VIVA SAN PIETRU
BIRZEBBUGA PEOPLE
This photo was taken by reporter of The Times of Malta on Monday 10th Sept. 1951. The day I left Birzebbuga for Melbourne Australia on the English liner SS Asturias.
Five men from Birzebbuga migrated to Australia on that day.
1. Myself. William J. Coxhead. - Melbourne
2. My brother Johnny Coxhead who played football with St Peters of Birzebbuga 1953, 3rd Div Champions. Migrated to Aust 1954.
3. My father. William N. Coxhead. He was in charge of the Power Station at R.N. base Kalafrana (Passed away 1953. RIP)
4. Joseph / Zeppi Cutajar of Birzebbuga, nickname ' ta - Fidiel '. Migrated to Melbourne but returned to Malta a few years later. (RIP)
5. Frankie Borg Falzon of Birzebbuga. Also played football with St Peters of Birzebbuga 1953, 3rd Div Champions. (RIP)
6. Tony Camilleri of St Georges Bay / Birzebbuga. Migrated to Melbourne. Lived and passed away in NSW Australia.(RIP)
7. Tony Camilleri's friend from Birzebbuga.
8. Mikiel Farrugia of Birzebbuga. Migrated to Melbourne. Passed away in Melbourne (RIP)
9. A Maltese migrant to Australia. No name
10 Lolly Savona. Migrated to Melbourne. Lolly's parents operated the Belle Isle Theatre at Birzebbuga during the 1940 - 1950s. Lolly lives in Melbourne.
11. Baby Joseph Calleja. My nephew. Son of Ninu Calleja (of Zurrieq Road) and Emily Calleja nee Coxhead. Joseph and his parents migrated to Melbourne March 1958 on the ill fated MS Skaubryn. The ship caught fire and sank in the Indian Ocean, April 1958. Joseph lives in Melbourne.
12. Anthony / Toni Gauci of Birzebbuga. His family nickname 'ta - Beccuna' He was a Sgt in the Army. (Passed away. RIP)
13. Eddie who owned and drove the Birzebbuga Bus No 1212. The bus was named VICTOR and he was known as 'Eddie tal Victor' (RIP)
14. This person was from Birzebbuga. He was called ' it - Tunezin '
15. A Maltese migrant who sailed on the SS Asturias.
16. A friend of Lolly Savona. Both of Birzebbuga.
17. A Maltese migrant who sailed on the SS Asturias.
The other persons are relatives and friends of the persons who were leaving Malta.
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Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Marsaxlokk Bay / Kalafrana Freeport
Kalafrana Freeport as it looks today from about the same location at Birzebbuga.
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Pretty Bay before the sand took over
Thursday, April 23, 2009
The Old Kalafrana - Birzebbuga Bus
Friday, April 17, 2009
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.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
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..