Regiments
Of the Malta Garrison
The 64th
(2nd Staffordshire)

The 64th (2nd Staffordshire) Regiment of Foot

1867 64th Foot

4 Feb 1867 The 64th embarked at Kingston from Templemore Ireland and disembarked in Malta on 20 February. It relieved the 84th Foot which was ordered to the West Indies.

In 1867, the regiment had an average strength of 533 men. There were 559 hospital admissions (1048.8 admissions per 1000 of mean strength) with 7 deaths in hospital and 3 out of hospital (18.76 deaths per 1000 of mean strength).

Continued fevers prevailed to a great extent from June to September. The 64th Regiment had 186 cases of continued fevers with 3 deaths.

The 64th Regiment was quartered at Fort Ricasoli, Fort St Salvatore and Zabbar Gate Barracks.

Spasmodic cholera broke out in Malta between September and November 1867; the 14th Regiment bearing its brunt. One severe case of cholera occurred in the 64th Foot at Zabbar Gate Barracks. There were in total 22 deaths from cholera among the men in the garrison and 6 from choleraic diarrhoea, all the latter occurring in September. The distribution of the deaths were: 15 in Sep, 5 in Oct and 2 in Nov. Among the women, the average number of which was 551, there were six cases of cholera and 4 deaths. There were 9 deaths among the 880 children in the garrison.

1868 64th Foot

1868 The 64th occupied Fort Ricasoli and Zabbar Gate Barracks. From June to September, the regiment had 103 admissions for continued fevers, with 2 deaths.

The average annual strength in 1868 was 717 men. There were 565 admissions into hospital (788/1000 mean strength) with 14 deaths in hospital, 3 out of hospital and 1 among the invalids (25.10/1000 mean strength).

1869 64th Foot

23 Apr–22 Sep 1869 A detachment of the 64th Regiment was at Fort Manoel and Marsamxetto Barracks. It moved to Floriana Barracks on 22 September.

23 Sep–31 Dec Head Quarters Coy 64th Regiment was at Lower St Elmo Barracks, Floriana Barracks and Notre Dame huts. A proportion of the troops at Lower St Elmo Barracks slept under canvas to reduce overcrowding. Surgeon Francis Odell described the quarters at Lower St Elmo as dark and gloomy, and totally unsuitable as accommodation for the troops.

Floriana Barracks were somewhat better, in that it was located outside the town, but the barracks consisted of a series of large casemates, 80 feet in length, with a door and two windows at one end, and a window at the other. The rooms were numbered 1 to 12, and held between 46 to 54 men per room.

Families were confined to the Horn Works of Floriana and Notre Dame Ravelin. Their quarters were uncomfortable, consisting of wooden huts which were hot in summer and cold and damp in winter.

Simple Continued Fever gave rise to 98 admissions and one death in 1869. The great majority of fever cases was the ordinary, self limiting Maltese Fever, the result of sand-fly fever.

The average annual strength in 1869 was 639 men. There were 295 admissions into hospital; 8 died in hospital; 1 died out of hospital; 1 death among the invalids. The ratio per 1000 strength of those admitted was 461.7 and for deaths 15.65.

Deaths in 1869:

• 5 Jan 1869 Pte Sherlock P. aged 38 years from hepatitis.
• 5 Mar Pte Milliken W. aged 29 years from delirium tremens.
• 30 Mar Sgt McLoughlin J. aged 42 years from haematemesis.
• 15 Apr Pte Sadler R. aged 32 years from simple continued fever.
• 15 May Sgt-Maj Yorke G. aged 33 years from delirium tremens.
• 8 June Pte Haskett M. aged 41 years from an aneurysm of the aorta.
• 25 June Pte Harris H. aged 28 years died at St Michael's Guard from an aneurysm of the left bronchial artery.
• 5 Sep LCpl Harwood A., aged 23 years from a fractured skull.
• 4 Oct Pte Bunting W., aged 42 years from apoplexy.

1870 64th Foot

Polverista Gate Barracks was situated in the outer line of the fortifications. It consisted of long casemated rooms with a door and window at one end, and one embrasure or smaller opening at the other. The rooms lay side by side, each opening on to a long continuous veranda. The barracks had no baths for the soldiers to cleanse themselves.

The average strength of the regiment in 1870 was 602 men. There were 295 admissions into hospital (490/1000 mean strength), with six deaths in hospital and 1 among the invalids (11.63 deaths/1000 mean strength). Most of the sick fell ill during the hot summer months. Of the six deaths, five took place during July, August, and September, with only one death in January. The most common disease was Common Continued Fever, of which there were 83 cases in the hospital.

Many were of an ephemeral nature, blamed by the surgeon to changes of temperature and irregularities of diet. Eleven cases of rheumatism were treated, one of which was invalided to England. Over twenty men were admitted into hospital as a result of excessive drinking; of these two had Delirium Tremens. The regimental hospital was opened in Lower Vittoriosa Hospital. This was two private dwellings which had been converted for the reception of the sick.

The average number constantly sick during the year was 24.27 per 1000 strength; the ratio of deaths to 1000 strength was 9.96 per annum. Twenty-three soldiers were invalided to England.

Deaths in 1870:

• 19 Aug 1870 Surgeon Francis Odell, aged 39 years after a few hours illness from ulceration and perforation of the duodenum.
• 30 Jan Sgt McKenzie J. aged 43 years from pneumonia.
• 18 July Pte Thomas R. aged 41 years from an abscess of the liver.
• 19 July LCpl Brown G. aged 30 years from an abscess of the liver.
• 7 Aug Pte Hempson J. aged 27 years from Common Continued Fever.
• 15 Sep Pte Richards H. aged 23 years from jaundice.
• 22 SepPte Doyle J. aged 31 years, died at Citta Vecchia Sanatorium from hypertrophy of the heart.

1871 64th Foot

The 64th Regiment had an average strength of 609 men. There were 452 admissions into hospital (742/1000 mean strength), with 8 deaths in hospital and 1 among the invalids (14.78/1000 mean strength).

The men were at Isola Gate Barracks with detachments at San Francesco de Paola and Polverista Gate Barracks.

It had a high incidence of admissions from continued fevers.

1872 64th Foot

In 1872, the 64th had an average strength of 123 men. It had 56 admissions (455/1000 mean strength) into hospital with no deaths.

16 Mar 1872 HQ coy and 8 companies of The 64th consisting of 25 officers, 6 officer's wives and 10 children, 6 officer's female servants, 41 sgts, 17 drummers, 457 rank and file, 62 soldier's wives and 116 children embarked on HM Steam Ship Jumna. The men disembarked at Queenstown on 29 March 1872 and marched to Limerick.

The 1st/The Prince of Wales's (North Staffordshire Regiment)

1893 1st/The Prince of Wales's (North Staffordshire)

22 Mar 1893 The 1st/North Staffordshire Regiment embarked at Mauritius and disembarked in Malta on 8 May.

It had an average strength of 631 men. There were 784 admissions (1242.4/1000 mean strength) into hospital with 6 deaths (9.51/1000 mean strength). 35 invalids returned to England.

Its average constantly sick was 47.34 (75.02/1000 mean strength). The average sick time to each soldier was 27.38 days. The average duration of cases of sickness was 22.04 days.

The 1st/North Staffordshire Regiment was quartered at Isola Gate for 7 months and Verdala Barracks for 2 months.

Baptisms in 1893:

• 2 July Selina Maud Goodhead born 13 May 1892, daughter of Clara and Sgt George Goodhead of Cottonera.

Burials in Rinella Military Cemetery in 1893:

• 17 June Gladys Pearl Augusta Lees aged 9 months, daughter of Sgt Lees, died at Cottonera.
• 10 July Selina Maud Goodhead aged 3 months, daughter of Sgt Goodhead, died at Cottonera.
• 11 July CSgt John William Shaftain aged 29 years, died at Cottonera.
• 28 July Pte George Master aged 21 years, died at Cottonera.
• 4 Aug Pte George Adams aged 19 years, died at Cottonera.
• 7 Dec Pte Charles Manders aged 25 years, died at Cottonera.
• 21 Dec J Gregory aged 20 years, was buried in Pietà Military Cemetery.

1894 1st/The Prince of Wales's (North Staffordshire)

The 1st/North Staffordshire Regiment had an average strength of 972 men. It had 542 admissions (557.6/1000 mean strength) into hospital with 8 deaths (8.23/1000 mean strength). 10 invalids returned to England.

Its average constantly sick was 39.91 (41.06/1000 mean strength). The average sick time to each soldier was 14.98 days. The average duration of cases of sickness was 26.87 days.

The 1st/North Staffordshire Regiment was quartered at Verdala Barracks for 12 months.

Baptisms in 1894:

• 26 Jan Elizabeth Diana Riley born 27 Nov 1893, daughter of Minnie and CSgt Alfred Riley of St Nicholas Barracks Cottonera.
• 29 Sep Annie Louisa Hovers born 27 June 1894, daughter of Mary Henrietta and Cpl John Henry Hovers of Cottonera.
• 4 Nov Ellen Powell born 5 Oct 1894, daughter of Minnie and Sgt Master Cook William Powell of Cottonera.
• 11 Nov Joseph Robert Smith born 23 Oct 1894, son of Martha Letitia and QM Sgt Richard Henry Smith of Cottonera.
• 11 Nov Norah Melita Caroline Bear born 21 May 1894, daughter of Annie Maria and CSgt John Blackburn Bear of Cottonera.
• 25 Nov Ivy Clarice Lees born 31 Oct 1894, daughter of Hannah and QM Sgt Thomas Lees of Cottonera.
• 16 Dec Walter Acland born 4 Nov 1894, son of Maude nee Tidbury and Sgt Walter Acland of Cottonera.
• 23 Dec Mabel Melita Goodhead born 8 Nov 1894, daughter of Clara and Cpl George Goodhead of Cottonera.

Burials in Rinella Military Cemetery in 1894:

• 29 May Pioneer Sgt William Meeson died at Cottonera.
• 20 June Pte John Harley aged 21 years, died at Cottonera.
• 27 June Pte Ernest Smith aged 23 years, died at Cottonera.
• 3 July Pte Albert Brayford aged 22 years, died at Cottonera.
• 8 Oct Ernest O'Connell aged 10 hours, son of Sergeant died at Cottonera.
• 14 Nov Frederick Peach aged 29 years died at Cottonera.
• 8 Dec Mabel Henrietta Hovers aged 2 years 6 months, daughter of SSgt Hovers died at Cottonera.
• 9 Dec Pte Richard Mason aged 22 years, died at Cottonera.
• 9 Dec Edward Brereton aged 27 years, died at Cottonera.
• 24 Dec Gladys Tugman aged 11 months, daughter of CSgt Tugman died at Cottonera.
• 27 Dec Pte Joseph James Vigrass aged 20 years 7 months, daughter of Pte Vigrass died at Cottonera.

1895 1st/The Prince of Wales's (North Staffordshire)

The 1st/North Staffordshire Regiment had an average strength of 876 men. It had 408 admissions (465.7/1000 mean strength) into hospital with 4 deaths (4.57/1000 mean strength). 7 invalids returned to England.

Its average constantly sick was 28.48 (32.51/1000 mean strength). The average sick time to each soldier was 11.87 days. The average duration of cases of sickness was 25.48 days.

5 Oct 1895 The 1st/North Staffordshire Regiment was quartered at Verdala Barracks for 1 month and Lower St Elmo Barracks for 3 months. It embarked for Egypt where it arrived on 11 October.

Baptisms in 1895:

• 20 Apr Enid Eliza Dunn born 23 Feb 1895, daughter of Blanche Beatrice Louisa and Cpl Henry Dunn of Valletta.
• 20 Apr Jessie Kathleen Weale born 27 Feb 1895, daughter of Emily Lizzie and Sgt Ernest William Weale of Valletta.
• 6 Sep Eveline May Drinkwater born 5 Aug 1895, daughter of Bridget and Sgt Thomas George Drinkwater of Valletta.
• 6 Sep Albert Edward Hunt born 19 July 1895, son of Rhoda and Sgt George Hunt of Valletta.
• 12 Oct Francis Matilda Stone born 30 Sep 1895, daughter of Emma and Sgt Edward Stone of Valletta.

Burials in Rinella Military Cemetery in 1895:

• 5 Feb Pte William Richard Wingrove aged 20 years, died at Cottonera.
• 5 Sep Pte John Mate aged 20 years died at Fort St Angelo.
• 6 Sep Pte Charles Fowler aged 26 years died at Fort St Angelo.

Burials in Pietà Military Cemetery in 1895:

• 24 Feb Infant Sidney John Fred Hunt aged 10 months.
• 2 July Pte Ralph Till aged 27 years.

1896 1st/The Prince of Wales's (North Staffordshire)

The 1st/North Staffordshire Regiment left 2 men in Malta on their departure for Egypt.

Burials in 1896:

• 2 Dec 1896 John Briggs aged 21 years 6 months, was buried at Pietà Military Cemetery.

The 7th/North Staffordshire Regiment

1915 – 7th/North Staffordshire

Burials in Pietà Military Cemetery in 1915:

• 10 Sep Pte Bright Bertram Eric aged 20 years.

1916 – 7th/North Staffordshire

Burials in Pietà Military Cemetery in 1916:

• 15 Jan 17078 Pte T Lancaster 7th Bn North Staffordshire Regt.