The 1st Royal Garrison Regiment in Malta

2023-01-15 - ANTHONY ZARB DIMECH

In the well-researched book titled, ‘Malta and British Army Infantry Regiments (1800-1979) by Joseph Bonnici and Michael Cassar, it is stated in the Foreword that before the advent of aviation, it was the symbiosis of army and navy that influenced every aspect of Maltese society while the duties of garrisoning, waging war on land and sea and keeping the sea routes open were carried out.

During the Maltese rebellion against the French occupation, Britain sent two regiments from Minorca consisting of about 800 men led by Colonel (later Brigadier General) Thomas Graham. The 30th (Cambridgeshire) and the 89th Foot disembarked on 10 December 1799. They were the first British soldiers to serve in Malta although Royal Marines commanded by Captain James Weir of HMS Audacious had been in Malta since 30 March 1799.

The Royal Garrison Regiment

The Royal Garrison Regiment was formed in 1901 and consisted of five battalions. The regiment served as an infantry reserve for service during the second Boer War.

The Battalions

The 1st, 3rd and 4th Battalions arrived at Malta in 1901. In April 1904 the battalions from Malta left for South Africa to relief the regular units which returned to normal duties.

The 2nd Battalion was formed at Aldershot on 10 April 1901 and embarked on the Dilwara for Gibraltar on 15 May 1901. It left Gibraltar for Durban, South Africa on 11 April 1904. The 2nd Battalion returned on the Dunerato Southampton on 4 August 1905 and was disbanded on 15 September 1905.

The 5th Battalion Royal Garrison Regiment was raised at Aldershot on 1 March 1902. It embarked on the Aurania for Halifax, Nova Scotia on 20 September 1902. The battalion embarked in Halifax Nova Scotia, Canada on 24 November 1905. It disembarked in Liverpool on 23/24 Nov 1904 and was disbanded on 31 December 1905.

The 1st Royal Garrison Regiment – Time Line

• 10 Apr 1901 – The 1st/Royal Garrison Regiment was formed at Aldershot on 10 April 1901

• 23 May 1901 – The 1st/Royal Garrison Regiment embarked at Southampton on the SS Formosa and disembarked in Malta on 31 May

Internments in Malta

• The following members of the 1st Royal Garrison Regiment were buried in Rinella Military Cemetery in 1901:

• 15 June – Frances Maude Lyne aged eight months, died at Verdala Barracks

• 15 June – Mabel Irene Muir aged four months, died at Verdala Barracks

• 2 July – Garwaker aged 34 years, died at Cottonera

• 25 – August William Young aged 34 years, died at Verdala Barracks

• 26 September – William Borling aged 38 years, died at Verdala Barracks

• 18 November – Pte John Tipping aged 33 years six months, died at Cottonera Hospital • The Royal Garrison Regiment was disbanded in 1908.

Visit by Duke of Connaught

Prince Arthur William Patrick Albert was born on 1 May 1850. The seventh child and third son of Queen Victoria.

Prince Arthur was a career soldier and rose in rank, being promoted in 1902 to the rank of Field Marshal. The Duke’s living memory in Malta is the Duke of Connaught’s Own band and club.

The Garrison Library – St George’s Square, Valletta

In 1898, this Library consisted of about 31,000 volumes in English, besides several works in French, German and Italian. It was under the Patronage of H. E. the Governor.

All officers in Her Majesty’s Army and Navy could become Proprietors by paying 10s. entrance and 10s. per quarter or monthly members at 4/2. Any member desiring to become an annual member had to be proposed and seconded by a Proprietor and his admission was then made by ballot.

The library was supplied with the best English newspapers and periodicals, the form remained eight days on the table before being put into circulation and the latter one month.