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Pictures from the Past
This is ...
Roger Borg
who served in the RMA: 1939 - 1945
and in the Royal Navy: 1945 - 1949
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editing: my-malta.com © 2005
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content: Joe Borg (Canada) © 2005
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my-malta.com urges those who themselves (or whose relatives) served at Malta at any time in the Maltese Islands' history to send us their stories and their photos for publication.
Sharing your memories, or those of your loved ones in the Services, helps the rest of us who have not lived in such hard times to appreciate better the price of Freedom.
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'Ruggier'
In this tribute to his late father, Roger, affectionately known amongst family and friends as
Ruggieru, Joe Borg begins by introducing us to his side of the (Maltese) Borg family; from his
grandparents' to his own generation. Joe goes on to tell us about his father's career in the British
Forces, first as a Sergeant in the Royal Malta Artillery, where he served for the whole duration of World War
II and later as a Royal Navy cook, during which time he was posted abroad and may well have 'served'
his country in more ways than one!
We then get to know Roger Borg a little better as Joe tells us about his father's years in Australia, where
he settled in 1949 and where he was eventually laid to rest. This tribute ends very appropriately with Joe's surprise and
emotional message to his dearly missed father.
In the Beginning
Roger Borg was born in Paola, Malta, to a large Family. His father was Nicola Borg, the Chief Warden
in charge of H.M. Prisons in Corradino (Paola), and his Mother was Guzeppa, née Spiteri. The couple
had seven other children; Joseph, who sadly passed away as an infant, Emedio, Mario and Verdiano (k/a
Steve), as well as Tekla, Lucy and Kelina (aka Micki, from Michelina).
Lucy and Kelina moved to London in Ontario, Canada, while Tekla settled in Sydney, Australia. Roger was the
only one of the brothers who emigrated to Australia. The other three, Emedio, Mario and Steve, all moved to
Canada, where Mario passed away in 1992.
Roger married Guza (k/a Jessie), one of the daughters of Mikiel Degabriele (nicknamed il-Fattu),
who owned and ran the bakery known as Tal-Fattu in Birzebbuga, Malta, which is still in operation to
this day, but which had since been leased and is now operated by others.
Joe recounts, "Roger and Jessie had seven children; four born in Malta and three in Australia. I was the
eldest. In 1965 I moved to Canada, where I met my wife, Gerry, and where I have lived ever since.
"My brothers and sisters were: Lina (who married Andrew Wiecek), Tess (married to Fred Vella), Doris (married
to Ian Lack), Peter (married to Lynn), Rosemary (married to Bill Barber), and Robert (married to Christine).
All these, with the exception of myself, live in various areas of Penrith, the Blue Mountains, and suburbs of
Sydney, Australia, as does my mother Jessie. My father, Roger, passed away in 1986."
World War Two broke out!
Joe, who interested himself in his father's Services career, had this to say, "Roger enlisted in the Royal Malta Artillery (R.M.A.) and was, in actual fact, a specialist as a 'Height Finder'
in Anti-Aircraft gun placements.
For the benefit of those readers who may not be aware, Anti-Aircraft stations on the ground would raise a barrage of gunfire upon the arrival of enemy aircraft. But for this to be effective, a height finder would first need to determine the altitude of the formation.
(For first-hand WW2 accounts/pictures, one may visit our Wartime Experiences page and our WW2 Malta Diary.)
"Dad was very strict and proud of his abilities," Joe recalls, "especially at drill and dress. He was rewarded for his
leadership towards his fellow team members with increases in rank, and was made Sergeant. My father was stationed in
a few different Anti-Aircraft posts, but one I can remember. From what I have been told, this was in Delimara."
Delimara flanks the Kalafrana/Marsaxolokk harbour at Malta's southern tip, which is also an approach route
to the Hal Far, Hal Safi and Luqa aerodromes, all of which received regular bombardment and casualties.
Joe's reminiscence continues, "Roger was a very well respected and loved member of The Royal Malta Artillery,
and as children we always enjoyed listening to some of the stories of the action he was involved in, whether
it was while on duty, or on leave.
Some of the stories he told us were hilarious, especially when they
were to do with certain antics he and his mates got into.
"There was even one story of how they scared the heck out of one of their Staff-Sergeant, who had to ride his
bike through a cemetery as a shortcut to get to his home!! After this particular episode, it is said
that he never again took that shortcut, and went home the long way around!!
"Dad was released from Duty at the end of the war due to the Army not needing the men in service; having
served over 5 years in the RMA. He was also, from what I understand, stationed in a position at the
Main Guard, in Valetta for a few months before he was dismissed from the RMA."
The post-war years: Royal Navy
"Roger then transferred to the Royal Navy, as a chef, and was stationed in Egypt, at British Admiralty House.
He was special Chef to the Admiral and Liaison Flag Officer in the Middle East Headquarters in Fayid.
His time in Egypt was a happy time for him, and I remember him telling us, again, about some of the antics
that he and his mates used to get into. Roger also spoke Arabic reasonably well, and with his dark
complexion, he had no problem passing as an Arab, especially when he donned the Arab clothing to go buy goods,
groceries, etc. at their markets, in order to get the lower prices, rather then what would have been charged
to the 'Rich British' as they were called.
"Rumour also has it that he once had the honour of cooking and serving the young Princess Elizabeth, (prior
to her becoming Queen), while she was a guest of the Admiral during a tour of the Middle East.
"When Roger left the Navy to emigrate to Australia, the Admiral tried to get him to stay on, but to no avail.
When Roger made a decision, that was it!"
So, once in Australia, what became of Roger Borg?
"Roger emigrated to Australia after leaving the Navy in 1949, at age 28. He worked for many years as a
Fitter and Turner for a major company, named Commonwealth Engineering, just outside the city of Sydney, Australia.
He was with that company for many years, and then left to open and start his own business, as a Caterer,
under the name of Roger's Catering Service, in Blacktown.
"During all these years in Australia Roger was also a Justice of the Peace and was an official Government
Interpreter for the Australian Government in all aspects. Most of these duties, which he did in
addition to his main job with the engineering firm, were mainly with the department of Immigration in Sydney.
Roger spoke English and Maltese, but also had a good knowledge of Lebanese, Arabic, and Italian.
He also spent some time as a part-time teacher of 'English as a second language' to newly-arrived immigrants
from Malta and Italy.
"Roger was a leader in the Maltese Community of the Sydney Suburb of Blacktown and the surrounding areas. He
was the first and founding President of the La Valette Centre for the Maltese community of Blacktown and area.
He was also president of the first Maltese-Australian Club of the Blacktown Area.
"Roger passed away on June 12, 1986, while he was enjoying his retirement and love of fishing. Roger lost his
life, while fishing, when he was washed off some rocks by a large wave. While he was, in fact, saved and
assisted back to shore by a young man on a windsurfer, he did not survive the Air Ambulance trip to the nearest
hospital some 20 minutes away.
"After his death, in June of 1986, an article was written in a Maltese Community newspaper as a tribute to my
father; a man who was admired and acknowledged by all as a friend and as a mentor. A man who, despite
not being rich in monetary terms, was rich in the knowledge of many things; foremost of all these was the love
of his wife Jessie, their 7 children and their families, as well as in the respect and admiration of the hundreds
of friends and associates, in both public and political life, that attended his funeral and last journey to
his reward in Heaven.
"As his son, I always had much respect for my father. Although like many Maltese parents he was very
strict, I still (to this day) remember a lot of what he tried to teach me. My only wish is that I had
paid better attention to him in those days. My most final conversation with my father was in a telephone
call I had with him and my mother just 2 weeks before he died. I will always remember what we said to
each other on that day. For the first time in my adult life, I actually spoke the words 'I love you
Dad' to my father. He replied that he also loved me!
"I then told him that, as a child, I was always mad at him for being so strict and for the way he was always
ordering us not to do certain things or go to certain places. My very last words to him were: 'Dad,
I wish I had listened and paid more attention to your advice!' and his reply to me was that the past was gone,
but that I could still learn and improve my future by remembering what he had taught me.
"And so I end this little story of my Dad, by saying: Sgt.Roger Borg, #20132, Royal Malta Artillery, I
Salute You; I Miss you and I love you. Please know and be proud of the fact that I have obtained for you the
replica George Cross Medal for Heroism and Devotion to King and Country during 1939-1945. This will forever be
kept with your other awards being:
(a) The 1939-45 Star (Battle of Britain)
(b) The Africa Star
(c) The Defence Medal
(d) The War Medal (1939-45)
REST IN PEACE DAD. Lest We Forget.
Joe Borg,
Ontario Canada.
joe-gerry-borg@hay.net
George Cross commemorative medal
Back to Roger Borg's listing under our 'Stationed at Malta' page
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