This mobilised, but largely static, army garrison would be tested by aerial bombardment and naval blockade during the Second World War.

[9][10][11] On 11 March 1942 Malta Command became subordinate to General Headquarters (GHQ) Middle East.

[12] In late 1939 the pre-war garrison was reinforced up to an infantry division (commanded by Major General Sir Sanford John Palairet Scobell).

The Island's regular Royal Artillery force component was - like its Maltese counterpart - performing a mainly fixed defence role, even wheeled artillery tended to occupy fixed positions to defend against a hostile landing at beaches: The anti-aircraft defence was understandably dense and British and Maltese anti-aircraft (AA) units were interwoven into the following order of battle:[18] By 1940 Malta Command had a small amount of modern mobile field artillery, much of its artillery was located in fixed positions in the anti-aircraft and coastal defence royal.

Forces in Malta would be reduced from 1964 and this led to acrimony between the Maltese and British Governments, and the post independence period was a period of bitterness, British forces on the Island in the front line of Maltese antipathy.

[26][page needed] Later, Major General Rea Leakey commanded HQ Malta and Libya in 1967-68.