Canon John Theuma Relf: victim of illustrious blitz

Abstract

The feature starts at the beginning of the second siege of Malta. Mussolini had just declared war and Malta’s defenses were minimal against its' Italian fighters. By the end of 1940, as the island prepared with new convoys to be equipped enough to fight back. However, large numbers still fell victim to the Luftwaffe German bombers. Mangion describes the aftermath of the ferocious attack which reduced the island’s oldest urban communities into rubble, now bathed in the blood of the victims and the tears of the survivors. The latter half of the feature is dedicated to the life and works of one such victim, killed in 1941 by an air raid at his residence: Canon Prof. John Theuma. Amidst those whose contributions which brought honor to Malta, his was a leading force. Starting with his early life, the article pays homage to all his many achievements in the academic formation as well as the spiritual one. Includes related images from Theuma’s youth.