - #prdgreads · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was kindly sent a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book for the most part, it was great to have an insight into how things were during the war & I really appreciated that.

Some parts of this book were really gripping & held my attention really well, especially the parts that were George’s diary entries, they were my favourite.


That being said, other parts of this book were just facts that almost felt irrelevant to Georges story & I would find my mind wandering.

All in all, this is definitely a book I would recommend.

Thank you Jean for sharing your father’s story with us!

[Susan Schuurmans · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have a great interest in World War Two and a romantic fascination in Malta so it was very interesting to learn of Malta's experience of the war through the eyes of a young serviceman. The young man is the author's father and the book is based on his diary as well as letters. In all a book to recommend to anyone interested in the World War Two.

[Debs · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very interesting and humorous in places. I loved the diary part of this book and the interesting facts in between - absolutely love Malta and this was the perfect read to learn more about it whilst hearing from someone who went through the times - thank you!

[Sue Wallace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Faithful through hard times by Jean Gill.
A fantastic read. I loved the story and the characters. Especially George. I don't normally read war books but I have read most of jeans books and have loved every one so I wanted to give this one a  go. I loved the letters That were written. I loved the little pictures in there as well. This was very well written.  I give Jean high praise for this book. 5*. Highly recommended.

[Jamie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Big thanks to Goodreads First Reads for me winning this book. I enjoyed this. It was interesting seeing WWII from a noncombatant's role, though I suppose everyone on Malta might argue the noncombatant bit as often as they got bombed.

I loved the use of Huxley's Ends and Means. The quotes at the chapter beginnings were on point and, as pointed out in the Historical Note, doubly appropriate as the subject's favorite book of philosophy. The Historical Note was very appreciated. I was glad to know which parts were less than factual and the reasons for making things that way.

The book read fairly easily. It was rare that I got caught up on any of the British terms and slang, though there was a nice Glossary at the beginning, just in case. Thankfully I didn't need it because I'm not too smooth at using ebooks yet and I'm not particularly confident in jumping around without loosing my spot. So I guess that would be my biggest complaint: I wish I'd had a print copy. It would've helped with viewing the pictures as well.

[Paul Trembling · Rating 5 out of 5]

Back in the day, when I was in the Royal Navy, I visited Malta several times, and have some good memories of the island. Very different from George Taylor's experience during the war!

The Siege of Malta is, of course, one of the epics of World War II - how the military and civilian populations endured a sustained attempt to force surrender through intense bombing and starvation. But George's story, told through his diary which was written at the time, brings home the reality of it in a way that few history books can. It wasn't just the bombing and poor rations that he had to endure: not even the intense heat of the Maltese summers. There was also the confusion and incompetence that sometimes seemed to dominate the British Army! There was the pig-headed attitude of his Commanding Officer, who refused to put any of his men forward for promotion, no matter how much they proved themselves. There was the embarrassing situation caused by a young Maltese girls infatuation, leading to a visit from her Priest. And there was the constant awareness of Zero Hour Food approaching: if the convoy's didn't make it through, they would have to surrender - or starve.

But apart from all this, and a constant thread running through the narrative, is George's thoughts of his fiancé, Nettie: his sometimes desperate clinging to his memories of her, his frustration at not being able (due to censorship) to explain the real situation to her, his fear that she would think his lack of communication meant lack of love. It was partly to deal with this that he began writing his diary, putting down all the thoughts and observations that he wasn't allowed to put in his letters - and taking a big risk in doing so, as if it had been discovered he could have been court-martialed.

But he did, and as a result we have this vivid, gritty, first-hand account of Malta in the war, from the perspective of an ordinary soldier. Jean Gill has done an excellent job of putting it together and adding in the necessary additional information to give background and context. But it is George's story, and one well worth reading.

(NB: I read this as part of 'True Colours', the author's six book box set).

[Jenny H · Rating 4 out of 5]

Holidaying in Malta, I spotted the plaque commemorating the island's George Cross, awarded for withstanding a long siege by the Nazis during WWII. I was pleased to discover this memoir by the author's father, a soldier who lived through it. I found it especially poignant as my Dad was there too. Soldiers and native Maltese alike endured more than 2 years of constant bombing, overwork on starvation rations and ravaging disease, particularly polio, Jean Gill's painstaking research, added to the poignant details of her father's personal story make for a moving and often shocking read. My Mum enjoyed the book too, though she skipped the parts about the Masons, which would have been better abridged. Jean has produced a moving tribute to the men and women who lived through this awful time, with few letters and scant supplies able to reach them through the blockade.

[Sue · Rating 3 out of 5]

First I must say that I am glad I read this account of Malta during WW11. I am inherently nosey so to be able to read some's diary is a pleasure to me but you must remember that this one was written by a man and more often than not men just don't think to put the everyday details in and this was the case with George. He wrote facts not snippets of gossip etc, it is impossible not to notice that he was very bored which is understandable when living on an island where not much changes from day to day. I found the parts about the Freemasons boring and although it was part of George's life while on the island so had to be included I didn't think so much detail was needed. I actually started to skip those passages as I didn't think they were relevant. I found the afterword very interesting and definitely filled in some of the gaps.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

I remember my first visit to Malta, I loved the architecture, people, and the scenery. It also was my first introduction to its place in WWII, literally an island fortress, not in the sense of walls and defenses, but rather it was a rock sticking up in the middle of the Mediterranean. This read gave a very good description of the Island, and what the people went through, all because one soldier kept a diary of life during their toughest times. A rock that suffered more bombings in two months, and in a smaller area, than London did during the entire Blitz!

[David Richardson · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fair WWII story. I never knew the war came to Malta. Interesting facts, but since a lot of this book is a diary and letters parts are repetitive and not too exciting. I received this book for free from the Goodreads first-reads giveaway.

[Priya · Rating 4 out of 5]

A first hand account of the war and it's effect on Malta, where the author's father was sent.
The diary records of daily life of the army, including the despair and loneliness due to no contact with loved ones.
A very personal account of a terrible war.