Fort Campbell & Ghajn Tuffieha
Abandoned British Bases in Malta
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Fort Campbell, Fort Campbell or Fortizza ta' Campbell in Maltese also known as Il-Fortizza tas-Selmun
The last & most important Maltese Fort was constructed between 1937-1938 north of Malta's Victoria Lines
An impressive virtually complete Fort on a large plot a shame to see it falling into delapidation
1. Fort Campbell at 35°57'49.5" N 14°23'25.7" E
Within a boundary wall, buildings are spaced well apart so are naturally camouflaged from air making aerial bombardment difficult
2. Plan of Fort Campbell
With 3 x 6" Gun emplacements, modified in WWII with Radar & a Heavy Anti-Aircraft Gun, with Pillbox's & many machine gun points
3. From interior of Barracks
Functional rather than aesthetic the Barracks were added in WWII, the Fort Campbell design endured & was used in WWII
4.
Entrance to passage |
5.
Return view of passage |
6. The passage leads to crew quarters & undergound Magazine
7. Crew Quarters
8. Crew Quarters with underground Magazine access right
9. Shaft with hand rails at surface to underground Magazine
10.
Towards Buggiba |
11.
Towards St Paul's Bay |
Mistra Battery is below the Fort protecting Mistra & Xemxija Bays, it has a coat of arms of Grandmaster Pinto above the entrance arch
12. Mellieha & St Paul's Bay
St Paul's Island was originally named after the Salomone family who owned land nearby, Salomone Island was also known as Selmun
13. St Paul's Island
Paul the apostle is said to have been shipwrecked here, the island was given to religion & in 1844 Saint Paul's Statue erected
The statue has been renovated a number of times & ruins of island habitation evident
14. No 2, 6" BL Gun Emplacement
15. St Paul's Island centre
The Fort commands Mellieha Bay & St Paul's Bay
16. No 3, Gun emplacement showing heavy anti-aircraft gun mounts
17. From top of No 3 Gun emplacement
18. St Paul's Island
Note Road track below leading to Mistra Battery & the Fish Farm
19. Perimeter wall
20.
WWII Fire Station 1 |
21.
WW11 Fire Station 2 |
23. 539 CpL Zammit RE 1953 SPR 532 made his mark
24. Fort Campbell
Decommissioned in 1949 a caretaker crew presided until 1970
Thereafter, the Fort was vandalized & plundered, the main fire control building destroyed
Several steel beams have been taken from the Barracks & the roof has partially collapsed
Visitors may access, but beware some parts are dangerous
Mellieha Local Council, would like to restore the Fort but thus far has proved cost prohibitive
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Ghajn Tuffieha Training Camp
The Admiralty commandeered land from local farmers in 1902 & established the training camp. Initially Royal Marines were housed in tents, later wooden 'Crimea Huts' then more substantial masonry buildings
25. Colonel Dumfies & Royal Fusiliers outside the Officers Quarters in 1915
26. The Camp Site in 2014
On raised ground it was subject of air raids so in WWI an Anti Aircraft Battery was added
27. Administration Hall
28. The Army Chapel
29.
Shuttered Chapel Door |
30.
Officers Quarters |
The Chapel dates from 1949
31. Taking aim; Sergeant Tom Coleman RAAF Shooting Team
Photographed at a rifle competition at Tuffieha Barracks in 1953
32. Ghajn Tuffieha Training Camp in 1960 from the air (Francis Ray Gregory)
Once the busiest spot on the islands Ghajn Tuffieha trained British & NATO forces up until the late 1960's
33. The 1970 Hal Ferh tourism accommodation complex
In 2012 it was reported the site would be converted into a luxury holiday complex, to date January 2017 there's been no progress
Strategic in the Mediterranean Malta has 6 Prehistoric Fortifications, 8 walled cities, 21 Forts, 37 Towers & 58 Batteries some complete, many in ruins & some many no more
Its worth listing former & abandoned air bases: Flying Boat in 1916 flew from Kalafrana, Hal Far 1922, Luqa 1930, Ta Quali & San Niklaw 1940, Safi 1942 & on Gozo the US Army Xewkija 1943
See more Ghajn Tuffieha Training Camp