An Island at the Crossroads

🇬🇧 Article by R.G. Miller from First issue of “The Mill”: March 1940 - (Courtesy-Camilleri Joseph)

🚢🖊️ “But this Union is no good. What has it done so far? Who is going to do the big things necessary before we, Maltese workers, can achieve European standards?”
Before WW2, the Dockyard workers working conditions were bad as compared to British naval Dockyards in the UK.

🗣 What were these bad conditions?

🇲🇹 Artiklu ta' R.G. Miller mill-ewwel ħarġa ta' "The Mill": Marzu 1940 - (bil-kortesija ta' Camilleri Joseph) irrefera għall-kundizzjonijiet ħżiena tax-xogħol li kienu ferm taħt l-istandards Ewropej.

🗣 X'taħseb li kienu dawn il-kundiżżjonijiet ħziena?

📖 Step into the heart of the dockyard with "The Dockyard from the Workers' Perspective •100 Interviews•" and discover the untold stories of those who lived it. Get your copy today: t.ly/Ydtfd

⚓🗣 Heritage Malta is pleased to invite you to the next talk in the series of discussions by former Dockyard workers. This talk will take place at the Maritime Museum, Birgu, on Sunday, 19th January, at 9:00 am.

This time, the focus will be on the trades nurtured within Malta's Dockyard. What makes this talk unique is that it will be complemented by an exhibition of tools that were used in these trades, with former Dockyard workers present to explain how the tools were used.
For over a century, the British Naval Dockyard provided employment for thousands of workers, practically in every trade and skill required for repairing naval vessels, where quality was prioritized over the time taken to complete the work.

The high-quality craftsmanship of Dockyard workers stemmed from experience accumulated over the years, passed down from generation to generation. The variety of trades, specializations, and skills developed in the Dockyard over the years is immeasurable.

Don't miss the opportunity to be part of this unique session with the participation of former Dockyard workers. Tickets are free of charge and include free entry to the museum exhibition , but it is essential to book them in advance through Store – Heritage Malta (https://heritagemalta.mt/.../rakkonti-mit-tarzna-is-snajja) or from Heritage Malta museums and sites..

🎄 A Christmas edition of The Bailey News from 1959.

The Bailey News was a newsletter published by Bailey (Malta) Limited at the Malta Drydocks. It was an illustrated 16-page publication with a coloured cover.

🎁📖 Still looking for the perfect holiday gift? Look no further than this wonderful testament to local history- "The Dockyard from the Workers’ Perspective •100 Interviews•"!

👉 Buy the book at our e-store: t.ly/Ydtfd

Happy Holidays to All! 🎄👼✨

🇬🇧 🛳 The dockyard could practically take all sizes and types of ships for repairs. Some ship repair work undertaken by the dockyard made history.

Can you mention any of these projects?

📖 Dive into the heart of dockyard history! The Dockyard from the Workers' Perspective: 100 Interviews brings their stories to life. Get your copy now: t.ly/Ydtfd

🇲🇹 🛳 Xi xogħol ta' tiswija tal-vapuri mwettaq mid-dockyard għamel i-storja.

Tista' ssemmi xi wħud minn dawn il-proġetti?

Memory Twin: The Human Stories Behind Our Cultural Heritage Malta

This morning, the Malta Maritime Museum hosted a moving event as part of the "An Island at the Crossroads" exhibition. The focus was on the Dockyard Memory Twin project, which captures the voices and narratives of dockyard workers—a vital part of Malta's industrial and social history.

We delved into stories of men who worked tirelessly through long overtime hours, often into the early hours of the morning. Their sacrifices—missing family milestones, and the joy of witnessing their children grow—paint a vivid picture of resilience, duty, and sacrifice.

This project underscores the importance of documenting intangible cultural heritage alongside physical artifacts. While historical tools and shipbuilding equipment speak of technical achievement, the memories of those who wielded them offer an emotional dimension, enriching our understanding of the past.
By recording these narratives, we honor the humanity behind the hard work and remind ourselves that cultural preservation is as much about stories as it is about structures.

Thank you to everyone who participated, shared their memories, and contributed to making this event a heartfelt success. Let us continue to ensure that voices of the past are heard, cherished, and preserved for future generations.

Heritage Malta TED Unit- Heritage Malta

🇬🇧👷 Dockyard workers were expected to work long hours overtime, sometimes extending to the early hours of the morning. They were deprived of family time and of being present during their children’s flourishing.

All this for the Family?

🗣 Join us THIS Sunday, December 1st at 10 AM for DOCKYARD TALK 05- Part 2 at the Malta Maritime Museum, Birgu! Get your free ticket here:

🎟️ https://shorturl.at/h4eYH.

🇲🇹👷 Ħaddiema tat-tarzna spiss kienu jaħdmu sigħat twal, anke matul il-lejl, nieqsa mill-ħin tal-familja u mit-tkabbir ta' wliedhom.

Dan kollu għall-Familja?

📖 Dive into the heart of dockyard history! The Dockyard from the Workers' Perspective: 100 Interviews brings their stories to life. Claim your copy now: t.ly/Ydtfd

📢 Join Us This Sunday for Part 2 of Dockyard Talk 05- Community Inside and Outside the Dockyard!

Dive deeper into the fascinating history of community life inside and outside the dockyard at the Malta Maritime Museum this Sunday, 1st December at 10 AM.

The richness of this subject deserves a closer look, and we’re excited to continue the discussion!

🎟️ Tickets are free, but spaces are limited, so secure your spot now by registering here:

https://shorturl.at/h4eYH.

Don’t miss this captivating event—see you there!

🇬🇧 The concept of fear on the job as a sentiment that was felt by the workers on various occasions.

🚢🔧 In certain circumstances, what made the workers return to their job?

🗣 Save the date! Join us on Sunday, December 1st at 10 AM for DOCKYARD TALK 05- Part 2 at the Malta Maritime Museum, Birgu.

Don’t miss this engaging event that dives into the fascinating history of the dockyard!

🇲🇹 Il-kunċett tal-biża’ fuq il-post tax-xogħol kien sentiment li kien jinħass mill-ħaddiema f'diversi okkażjonijiet.

🚢🔧 F'ċerti okkażjonijiet.i, x'ġiegħel lill-ħaddiema jerġgħu lura fuq xogħolhom?

📖 Step into the world of the dockyard like never before! The Dockyard from the Workers' Perspective: 100 Interviews is a powerful journey through history, told directly by the workers who shaped it. These firsthand stories breathe life into the past and offer a unique glimpse into a vital chapter of history.

👉 Grab your copy today: t.ly/Ydtfd

🇲🇹 Xi nies barra mit-tarzna jaħsbu li l-għarfien dwar is-sigurtà beda wara l-inċident tal-Um El Faroud. Madankollu, pubblikazzjonijiet interni sa mill-1937 kienu qed jippromwovu s-sigurtà u l-manutenzjoni industrijali. Il-Kodiċi tal-Ħarsien għall-Ħaddiema tat-Tarzna ta’ Malta kien ukoll jippromwovi li ħaddiem għandu joħloq kundizzjonijiet biex jipproteġi lil sħabu. Kien hemm ukoll inħolqot Kummissjoni tas-Sigurtà biex tinkoraġġixxi lill-ħaddiema josservaw ir-regoli tas-sigurtà u tagħti premjijiet għas-sigurtà.

⚓ Minkejja l-għarfien tas-sigurta, taħhsbu li l-incidenti kemm kbar kif ukoll zgħhar jistu jiġu eliminati?

🗣 Join us on Sunday, December 1st for DOCKYARD TALK 05- Part 2, happening at the Malta Maritime Museum in Birgu at 10am!

🇬🇧 Some people outside the dockyard think that safety awareness started after the Um El Faroud accident, however internal publications as, early as 1937, promoted safety and industrial housekeeping. The “Kodiċi tal-Ħarsien għall-Ħaddiema tat-Tarzna ta’ Malta” also promoted that a worker should create situations to protect his fellow colleagues. A Safety Committee was in place to encourage workers to abide by safety rules and organising safety awards.

⚓ Notwithstanding this safety awareness, could accidents being minor or major be eliminated in the dockyard?

📖 Dive into the rich history of the dockyard with The Dockyard from the Workers' Perspective: 100 Interviews. This captivating collection of first-hand stories brings the past to life through the voices of those who lived it. 👉 Order your copy online: t.ly/Ydtfd