14
EYEWITNESS
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 13 NOVEMBER 2022
IN 1922, 407 refugees fleeing
from Smyrna – now Izmir in
Turkey – arrived at the Grand
Harbour; 81 of these refugees
were of Maltese origin.
Within three months close to
1,600 refugees landed in Malta.
Half of them were of Maltese
ancestry, six were born in Mal-
ta.
The others were Cypri-
ots, Dutch, Egyptians, Swiss,
French, Americans, Arme-
nians, Italians, Swedes, and
Turks.
Here are some of the photos
released by the Maltese Na-
tional Archives of the refugees.
All photos copyright of the Na-
tional Archives.
The Smyrna
refugees
Left: Baker John Cilia, his wife Kirioki and their children
Liberata, Marcos, Mary and Francis. They arrived in Malta
on 18 September 1922. Two years later the family settled
in Greece. In 1935 they were facing hardship and asked for
assistance from Malta; the request was denied.
Above: Ferdinando Cilia La Corte arrived in Malta as a refugee
from Smyrna on 15 September 1922. He was sent to Australia
in September 1927 but returned immediately claiming that
he was not allowed to enter the country as he was declared
medically unfit. Back in Malta he was not allowed in the
refugee camp as it was felt that he was making up his
problems.
Upholsterer Gregorio Grech (28 years), his wife Photini (30 years) and their son Antonio (4 years).
