Fort_Campbell

Built by the British on the instruction of the then Governor Bonham - Carter shortly before the outbreak of WWII to protect the approaches to Mellieha & St.Pauls Bay. Work is thought to have been started at the end of 1937.
Forts built in previous years were built of thick ramparts to withstand ground attack but the advent of aerial bombardment by aircraft saw this Fort designed differently, having been constructed of irregular thin walls to resemble the field walls of the surrounding countryside. These were designed to blend in with the terraced fields.
The Fort was designed to house 3 x 6" guns. Machine gun posts were set up at irregular intervals & rifle slots were made in the walls. Internal buildings were scattered inside the walled perimeter & consisted of a command post, gun emplacements, direction posts, barracks, magazine, water tank & a Battery Observation Post (BOP). Searchlights were also placed some distance along the shore to the north. Three emplacements in all - two sited on the edge of the cliff overlooking St.Paul's Island with the other placed down by the sea to the west.
The buildings have fallen into disrepair following the steel RSJ's being robbed out which supported the roofs.

David Godden sent me the following photos of Fort Campbell where his father was stationed. This Fort was also used by the Radar Unit (277) commanded by F/O Schwartz.

View from Fort Campbell towards Gozo. Taken in 1943.
Photo courtesy of David Godden

Written on back of photo - Malta 1943.
Photo courtesy of David Godden

Written on back of photo - Lads of 277 Tal Blata Malta Sept 1943.
Photo courtesy of David Godden

Written on back of photo - July 1943, Tal Blata Malta, Les and George at Water Well.
Photo courtesy of David Godden

F/O Schwartz c/o Tal Blata August 1943.
Photo courtesy of David Godden

Ivor Godden.
Photo courtesy of David Godden

Photo labelled - Malta.
Photo courtesy of David Godden

Harry Punter Malta October 1943.
Photo courtesy of David Godden

Labelled Tommy Malta 1943.
Photo courtesy of David Godden

Following photos of Fort Campbell taken by Keith Chambers in 2006.
Keith's unit is 106th (Yeomanry) Regiment, RA (Volunteers)

Fort Campbell - WWII Command Post.

Gun emplacement

Surviving buildings at Fort Campbell.

Modern day excercise along the old boundary wall.

Gun emplacement overlooking sea.

Modern day exercise along the old boundary wall.

Surviving buildings at Fort Campbell.

Photos below taken 2009 by Andrew Hili

Plotting room. This room had a big plotting table in the middle with raised platform around it for viewing.	Another view of the plotting table room.	Command post
Gun slits in the exterior wall.
From the walls to the beach area where large searchlights would have been set up.

Photos I took in 2012
A walk with Godwin Hampton who helped identify the places in the photos

The walls had rocks set in the top to break up the line of the wall. On the beach area in the distance searchlights
were set up powered through long cables from the forts generator room. The lights were set close to the waters edge so they
could sweep the sea & more easily pick up any enemy shipping.

Behind one of the 6" gun emplacements. The steel holes were used to store shells & cartridges.	Markings are still visible above the holes.	Markings are still visible above the holes.
The largest gun position. Photos above from this emplacement. The circular ring in the foreground is the gun mounting.	Second gun emplacement. Again a 6" mounting.	Guard House just inside gates.
Engine room. The 2 platforms housed Lister Mark IV engines. The brackets were for fuel tanks. The main tank was behind the wall at the back of the toilet block next door.		What is left of the 2 main gates.
Reservoir roof probably filled by a water bowser.	Barracks. These were situated outside the main gate.	Gun mount probably used for training. This weapon was saved & is currently in storage.
Inside the main gate. This was a covered garage area.	View of Mistra Bay with St.Paul's in the distance. This bay was used by Sunderland flying boats. You can still see the original ramp here.	Closer view of the Sunderland ramp (centre).

Links to Fort Campbell

http://www.mellieha.com/places_interest/fortifications/fortcampbell.htm
http://www.educ.um.edu.mt/militarymalta/html/fort_campbell.html