The Last Commission:

Malta

 5-12 November 1977

During the early hours of the 5^th we were off the northwest tip of the Maltese group of islands and we entered Grand Harbour in Procedure Alpha at about 1000A. Witnessing our entry was Flag Officer Malta, with the President of the Republic of Malta, the British and Australian High Commissioners, and the Italian, German and French Ambassadors. With the aid of tugs the ship was ceremoniously backed in the Kalkara Creek and secured between two buoys.

For some the Malta visit was a holiday as they took leave to be with their families, wives or girlfriends who had flown out from the UK. For the remainder there was much to be done and a lot of hard work.

The Seaman Department continued what it had started in Gibraltar by helping civilian dockyard workers with the painting of the ship’s side. The Maltese painted below 3 deck, while our own seamen were the ones hanging from the nets above 3 deck. The Air Department, too, was busy painting, but its concern was the flight deck which had lost its nice look. Soon it was looking itself again with the red, white, yellow and green breaking up the vast expanse of grey. When all the painting was complete, the mighty Ark looked in a far better condition that the “worse for wear” appearance of our arrival.

Down in the depths of the ship the ME Department was extremely busy as much machinery was shut down, providing a golden opportunity for maintenance work to be carried out. The WE Department was also able to carry out maintenance on their equipment and new aerials were fitted above 03 deck. Other departments too did their bit by painting their part of ship and generally carrying out their normal daily tasks.

Throughout the week, however, there was time for rest and relaxation, and for those with energy a full and varied sporting programme took place. Over 800 officers and ratings took part in sport of some form of activity and the highlight was the convincing defeat of HMS FEARLESS in the first round of the “Maxi Ships Cup”. In the “It’s a knockout” competition against RAF LUQA, the AED came through as worthy overall winners. The members of the 4Ro Mess continued their money raising efforts by having a sponsored walk around Malta and raised over £600.

In addition to the official receptions and visits by Service and Political representatives in the island, there was considerable coming and going by others. Once more we were subjected to a boats routine if we wished to go ashore. The ship’s boats and the official contract boats were well supported by the dghaisamen in the motorised dghaisas.

The weather at Malta was very pleasant and warm, and most of us looked more tanned than when we arrived. After a very enjoyable week we were off on our travels again when we left Grand Harbour on Saturday 12^th November and set off for the French Port of Toulon

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