^{This page is part of © FOTW Flags Of The World website}

Armed Force (Malta)

Introduction
Ceremonial Colours
Armed Forces of Malta Colour
Regimental Colour
Presidential Colour
Queen’s Colour

See also:

Other sites:

Flags, Symbols and their Use at the Maltese Government Official Website

Introduction

On 2 October 2005, "On Parade" was distributed as part of "The Sunday Times", celebrating the 35th anniversary of the Armed Forces of Malta. "On Parade" is available, as a series of PDF files, on the website of the Armed Forces of Malta: http://www.afm.gov.mt/pgOnParade.htm.

Of particular interest are the articles:
- "Maltese regiments and their Colours", by Stephen Spiteri Staines, pp. 35-36.
- "The De Redin Tower", by David P. Attard, pp. 39.|

Ivan Sache, 6 November 2008

The Malta Armed Forces Act, which came into force on 22 September 1970, made provision for the raising and maintenance of armed forces in Malta and to provide for matters connected therewith or ancillary thereto. With this instrument, Malta could set up its own standing armed forces. On 1 October 1970, 500 Maltese officers and men of the Royal Malta Artillery, an old and distinguished regiment, ceased forming part of the British Army and became part of the Malta Land Force, which some time later was designated as the Armed Forces of Malta.

Images of flag:
https://afm.gov.mt/en/info/Pages/AFM-Colours.aspx
https://afm.gov.mt/en/PublishingImages/home/bannerupdate2/colors.jpg
https://www.facebook.com/ArmedForcesOfMaltaafm
Zoltan Horvath, 7 July 2024

Ceremonial Colours

Here is a two-page pdf file with a detailed discussion on the ceremonial colours of the Armed Forces of Malta: http://www.afm.gov.mt/onParade/35-36 MT REGTS AND THEIR COLOURS.pdf. What is most fascinating is that the AFM has long had a strong artillery tradition - and artillery in the British tradition don't carry ceremonial flags - yet it now has an infantry regiment, complete with a National and a Regimental Colour, the latter featuring a whole array of artillery-related emblems!
Miles Li, 4 December 2005

Armed Forces of Malta Colour

image by Hemendra Bhola, 9 June 2022

The Regimental Colour of the Armed Forces of Malta is an oddity amongst military flags within the British tradition. This infantry colour bears the symbols of artillery, which normally would carry no ceremonial flags.

Specifically, it is a red-above-blue bicolour, bearing at the centre the badge of the Royal Malta Artillery (minus Royal Crown), which is the main predecessor of the modern-day Armed Forces of Malta; the motto "TUTELA BELLICAE VIRTUTIS" means "Guardian of War Virtue". The four corners bear the seven-flamed grenade above the scroll reading "MALTA", tilted 45 degrees. Currently it carries three battle honours on scrolls, from top to bottom: "MDCCC" (Siege of Valetta 1800); "EGYPT 1882"; and (below the motto) "MALTA 1942". All emblems are in gold, with the exception of the Maltese Cross of the RMA badge, which is white. Red sleeve; golden fringe, cord and tassels; black pole with a silver finial in the form of a hollowed spearhead bearing a Maltese Cross.
Miles Li, 1 November 2008

Regimental Colour

image by Hemendra Bhola, 9 June 2022

Blue field with the emblem flanked by a wreath of oak leaves and acorns. Additional scroll bearing the inscription ‘MALTA 1940-42’, below which is the George Cross. A silver Maltese cross appears in each corner of the Colour. Fringe is gold and blue.
Hemendra Bhola, 9 June 2022

Presidential Colour

image by Hemendra Bhola, 9 June 2022 and Zoltan Horvath, 7 July 2024

The Armed Forces of Malta's National Colour is the National Flag with a yellow de Redin Tower at the centre, above a yellow scroll reading "FORZI ARMATI". Red sleeve; golden fringe, cord and tassels; black pole with a silver finial in the form of a hollowed spearhead bearing a Maltese Cross.
Miles Li, 2 November 2008

Design of the flag of Malta with an image of a tower with doors. Based on images online, the design of the tower underwent some recent stylistic changes seen in the image above. The fringe is all gold.
Hemendra Bhola, 9 June 2022

Images of flag:
https://afm.gov.mt/en/info/Pages/AFM-Colours.aspx
https://afm.gov.mt/en/PublishingImages/home/bannerupdate2/colors.jpg
https://afm.gov.mt/en/forcestructure/Pages/Structure.aspx
Based on images, the cross is grey on this flag.
Zoltan Horvath, 7 July 2024

Queen’s Colour

image by Hemendra Bhola, 9 June 2022

Design of the flag of Malta with central emblem surmounted by the Royal Crown. Fringe is gold.
Hemendra Bhola, 9 June 2022