Regiments
Of the Malta Garrison
The 84th
(York and Lancaster)

The 84th (York and Lancaster) Regiment

1865 84th (York and Lancaster)

3 Apr 1865 The 84th Foot embarked at Kingstown from Dublin and arrived in Malta on 12 April. It relieved the 2nd/7th Regiment which embarked for Canada.

The strength of the garrison was 6,105 men, 526 women, and 838 children. The 84th had 19 cases of contagious disease in its hospital which were undetected during its passage to Malta. Within one week of its arrival, the number increased to 38.

The regiment had an average strength of 519 men. There were 860 hospital admissions (1657 admissions per 1000 of mean strength) with 16 deaths in hospital (30.83 deaths per 1000 of mean strength). Continued fevers were most prevalent from June to September. On 1 July its strength was 735 men.

The 1st/84th Foot was quartered in Fort Verdala Barracks. The water supply to the barracks was conveyed in carts. The married quarters were in a detached building, northwards and immediately behind Polverista Barracks. Other families were in Zejtun Gate Barracks.

Asiatic cholera ravaged Malta from 3 July to 12 November 1865. The first case of cholera appeared in the 84th Foot on 17 August and persisted until 20 September, when no less than five were admitted into hospital. On 28 August, on the suggestion of Surgeon Clark, 218 men were removed at night to tents on the adjoining parade ground. The men continued to make use of the barracks and returned to them on 12 September with the outbreak of the rainy season.

The regimental hospital was located in the former Armeria of the Knights of St John. This hospital, the Upper Vittoriosa Hospital, also had the regimental hospital of the 29th Foot quartered at Fort Ricasoli.

Between 5 and 10 August, three cases of cholera occurred among the families of the 84th in Zejtun Gate Barracks. Three cases occurred in the block near Polverista Gate Barracks. No fewer than 27 children of the 84th foot had died of diarrhoea between 1 June and 31 October.

The 1st/84th had a total of 27 sick and 19 deaths distributed as follows: 20 NCOs and men (12 deaths), 4 women (4 deaths) and 3 children (3 deaths). The deaths were at Polverista (4†), Fort Verdala (9†), Upper Vittoriosa Hospital (2†), Sanatorium (1†), and Zejtun Gate (3†).

1866 84th (York and Lancaster)

In 1866, the regiment had an average strength of 702 men. There were 667 hospital admissions (948.8 admissions per 1000 of mean strength) with 10 deaths in hospital and 4 among the invalids (19.91 deaths per 1000 of mean strength). It had 174 admissions (248/1000 mean strength) for continued fevers with 4 deaths (5.70 deaths/1000 mean strength).

The regiment was quartered in Lower St Elmo Barracks.

Burials in 1866:

• 16 July 1866 Elizabeth Lepperd, aged 29 years, wife of Sgt Maj 84th Regiment, was buried at the Quarantine Bastion Cemetery Floriana.

1867 84th (York and Lancaster)

In 1867, the regiment had an average strength of 98 men. There were 55 hospital admissions (561.2 admissions per 1000 of mean strength) with 3 deaths in hospital (30.61 deaths per 1000 of mean strength).

28 Feb 1867 The 84th embarked for Jamaica and was replaced in Malta by the 64th (2nd Staffordshire) Regiment, which arrived in August 1867.

In Jamaica, the battalion was at the Hill Station of Newcastle on 3 Apr 1867. In July 1867, the 84th lost 13 men from Yellow Fever, another 13 died in August. The 84th left Jamaica for Nova Scotia on 6 January 1870.

The York and Lancaster Regiment

1915 – 6th/York and Lancaster

Burials in Pietà Military Cemetery in 1915:

• 27 Sep L/Cpl Siddall W aged 32 years.