“To indicate our deepest gratitude to His Most Eminent Highness for his personal humanitarian efforts in 1956 in favour of Hungary”. This was the reason for which the World Federation of Hungarian Freedom Fighters conferred the Grand Cross of the 1956 Hungarian Freedom Fighters on the Grand Master of the Order of Malta, Fra’ Andrew Bertie.

In awarding this prestigious decoration, Dr. Istvan Gedai, Honorary Director General of the Hungarian National Museum, recalled that in 1956 Andrew Bertie had been one of the young members of the Order of Malta who had assisted the refugees and freedom fighters on the Austro-Hungarian border.

Expressing his sincere gratitude for the important recognition, the Grand Master also commemorated the fiftieth anniversary of the Hungarian Revolution: “Those youths’ hopes have now been fulfilled. Hungary has reclaimed its place in the free world and its commitment to the principles of democracy and respect of human rights is an example for all, as well as its international efforts to ensure peace in the world.”