JAMES JOSEPH DOWDALL ex BIRZEBBUGA / QAJJENZA - RIP

DOWDALL. _
Herald Sun Melbourne Australia - 21 November 2009

DOWDALL. _
Funeral Mass for the repose of
the soul of Mr James Joseph
Dowdall will be offered at St
Marks Church, 9 Lee St,
Fawkner, on TUESDAY (Nov.
24, 2009) at 11 a.m.
The Funeral will leave at the
conclusion of Mass for
Cremation at the (Cordell
Chapel) Fawkner Memorial
Park, Sydney Rd, Fawkner.
Rosary will be recited in the
above Church prior to Mass on
TUESDAY (Nov. 24, 2009)
commencing at 10.40 a.m.
No flowers by request, but if
preferred donations may be
made to St Vincent de Paul
Society, envelopes will be
available at the Church.
Herald Sun
2.
DOWDALL. _ James Joseph.
Herald Sun Melbourne - 21 November 2009

DOWDALL. _ James Joseph.
Peacefully on Nov. 19, 2009
Aged 96 years
Dearly beloved husband of
Mary (dec.). Much loved father
and father-in-law of Yvonne and
Norman, Peter (dec.), Veronica
and William. Adored
grandfather of Veronica and
Greg, Jeffery and Melissa,
Karen and Glenn, Kevin and
Sonia, Catherine and Robert,
Adrian and Emma and great
grandfather of 11.
Forever in our hearts

Herald Sun Melbourne
----------------

The Dowdall Family of Qajjenza / Birzebbuga were a very well known Family.


Going back pre WW2 the family owned operated the Dowdall Hotel by the sea shore at Qajjenza

Some of them migrated to Australia, UK and USA.

NINU ABDILLA - 'ta Kalatu ' Old time Birzebbuga bus driver.

I would think everyone at Birzebbuga knows Ninu ta Kalatu. Correct name Toninu Abdilla but always called Ninu. We grew up together during WW2 at Zurrieq Road where Ninu's parents lived not far from the Raddiena / Windmill of the Vella family at the top end of Zurrieq Road. Ninu's family owned the Birzebbuga bus No 3289 and I think it was named WARSPITE. Ninu drove that bus for many years up and down from Bbuga to Valletta. The photo shown here was taken in 1992 when I visited Birzebbuga. Last met Ninu at Qajjenza during 1996 he was driving his coach. Hoping my old friend is well.

The sandy beach at Pretty Bay

Birzebbuga - Church Street

A photo of Church Str Birzebbuga. My parents lived there during 1934 - 1936. Only one house away from the Maria Addolorata Church which at that time was still used as the main village Church. Shortly after the new St Peters Church became the main Parish Church. Opposite our house was a small triangular square and the street on the right hand side was Addolorata street that ended up at Tanks street. The Degabriele family / Mikiel and Kelina operated the local bakery which was always a very busy shop.
Our house was on the 1st floor and the Roberts family lived below us on the ground floor. A bunch of local kids used to play football in the small square.
Click on photo to enlarge.

Floodwater and local kids having fun.

A group of young kids having fun in the rainwater that always flooded parts of Birzebbuga / St Georges Bay main road.
This is an old photo taken many years ago. Sent by Joseph Camilleri (ex Birzebbuga) now of Sydney NSW Australia.

Birzebbuga of many years ago

Upper photo. This location is most likely near Borg in Nadur by the old Chapel.

Lower photo taken in the 1950s showing part of Pretty Bay. The old WW2 gunpost can still be seen opposite the Smiling Prince Bar.
Photos sent by Joseph Camilleri of NSW Australia.



The above two photos were taken by Kenneth Incorvaja Oct 2009. Shows the same location near Borg in Nadur by the old Chapel.

Photos sent by Kenneth Incorvaja of Malta GC.

A group of men from Birzebbuga at Kalafrana

This photo was taken about 1951. Most of the men are from Birzebbuga and worked at the R. N. base Kalafrana Power station. My father No 13 was the foreman. I knew most of them. I have numbered them so hoping anyone who remembers the ones that are unnamed can send me the names and I'll update the photo. Click on photo to enlarge.

As far as I know No 8 Simiana and No 17 Vella are still alive. No 6 Borg and No 16 were men from Sliema. Both of them were motor mechanics at Gasan Ford at the Gzira workshops during 1947-48. No 6 Joe Borg, I met him in 1996 when I visited Malta. He has passed away RIP. Everyone at Birzebbuga knew No 4 Cikku Frankalanza ' is sagristan ' at the Parish Church. No 15 is Johnny Vella (not sure) I think he was the Cubmaster of the Birzebbuga Scout Group during c1946.
No 11 is Victor Borg-Falzon used to live near the bakery of ' tal fattu', his son used to play with the St Peters FC during the 1950s. No 3 is Guzeppi Vella his family used to operate the butcher shop a short distance up from the Police Station.
No 12, I think this man was Karmnu Casha from Bir id Deheb or Tarxien. No 17 is Guzi Vella, I last met him during 1999 when I visited Malta. He lives in Addolorata Str. Anyone knows Guzi, please pass on my best wishes.

The Toni Brincat barber shop at Pretty Bay

A view of the shop 2008 -- Photo by Laetitia Agius
The location as seen in 1900.

This little shop on the main road at Pretty Bay must be rated with other places of history that belong to the town of Birzebbuga. It was operating in the early 1930s and most likely even before that period of time.
Used to be called ' il hanut ta Toni l' barbier '. That was Toni Brincat.
What is special about this little shop is that during the years of WW2 it stayed open every day even during the peak of the German blitz on Kalafrana RAF base and Hal Far airfield. Of course there must have been other places that stayed open during the days of WW2 but what stands out in my memory is that a small group of Birzebbuga men who had absolutely no fear of the bombs that rained on and around the village, they used to gather every day near the shop and while the air raids were on and bombs were being dropped by the German bombers this small group of men never went down in the air raid shelters. Luckily no bombs fell close by that location. The bar / coffee shop next door was a handy place for them to enjoy a glass of tea or coffee.

St Peter

Visit Site *Here*

H.M.S BRECONSHIRE at BIRZEBBUGA -- March 1942 -- 1954

March 26th 1942. HMS Breconshire badly damaged and on fire is towed into Marsaxlokk Bay.
THE STORY & PICTURES OF HMS BRECONSHIRE * HERE *


Map showing Marsaxlokk Bay and the position where the ship sank after being attacked by German dive bombers on the 27th March 1942.

The ship was refloated during 1954 and towed to Italy where it was eventually scrapped.

HMS BRECONSHIRE as it looked just before WW2 started.
THE STORY & PICTURES OF HMS BRECONSHIRE * HERE *

**************

STORY & HISTORY OF THE SHIP * HERE *

THE SMALL SHIPS AT BIRZEBBUGA BAY - The locals called them ' tal - bagi '

Many old timers at Birzebbuga may remember these R.N. vessels that were always part of the harbour scene at Marsaxlokk Bay - Birzebbuga Bay. The locals used to call them (in Maltese) ' tal - bagi '.

The names of these vessels were 'HMS Bardolf' -- 'HMS Barcroft' and 'HMS Moorstone'. These small ship were always seen at work in Malta's harbours. We always had them at Birzebbuga Bay during the 1930s, during WW2, the 1940s and even after that period.

The crews of these ships used to do work / maintenance on bouys. Lifting bouys and cleaning them and painting them. They changed bouys and installed new ones for the hundreds of ships that berthed at Malta's Grand Harbour and Marsaxlokk Bay.
They were always part of the Birzebbuga harbour scene.

Back in the 1940, about the last years of WW2, I used to have a little boat and I used to row out in the Bay at Birzebbuga to these ships at the end of their working day when they used to come in very close to the Birzebbuga shores and drop anchor for the night.

I got to know one of the crew. He always wanted a copy of the Times of Malta. So we made a deal. I give him the newspaper and he used to give me some food, like bread and biscuits and some fruit. During 1943 - 1944 food was still scarce and rationed so the food he gave me I used to take it home.

This went om for many months. Every day at about 5pm I used the jump into my little boat and taking with me a copy of the Times of Malta and row over to the BARDOLF. It was good fun for me and I was always on time by the side of the ship.

I believe the Bardolf and the Barcroft both surived the War, although I do think that one of them was hit by a bomb in Grand Harbour. They were put up for sale by the Admiralty in 1961.

The HMS Moorstone was hit by a bomb near the Suez Canal and sank. It was later brought up from the sea and towed to Gibraltar. It was repaired and later sold.

The little RN ships that were part of Malta and Birzebbuga for many years.

The WW2 Gunpost and the Rock

One of the many WW2 gunposts / pillboxes that are still in existance scattered all over Malta. This one is very well camouflaged with rubble stones cemented all over. In the background is the well known rock called Filfla which was used by the military as a target for practice shelling for many years.

A GIANT CALLS AT BIRZEBBUGA

The CMA CGM Andromeda became the longest vessel to enter a Maltese harbour when it berthed at Malta Freeport last week.

The huge container ship was guided in by Chief Pilot J.Mifsud and Pilot Anthony Chetcuti. The vessel was assisted by three Tug Malta tugs, Pawlina, Wenzina and Mari.

The Andromeda is brand new, having been built by Hyundai Heavy Industries and delivered in March. It has a gross tonnage of 131,332 tons and is 363.6 metres long (the length of four football grounds). The ship has a beam of 45.6m and a draft of 15.5m (max). Its height from keel to the top of the mast is 70 metres.

Photo: Pilot A.Chetcuti.

JOE'S BAR AT PRETTY BAY BIRZEBBUGA c1958

A photo of JOE's BAR at Pretty Bay Birzebbuga. The popular Bar was situated on the corner of New Street and next door to Tony Brincat's barber shop. Above these two shops was the billiards Club, today the St Peters FC Club. Back during the 1940s and 1950s the Club was operated by Joe's brother Carmelo / Karmnu. The photo of JOE's BAR was taken c1958 by Bill Gutsky an American serviceman who was stationed at Hal Far. Today Bill Gusky lives in Florida USA. He sent me the photo.

Marsaxlokk Bay / Kalafrana Freeport

Kalafrana as seen from across the Bay in 1942.
Kalafrana Freeport as it looks today from about the same location at Birzebbuga.

Pretty Bay before the sand took over

Photo of Pretty Bay beach taken c1956 before the sand filled up a huge area of sea area that come up right up to the roadway.

The Old Kalafrana - Birzebbuga Bus

The old 'red - white and blue ' colours of the Kalafrana - Birzebbuga line buses. Best looking buses on the Island.

Part of old Birzebbuga and Qajjenza

A distant view of part of old Birzebbuga and Qajjenza. Photo taken from Kalafrana R.A.F base c1935. In the top left hand corner one can see the chimney of the Shell Company fuel Depot. Not many buildings existed at Qajjenza in those years but the old Dowdall family Hotel can be seen in the background.

Kalafrana R.A.F. Base c1922

A very old picture of the RAF Base at Kalafrana (now The Freeport Ship Container Terminal) The RAF Base was was started about 1917 as a seaplane base. By 1922 when this photo was taken there wasn't much buildings were in place. Just this aircraft hanger and small workshops for aircraft maintenance..

The Birzebbuga Freeport Administration Building

The Administration Offices of the Freeport.

Its not the Eiffel Tower but a landmark at Pretty Bay

Sunrise at Birzebbuga

Beautiful Pretty Bay ~ Birzebbuga by the sea

Two lovely views of Birzebbuga. -- Photos sent by George Vella "ta L'Isla".

Sunrise at Birzebbuga

A very peaceful scene. Early morning at Birzebbuga with the sun rising over Delimara. You can see the Enemalta (ex Shell Co) oil tanker pier. Also Fort St Lucian in the background.

The WW2 Army gunpost at Pretty Bay

This WW2 gunpost at Pretty Bay was directly opposite the Smiling Prince Hotel / Bar. It was built during 1938 and was operational in 1939, It was manned by the English Army - the Devonshire Regiment. At the rear of the gunpost, right on the edge of the road there was a searchlight post.

The 'Villa l ' Hamra' ~ 'Cherries' at Pretty Bay

The Villa as it looked c1900.


The Villa l'Hamra now Cherries as it looks in 2008. (Photo above and below taken by Laetitia Agius of Birzebbuga)

" The Villa " That's what it's been called by the locals at Birzebbuga for over one hundred years. A very prominent building situated in the heart of Pretty Bay Birzebbuga. Today, in 2008 and going back a few years its been called 'The Cherries'.
It's a fairly large property facing the beach in the most prominent part of Birzebbuga. I cannot write about all the history of the place cause I can only go back to the mid 1930s. When WW2 started in June 1940 the British Army occupied the Villa. It was used as Headquarters for the Devonshire Regiment, the West Kent Regiment and the Hampshire Regiment. During those days c1941, military cars belonging to officers of these regiments used to be lined up, parked outside the main entrance. Some Maltese civilians used to work there with the military.

Going back before the Marsaxlokk Bay breakwater was built, the small sandy beach that used to be created during the summer months used to disappear during the winter months as the sand used to be pushed out into the bay. When the sea was rough the large waves that used to batter the wall at the edge of the roadway used to end up hitting the entrance door and the wall of the Villa. The locals who had to walk past the Villa during a sea storm had to make a quick dash so not to get wet with the sea spray. It's a much different scene today with no more waves hitting the road and the sandy beach staying there during the winter months.
Today the Villa / Cherries is owned by the Mifsud family. Marlon Mifsud has contacted me, saying his father has owned the Villa for the past eighteen years.

Maybe he can tell us some more history about the Villa at Pretty Bay.

Ic - cumnijja tat - tankijiet / The smoke stack at the Shell fuel depot.

This photo was taken during WW2, early 1942 by Flt Sgt Thomas Barker RAF.

A local police officer standing duty on the Shell oil tankers Pier. The Shell chimney can be seen in the background at left of picture.

Not many people living today at Birzebbuga would remember the old smoke chimney / ic - cumnijja that was situated at the Shell oil fuel depot at Birzebbuga. Today called Enemalta Fuel Depot. Many years ago we used to call it '' ic - cumnijja tat - tankijiet ''.
It was inside the Depot, situated at the end of Triq it - Tankijiet and Sacred Heart Promenade and in line with the Shell Pier as can be seen in the lower picture.
I used to live very close to this chimney during the 1930s / early 1940s. It was very close to the small area that used to be called '' il - Gzira ''.
Close to the chimney there used to be a large uncultivated field that the local soccer team players used to do their training and practise.

Wartime Pictures of Birzebbuga - 1943

These photos of Birzebbuga were taken during early 1943 by the late Flt. Sgt Thomas Barker B.E.M. RAF who was stationed at Hal Far and Birzebbuga. Thomas Barker was born 1915 and died 2002. These photos were sent to me by his son Lawrence M. Barker of UK. Mr Barker has a very comprehensive story about his life in England and during his wartime years in Malta. The Website is at :
http://www.my-malta.com/interesting/barker/thomasbarker01.html

A very interesting story and many pictures.
In the photos one see some warships in Marsaxlokk Bay. In the background is Kalafrana R.A.F. and R.N. Base. In the 2nd and 4th photo one can see part of the side of the Breconshire the ship that was part of a convoy which reached Malta in 1942. The Breconshire was hit by bombs before it reached Malta but was able to limp into Marsaxlokk Bay. On the 2nd day after she arrived the German bombers attacked again and the ship while on fire went down in the Bay not far from the shores of Delimara.

View MY-MALTA.COM * HERE *

Thanks to Lawrence M. Barker for the Photos.

A view from up near the Church bells - Dec 1992

A view of Birzebbuga from up near the Church bells. A long climb of about 100+ steps to get near the church bells. This photo was taken on a Thursday Dec 1992. In the upper picture one can see the two roads that lead dowm to St Georges Bay. The old narrow road on the left and the new road that today carries most of the traffic in and out of the town.
The lower picture one can see the weekly market stalls where sellers provide a large range of goods and food every Thursday morning. Nowadays the market has been relocated to a better location. One can see part of Marsaxlokk Bay. Delimara in the background and part of the Freeport.

* Wied il - Buni ~ Birzebbuga *

Wied il - Buni Birzebbuga. Some years ago it was just a ditch, partly looked after and the rest neglected and used as a dumping place. Finally the people of Birzebbuga and the Local Council people decided to clean up the place. The old ditch was filled up and the ground levelled. After that, work was carried out to renovate and beautify the place. Today it's the number one spot for the locals, the visitors and tourists to spend their time of relaxation by the seaside.


Read the story of Wied il - Buni * Enter Here *