Chris_Baker Posted 24 May , 2007 Share Posted 24 May , 2007 Can anyone tell me much about the activities of the King's Own Malta Regiment of Militia during the Great war? I have seen on the web that a history has been published and is available in Malta and I may have to acquire a copy, but am hopeful that someone can give me a few details here. Also, do the service records of men of the regiment exist? I should perhaps add that I have seen what appears to be just about the only synopsis of their history on the internet, at http://louishenwood.com/history/no29.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen Evans Posted 24 May , 2007 Share Posted 24 May , 2007 Chris So far that is known here the Service Records of the men are not in Malta and appear to have been taken to England. The Daily Malta Chronicle would be the paper to consult available at the National Library, Valletta. A Colonel Zammit Briffa kept some form of a diary on the Regiment whereabouts unknown and the book your looking for I think is , "The History of the King's Own Malta Regiment and Armed Forces of the Order of St. John Valletta, Author Captain J M Wismayer and published by Said International 1989. This is in fact out of print, but will keep a look out here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Noble Posted 24 May , 2007 Share Posted 24 May , 2007 Hi. Just an instance i came across the other day. A Second Lieutenant H. Farrance joined the 9th Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment on the 16th August 1915 from the Militia. Following day was posted to "A" Company. Regards, Chris. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bushfighter Posted 25 May , 2007 Share Posted 25 May , 2007 Chris The only 1 Malta Reg officer KIA & not attached elsewhere (as listed in "Officers Died ...") is commemorated at Salonika (as listed in "The Cross of Sacrifice"). Please let us know what you discover. Good Luck Harry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlesmessenger Posted 25 May , 2007 Share Posted 25 May , 2007 Harry Your officer was almost certainly serving with one of the two Maltese labour bns sent to Salonika during the latter part of 1917. They were largely officered by members by the King's Own Malta Regiment of Militia. Charles M Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tintin1689 Posted 25 May , 2007 Share Posted 25 May , 2007 I have this book if any one would like any info. from it It is a good informative read with a good selection of pictures and worth buying for anyone who likes Regimental or Commonwealth military things Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TD60 Posted 25 May , 2007 Share Posted 25 May , 2007 An officer grave at Epehy: http://desplanques.tanneguy.neuf.fr//ecomm...a%20militia.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
findabetterole Posted 26 May , 2007 Share Posted 26 May , 2007 Can anyone tell me much about the activities of the King's Own Malta Regiment of Militia during the Great war? I have seen on the web that a history has been published and is available in Malta and I may have to acquire a copy, but am hopeful that someone can give me a few details here. Also, do the service records of men of the regiment exist? I should perhaps add that I have seen what appears to be just about the only synopsis of their history on the internet, at http://louishenwood.com/history/no29.html Hello Chris, As to the Royal Malta Regiments location.... I was based on Malta from 1971 to 1975. There were three barracks in line where my Unit (41 Cdo Rm) were stationed. My memory of names etc is a little patchy, but the three barracks were across the inlet from the Malta Casino. If memory is correct, the barracks names were: Salima or Patcheville Bks (Cdo Artly), St.Andrews Bks (41 Cdo Rm), Umtafa Bks (Royal Malta Artillery). There were other old bks (disused exept for stores) in Valletta, Bugeba, Luqa and Berkakara (spelling may not be correct for place names). The closest settlement/village to the three bks (nestled in the corner of the bay - about ten minutes walk) is called Patcheville. The cap badge for the Royal Malta Artillery, is as that for the Royal Artillery- surmounting the Maltease Cross. I hope this has shed a little light for you. Seph Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted 1 June , 2007 Share Posted 1 June , 2007 I have this book if any one would like any info. from it It is a good informative read with a good selection of pictures and worth buying for anyone who likes Regimental or Commonwealth military things Hi, I'm currently just starting to do some research on the role malta played in the great war, therefore I'd like to get a copy of this book, have you the isbn please or can you tell me where you purchased it from. Cheers Sean Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tintin1689 Posted 1 June , 2007 Share Posted 1 June , 2007 Dear Seamus, I bought the book at Foyles years ago, the number is ISBN 1 871684 20 X Dear Chris, You were particularly interested in Cyprus. A composite half battalion of 560 volunteers drawn from both 1st and 2nd Bns was sent to Cyprus under Lt Col Charles B Sciortino, CO of the 1st Bn on 14th January 1915 Officer strength was Lt Col, 5 Capts (one of whom was adjutant), 6 Lts, 3 2/Lts and 1 Lt (QM). There was also a Surgeon Major and a Chaplain. All of these are named in the history. They were back before Sept. 1915 The history does not say what they did in Cyprus except that the Surgeon Major, Robert Samut, took command of the Forest Military Hospital in Limassol and gained a GSM and MiD for his services there. After the return to Malta another call for volunteers was made - 1,000 came forward (including almost all the 560 who went to Cyprus) and 860 were selected to form the 1st Labour Bn which went to Gallipoli under Major Aspinall I will put up some more posts on other KORMR war time activities as time allows Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bushfighter Posted 1 June , 2007 Share Posted 1 June , 2007 THE KING'S OWN MALTA REGIMENT OF MILITIA The 1915 Army List names 60 officers from the 1st & 2nd Bns plus the Honorary Colonel & the attached Adjutants. (Send an email for a copy) Regards Harry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
per ardua per mare per terram Posted 1 June , 2007 Share Posted 1 June , 2007 Chris, Have you tried the St John's Museum at St John's Gate, London. Their interest is mainly with the Knights and latterly the Ambulance service, but they probably have the most comprehensive library relating to Malta in the UK. All the best Per Terram Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HERITAGE PLUS Posted 3 June , 2007 Share Posted 3 June , 2007 Chris A short bibliography on this site: http://www.regiments.org/regiments/europe/...vregts/KOMR.htm Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Claudia Aliffe Posted 29 June , 2007 Share Posted 29 June , 2007 Hi, Very interested to discover this site. Harry Farrance was my g-grandfather. He also fought in WW1 and survived and retired in 1920 with an MBE. He had first joined the West Yorkshire 9th and appears to have then gone to the Malta Militia, though why I cannot tell, and then goes back to the West Yorkshire 9th for WW1. I have lots of photos of him on manouvers etc, some probably in Malta, we have a lot of his cap badges and buttons etc, all his medals and some of his army record. We have a booklet that was produced which has photos of all the regiments in it. His whole family followed him to Malta so he must have been there for a bit. His last son was born there but they all came home when he went to France. He was shot in the shoulder in 1915 and laid for three days in no man's land before being rescued but as I say he did survive and went back to the front at Epres. I came across this site because I am off to Malta in a couple of weeks and am interested in finding out if there are any particular places I can visit which would be connected with Harry and his battalion. Many thanks for any advice you can give. Regards, Claudia Hi. Just an instance i came across the other day. A Second Lieutenant H. Farrance joined the 9th Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment on the 16th August 1915 from the Militia. Following day was posted to "A" Company. Regards, Chris. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete1052 Posted 20 September , 2008 Share Posted 20 September , 2008 My fireplace poker is a Wilkinson Pattern '07 bayonet made in 1917 marked KOMR. Click here for a Wikipedia article on the organization, which appears to have changed its name frequently. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pagius Posted 22 June , 2016 Share Posted 22 June , 2016 On 6/1/2007 at 13:30, tintin1689 said: Dear Seamus, I bought the book at Foyles years ago, the number is ISBN 1 871684 20 X Dear Chris, You were particularly interested in Cyprus. A composite half battalion of 560 volunteers drawn from both 1st and 2nd Bns was sent to Cyprus under Lt Col Charles B Sciortino, CO of the 1st Bn on 14th January 1915 Officer strength was Lt Col, 5 Capts (one of whom was adjutant), 6 Lts, 3 2/Lts and 1 Lt (QM). There was also a Surgeon Major and a Chaplain. All of these are named in the history. They were back before Sept. 1915 The history does not say what they did in Cyprus except that the Surgeon Major, Robert Samut, took command of the Forest Military Hospital in Limassol and gained a GSM and MiD for his services there. After the return to Malta another call for volunteers was made - 1,000 came forward (including almost all the 560 who went to Cyprus) and 860 were selected to form the 1st Labour Bn which went to Gallipoli under Major Aspinall I will put up some more posts on other KORMR war time activities as time allows Just discovered this thread so apologies for coming so late to the party! Does this book say much more about Robert Samut? He was my great-great-uncle and was later famous for composing the music for the Maltese National Anthem! There is a plaque on the wall of the house where he was born in Floriana (next to Valletta) and the Methodist Church in Floriana is now the Robert Samut Concert Hall. He studied to be a surgeon at Edinburgh University. Would appreciate any more detail of his time in Cyprus. Thanks Peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andrew magro Posted 17 February Share Posted 17 February Hi all ...The Maltese Battalion that went to Cyprus WWI can anyone tell me what were they doing and also one of the soldiers ..regiment number 6213 Lance Corporal Emanuel Abela died there ..7th July 1915 and was buried at the Limassol Cemetry .would anyone have any info on cause of death ,etc .... .thank you Andy M ...Sydney ,Australia ...Maltese Ex Servicemens Association of NSW, sub Branch RSL of Australia . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TullochArd Posted 17 February Share Posted 17 February 1 hour ago, andrew magro said: Hi all ...The Maltese Battalion that went to Cyprus WWI can anyone tell me what were they doing ........ A few of the posts on this link may help you Andy King's Own Malta Regiment of Militia - Soldiers and their units - The Great War (1914-1918) Forum (greatwarforum.org) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
.thumb.JPG.9e1c939b5b6ca376243dbc2333d21bf2.JPG)
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now