A hundred years since Malta’s worst naval disaster; 70 Maltese killed when ship was torpedoed

One hundred years ago, to date, Alfred Williams was among 70 Maltese men aboard the armed steamer HMS Louvain, which was headed to Greece and to disaster. Little did Mr Williams, 23, know the vessel, carrying mail and men, would be torpedoed the day after and he would perish in what will be remembered as Malta’s worst naval disaster. His wife Giuseppa, of Valletta, who was pregnant with their only child, remained in love and never remarried. Born almost nine months after the tragedy, their son was called after him and he, too, served with the Royal Navy in World War II. “My grandma used to speak of how tall and smart my grand-father Alfred was. She repeated these words throughout her life until she passed away aged almost 90,” her grandson, Dominic Williams, recalled. “She was certainly still in love with him because she remained a widow for the rest of her life.” The late Alfred Williams, who was survived by his parents and two sisters, grew up in Valletta. Life there at the beginning of the century was tough and there were not too many job opportunities for the younger generations. Most young men joined the military services. “My grandfather was nothing different, so when he...