Thread: Harbour chat
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Old 02-26-2018, 03:44 AM   #3
Irish Rambler
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City: NARBONNE
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Join Date: Apr 2014
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Why Malta ? Partly because I've been there before and partly to follow the trace of the Knights Templar. Malta was their stronghold in that corner of the world when they were fighting in the crusades.
Like all the Mediterranean islands and coastlines Malta's been fought over and occupied many times.
During World War two it occupied a strategic position, whoever held Malta had the key to North Africa. Malta had been under British rule since the 1800's and some of it's people wanted independence, coupled with its fading strategic significance due to military advances it was decided that Britain would close its bases there and grant independence.
Unfortunately Dom Mintoff, Malta's leader for independence didn't consider the financial implications of Britain's withdrawal and blow to the economy caused the Royal Navy support engineering shops to close. The housing market collapsed as the rented accommodation for service personnel became vacant.


Self explanatory photo's showing the geographic position of Malta.
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MAP SHOWING MALTA.jpg  
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