Malta - Procession on Royal Street (Stada Reale), Valletta - WWI era. Malta was not on the front line of World War I (unlike World War II) but did participate in many ways nevertheless. Malta was known as the 'Nurse of the Mediterranean' due to its role of caring for wounded soldiers (British, Australian and other Allied) from Turkey & Greece. To begin with it was a rest and rehabilitation station but quickly progressed into caring and treating the worst wounds soldiers and sailors were receiving especially after the horrific disaster of the Gallipoli landings during the Dardanelles Campaign.