Letters
From: Former RM Andrew ‘Dickie’ Baird Sir,
Commando Bar
‘Royal’ relaxing outside the Commando Bar in Mellieha
While on holiday in Malta with my wife we came across a bar called ‘Commando’ in a town called Mellieha in the northern part of the island, so we popped in to ask about the origin of its name. Any Marine who has served in Malta might know Mellieha and therefore knows the very steep road up from the beach to the town. It is about a mile long and a steady climb of 95 metres. Apparently, the Marines would practise landing craft procedures on Mellieha Beach and then run the full distance, still in full fighting order. Those days the belt weighed about 22lbs and the rifle 9lbs (about 14kg in today’s money). Following true Bootneck style they stopped at the first bar they came across. They did this so often it generally became known as the ‘Commando Bar’ and so eventually the Bootnecks made a sign to hang over the door and presented it to the owner.