Regiments
Of the Malta Garrison
The 60th (King's
Royal Rifle Corps)

The 1st/The 60th (The King's Royal Rifle Corps)

1834 1st/60th (KRRC)

27 Oct 1834 18 officers, 512 men, 31 women and 70 children of the 1st Battalion 60th KRRC arrived from Gibraltar on the transport Jupiter. The 1st/60th replaced the 42nd Foot and moved into Lower St Elmo Barracks.

Baptisms in 1834:

• 8 Dec Jane Pugh daughter of Sgt John Pugh and Jane born on 30 November 1834.
• 8 Dec Caroline Cronan daughter of Pte Peter Cronan and Catherine born on 23 November 1834.
• 22 Dec Charlotte Frances Bona Spencer daughter of the Hon Capt George Augustus Spencer and Charlotte born on 15 October 1834.

Burials in 1834:

• 29 Nov Pte John Downic aged 27 years.
• 3 Dec Sgt Jeremiah Scott aged 40 years.
• 14 Dec Pte John Lovatt aged 32 years.
• 16 Dec Jane Pugh aged 16 days, daughter of Sgt John Pugh.

1835 1st/60th (KRRC)

1835 There were 465 men in the Service Companies. The regiment was made up of 227 English, 168 Irish, and 70 Scottish soldiers. The average age was 28 years; the average height was 5 feet 8 inches. Ninety men had served for less than 7 years; 351 had served between 7 and 14 years; 24 soldiers had served from 14 to 21 years. In 1835 there were 592 sick treated in hospital with six deaths.

The 60th occupied Fort St Elmo but moved to Floriana Barracks in December. It had detachments at Forts Manoel, Tigné, Ricasoli and Fort Chambray Gozo. The regimental surgeon reported that notwithstanding the confined situation, want of ventilation of the quarters at St Elmo, and the exposure of the men to exhalations arising during the summer months from an open ditch passing close to the barracks, the men have escaped any fever of a severe type, and in no instance has the disease assumed a remittent or intermittent form.

There were 56 cases of Febris Continua Communis during the year. Most were mild in character. The predominant symptoms were moderate to severe headaches, pain in the loins, rigors with thirst, anorexia, nausea and occasional vomiting. Bowel complaints were common at Fort Manoel. There were 12 cases of dysentery.

There were 156 cases of acute catarrh, with one death. There were two cases of pneumonia, with one terminating fatally. There were two cases of Phthisis Pulmonalis, one being returned to England, but the other died at Malta from his disease.

A soldier's wife died from of Phthisis Pulmonalis; another from acute dysentery. Soldier's wives were treated at the Civil Hospital and not at their regimental hospital. Assistant Surgeon Peter Lamond stated that the attention and care they received at the Civil Hospital by far exceeded that at regimental hospital where no nurses were employed. Three regimental children died in 1835, one from dysentery and two from diarrhoea.

Marriages in 1835:

• 22 Aug Bachelor School Master Sgt John Dawson married Elizabeth Shaw, spinster from Gibraltar.

Baptisms in 1835:

• 15 Apr Jane Base daughter of Cpl John Base and Charlotte, born on 29 March 1835.
• 1 May Jane Gray daughter of Pte James Gray and Anne, born on 30 January.
• 3 May William Hindle son of Pte Jonathan Hindle and Mary Ann, born on 29 November 1834.
• 5 June Private baptism of George Blenning son of Pte Charles Blenning and Catherine, born on 25 May. The child was publicly received into the church on 8 June 1835.
• 15 June Maria Money daughter of Pte David Money and Catherine, born on 24 May.
• 6 Sep Elizabeth McGuire daughter of Pte Hugh McGuire and Harriet, born on 28 August.
• 12 Sep Catherine Elizabeth Mitchell daughter of Lt and Adjutant Thomas Henry Mitchell and Anne, born on 22 June.
• 2 Nov Ellen Hurst daughter of Bugler Joshua Hurst and Mary, born on 19 September.
• 8 Nov Mary Hurst wife of Bugler Joshua Hurst, born about 1814 in Ireland and baptised when an infant by a Roman Catholic priest was today at her request and that of her husband received into the church as a member of the Church of England.
• 8 Nov Margaret Browne daughter of Pte William Browne and Margaret, born on 26 October 1835.

Burials in 1835:

• 27 Jan John Hyland aged 32 years was admitted on 15 January with pneumonia but died on 27 January.
• 27 Jan A soldier fell a height of 50 feet sustaining a compound fracture of his right wrist and an extensive compound fracture of the right thigh. The fracture extended from his knee joint to the middle of the thigh from which several pieces of bone protruded. The femur was completely shattered, as also were the patella and head of tibia. His jaw was also fractured. On the 28 January Surgeon Alexander Melvin decided to amputate the right leg. The patient endured the operation with fortitude but died on 30 January.
• 30 Jan Pte Richard Eccles aged 26 years.
• 13 Apr Pte James McFarlane aged 27 years.
• 27 Apr Catherine Ashby aged 22 years, wife of Pte Charles Ashby.
• 1 May George Dooling aged 38 years had been employed in the mess kitchen and was much addicted to drink. He was admitted to hospital on 29 April and died on 1 May 1835.
• 14 June Thomas Blenning aged 15 months, son of Pte Charles Blenning.
• 16 June Pte Thomas Johns aged 27 years.
• 9 Aug Caroline Cronan aged 9 months daughter of Pte Peter Cronan.
• 29 Oct William Hindle aged 11 months, son of Pte Jonathan Hindle.
• 3 Nov Jane Gray aged 9 months, daughter of Pte James Gray.
• 15 Nov Pte William Marsh aged 34 years.

1836 1st/60th (KRRC)

8 Feb 1836 A detachment of 56 men arrived at Malta.

14 July 494 men of the 1s/60th (KRRC) left Malta for Corfu on the Barrosa.

Baptisms in 1836:

• 1 Feb Elizabeth Alison daughter of Pte William Alison and Bridget born on 19 January 1836.
• 15 Feb Sarah Robinson daughter of Pte James Robinson and Anne born on 16 December 1835.
• 23 Feb Sarah Savage daughter of CSgt Robert Savage and Elizabeth born on 16 February.
• 16 Mar Grizelda Margaret Sherlock daughter of Pte Joseph Sherlock and Mary, born on 25 February.
• 29 Mar Private baptism of William Burns son of Pte Thomas Burns and Anne born on 29 March. The child was publicly received into the church on 16 May 1836.
• 23 May George John Dawson son of Schoolmaster Sgt John Dawson and Elizabeth born on 9 May.
• 17 June Anne Gray daughter of Pte James Gray and Anne, born on 7 June 1836.

Burials in 1836:

• 2 Mar Pte James Handshaw aged 27 years.
• 4 Mar Pte Joseph Chamberlain aged 21 years.
• 9 Mar Mary Anne Sherlock aged 30 months, daughter of Pte Joseph Sherlock.
• 12 Apr Jane Birkett aged 40 years. Was in the service of Lt ... McEverley Rifle Bde.
• 1 June Eliza Savage aged 23 years, wife of L/Sgt John Savage.
• 24 June Anne Gray aged 9 days, daughter of Pte James Gray.
• 27 June George John Dawson aged 2 months, son of School Master Sgt John Dawson.
• 27 June Pte George Cochran aged 28 years, executed for shooting at Sgt Darome.
• 20 July Pte Richard Sheriff aged 22 years.
• 21 July Ellen Hurst aged 10 months, daughter of Bugler Joshua Hurst.

1837 – 1st/60th (KRRC)

The 1s/60th (KRRC) were in Corfu.

Baptisms in 1837:

• 31 July Frances Isabella Catherine Spencer daughter of the Hon Capt George Augustus Spencer and Charlotte born on 21 July 1837.

The 1st/The 60th (The King's Royal Rifle Corps)

1840 1st/60th (KRRC)

15 Apr 1840 The transport vessel Baretto Junior arrived from Cork with The 60th Rifles.

The 1st/The 60th (The King's Royal Rifle Corps)

1866 1st/60th (KRRC)

7 Mar 1866 The 1st/60th Regiment embarked at Kingstown, Ireland on the Simoom, disembarking in Malta on 17 March.

The 60th relieved the 1st/22nd Regiment which left for New Brunswick. It occupied the glacis of Fort Manoel, but moved to Floriana Barracks on 28 March 1866.

In 1866, the regiment had an average strength of 513 men. There were 669 hospital admissions (1304.1 admissions per 1000 of mean strength) with 1 death in hospital (1.95 deaths per 1000 of mean strength). It had 150 admissions (292/1000 mean strength) for continued fevers with no deaths. The cases of continued fevers in the 60th accounted for more than a quarter of the total number of admissions into hospital. The majority were of a mild type and were blamed on exposure to the sun.

One of the officers serving with the 60th Rifles was Francis Wallace Grenfell, who was to return to Malta in 6 January 1899 as Governor and Commander-in-Chief (1899 – 1903).

Burials in 1866:

• May 1866 Pte William Webb 60th Royal Rifles, aged 32 years was buried at the Quarantine Bastion Cemetery Floriana.

1867 1st/60th (KRRC)

In 1867, the regiment had an average strength of 442 men. There were 269 hospital admissions (608.6 admissions per 1000 of mean strength) with 4 deaths in hospital and 1 out of hospital (11.31 deaths per 1000 of mean strength).

30 Mar 1867 HQ Coy and 4 coys moved to Pembroke Camp; the other 4 coys went to Fort Manoel.

Several cases of cholera were reported in the 60th Foot during the epidemic of Sept 1867. On 30 Aug, a wife of a private soldier at Pembroke Camp who had been struck off the strength of the regiment because of her bad character, died from cholera. Her immorality was beheld a contributory factor in her becoming ill. It was thought that cholera was more likely to strike the immoral and those with an emotional or excitable character.

5 Sep 1867 The 1st/60th (KRRC) embarked on the Himalaya for Canada, where it arrived on 29 September. It was relieved int Malta by the 1st/31st Foot from Ireland. One fatal case of cholera and 14 of diarrhoea, two of which died, occurred on the voyage.

The 1st/The King's Royal Rifle Corps

1902 1st/KRRC

22 Sep 1902 The 1st/KRRC arrived in South Africa on 22 March 1899.
On 22 September 1902, it embarked from Capetown on the Sardinia and disembarked in Malta on 17 October 1902.

The men occupied Floriana Barracks, Mtarfa and Ghajn Tuffieha, where it formed part of 17th Mounted Infantry Coy.

Burials in Pietà Military Cemetery in 1902:

• 20 Oct Pte Albert Coates, aged 20 years 9 months.
• 17 Nov Cpl Henry Rowles, aged 24 years 3 months.

1903 1st/KRRC

9405 Pte G.S. Austin A Coy died at sea 30 Sep 1902
2627 Pte A. Coates accidentally killed at Floriana 20 Oct 1902
9965 Cpl H. Rowles died at Valletta Hosp 16 Nov 1902 (Pieta' Military Cemetery).

Rfn William Clarke E Coy died of fever at Citta Vecchia Hosp 15 Sept 1903, aged 20.
Rfn Frederick Lightfoot died of fever at Mtarfa Hosp on 29 Aug 1904, aged 21 yrs
(Mtarfa Military Cemetery)

Rfn Ronald William Mansfield D Coy 1st Bn died 7 July 1904, aged 21 yrs 9 mths
(Mtarfa Military Cemetery)

1903 The 1st/KRRC was at Floriana Barracks. This consisted partly of stone buildings and partly of huts, the latter being of modern construction. The families were at St Francis Xavier Barracks.

The 1st/KRRC had a higher incidence of Malta Fever than the rest of the garrison. Young, unseasoned soldiers were considered to be more susceptible to fall ill to fever during their first summer at Malta. The SMO reported that When the battalion first arrived, it contained a fair proportion of seasoned men, but during the winter its strength was increased, and in the places of old soldiers sent home, time expired, were filled by the arrival of two or three drafts from the depot. So that by the time the warm weather began, there were a good many young soldiers in the ranks who, by reason of their immaturity, may reasonably have been considered as specially liable to infection.¹

A new block of married quarters overlooking the Quarantine Harbour had been completed just before the arrival of the regiment. It was occupied for the first time by married soldiers. For the first six months the occupants enjoyed good health. However, in mid June, Mediterranean Fever appeared, and the infection passed from quarter to quarter until a large proportion of the families were affected. This led to the theory that the disease was air-borne. Soil within a few yards of the affected buildings had been disturbed during the digging of the foundations for another block of quarters, allowing the virus to escape and infect the nearby quarters.

Single men living in the barracks also fell ill, the sick increasing as the summer progressed. The soldier's barracks were a mere three minutes walk from the married quarters, but were considered to be healthier as they were on elevated ground and protected by the ramparts of the old fortifications from air borne particles blowing from the direction of the Quarantine Harbour. Two new blocks of soldier's barracks were under construction in the vicinity of Floriana Barracks. The theory of air-borne infection from recently disturbed soil was accepted as an important factor in the causation of Malta Fever. It was advocated by the SMO in Valletta. Sanitary recommendations put forward to check the disease were based upon it. Captain James Crawford Kennedy, a specialist in Bacteriology who had won the University of Edinburgh Gold Medal for his thesis on Malta Fever, and who was in charge of the Valletta Laboratory, adhered to it.²

Baptisms in the Garrison Church in 1903:

• 15 Jan Bandsman George Arthur Corbishley born on 26 March 1887, son of Jenny and Frederick Joseph Corbishley, resident at Floriana Barracks.
• 17 Apr Wilson John Ross born on 3 April 1903, son of Alice and Sgt George Ross, resident at Msida Bastion Married Quarters Floriana was baptised privately. The baby did not survive.

Burials in Mtarfa Military Cemetery in 1903:

• 12 Aug Pte John Crook from Ghajn Tuffieha aged 24 years.
• 17 Sep Pte William Haynes Clarke aged 20 years from Ghajn Tuffieha.

Burials in Pietà Military Cemetery in 1903:

• 20 Apr Wilson John Ross, aged 15 days, son of Sgt Ross of Floriana.
• 8 July Pte Ernest Simons, aged 18 years, of Floriana.
• 4 Sep Pte John Arthur Eley, aged 19 years, of Floriana.
• 4 Oct Pte Tom Early, aged 19 years of Floriana.
• 14 Oct Mary Ross, aged few minutes after birth, daughter of CSgt Ross of Floriana.

1904 1st/KRRC

Burials in Mtarfa Military Cemetery in 1904:

• 15 Jan Pte Harry Willingham aged 25 years 5 months.
• 8 July Pte Richard William George Mansfield aged 21 years 9 months.
• 16 Aug Eleanor Marion Kemp aged 11 months, daughter of Sgt Maj Kemp.
• 31 Aug Pte Frederick Lightfoot aged 21 years 2 months.

Burials in Pietà Military Cemetery in 1904:

• 1 Apr Pte Robert Whalley aged 22 years.

1905 1st/KRRC

27 Feb 1905 The 1st/KRRC embarked on the Dilwara for Alexandria. Two companies landed in Crete and one company disembarked in Cyprus.

1916 – 1st/KRRC

Baptisms in Mtarfa Church Room in 1916:

• 19 Dec Pte Charles Whitney of Ghajn Tuffieha born on 13 May 1893, son of Ada and Charles Whitney of Wellingborough, Northamptonshire.

The 2nd/The King's Royal Rifle Corps

1841 2nd/KRRC

Baptisms in 1841:

• 1 Aug Mary Ann Cery daughter of Pte Francis Cery 2nd/60th Rifles and Eliza, born on 20 July 1841.
• 8 Aug Samuel Brassington twin son of Sgt William Brassington 2nd/60th Rifles and Jane, born on 2 August.
• 8 Aug John Alfred Brassington twin son of Sgt William Brassington 2nd/60th Rifles and Jane, born on 2 August.
• 22 Aug Sophia Elizabeth Lester born on 15 August 1841, daughter of L/Sgt Thomas Lester and Mary Ann.

The 2nd/The King's Royal Rifle Corps

1 July 1881 The 2nd/60th Regiment became the 2nd Battalion The King's Royal Rifle Corps.

1895 2nd/KRRC

13 Jan 1895 The 2nd/King's Royal Rifle Corps embarked in Gibraltar on the transport Victoria and disembarked in Malta on 17 January 1895.

It had an average strength of 965 men with 724 admissions (730.3/1000 mean strength) into hospital and 9 deaths (9.33/1000 mean strength). 15 invalids returned to England.

Its average constantly sick was 72.54 (75.17/1000 mean strength). The average sick time to each soldier was 27.44 days. The average duration of cases of sickness was 36.57 days.

The 2nd/King's Royal Rifle Corps was quartered at Floriana and Notre Dame Barracks for 11 months. It had detachments at Upper and Lower Marsamxetto Barracks.

Baptisms in 1895:

• 15 Mar Alice Caroline Ratcliff born 26 Feb 1895, daughter of Adaline and Pte George William Ratcliff of Valletta.
• 10 Apr Blanche Ashmore Lister born 26 Mar 1895, daughter of Maria and Pte George Lister of Valletta.
• 18 Apr Mary Lucy Eleanor Perkins born 12 Mar 1895, daughter of Mary Alice and Sgt Thomas Perkins of Valletta.
• 9 May Emma Elaine Boxall born 3 Apr 1895, daughter of Elizabeth Ann and Sgt Harry Boxall of Floriana Barracks.
• 9 May Jane Phyllis Lovell born 22 Apr 1893, daughter of Elizabeth and Sgt James Lovell of Floriana.
• 15 May Henry Ripp born 23 Apr 1895, son of Louise Frances and Sgt Bugler Frederick Charles Ripp of Floriana.
• 11 July Alice Elizabeth Miller born 20 June 1895, daughter of Mary Jane and Pte Albert Richard Miller of Valletta.
• 18 July Clifford George Gascoyne born 25 June 1895, son of Caroline Frances and Sgt George Thomas Gascoyne of Floriana.
• 3 Nov Arthur Henry Willis born 8 Oct 1895, son of Sarah and Sgt George William Willis of Floriana.
• 3 Nov Dorothy Ruby Emma Freeman born 22 Oct 1895, daughter of Alice and QM Sgt Alfred Henry Freeman of Floriana.
• 3 Nov Ernest James Parker born 21 Oct 1895, son of Hannah Lizzie and CSgt Barzillai Parker of Floriana.
• 7 Nov Joseph Henry Evans born 12 Oct 1895, son of Obdula Misna and Sgt John Thomas Evans of Floriana.
• 27 Nov Alfred William John Ulph born 31 Oct 1895, son of Priscilla and CSgt James Thomas Ulph of Floriana.
• 12 Dec George Victor Gibson born 21 Oct 1895, son of Kate and Pte William Gibson of Floriana.
• 19 Dec James Bosworthick born 30 Nov 1895, son of Elizabeth and Sgt Thomas Edwin Bosworthick of Valletta.

Burials in Pietà Military Cemetery in 1895:

• 15 Mar Pte George Downham, aged 25 years.
• 15 Mar Pte Charles Allen, aged 20 years.
• 24 Apr Mrs Mary Jones, aged 35 years, wife of Cpl Jones.
• 10 June Pte Francis George Ellis, aged 26 years.
• 24 June Pte Charles Akrill, aged 23 years.
• 19 July Pte Thomas Champness aged 24 years.
• 28 July Clifford George Gascoyne aged 1 month, son of Sgt Gascoyne.
• 30 Aug Pte Peter Spencer Boon aged 23 years.
• 19 Sep Mrs Bloomfield wife of CSgt Bloomfield.
• 13 Oct Pte Benjamin Robert Jordan aged 22 years.
• 31 Dec Pte Harry North aged 33 years.

1896 2nd/KRRC

The 2nd/King's Royal Rifle Corps had an average strength of 528 men. It had 257 admissions (486.7/1000 mean strength) into hospital with 1 death (1.89/1000 mean strength). 17 invalids returned to England.

Its average constantly sick was 25.0 (47.35/1000 mean strength). The average sick time to each soldier was 17.33 days. The average duration of cases of sickness was 35.60 days.

16 July 1896 The 2nd/King's Royal Rifle Corps was quartered at Floriana Barracks and Notre Dame Ravelin for 6 1/2 months. It embarked for Cape Town, where it arrived on 5 August 1896.

Baptisms in 1896:

• 7 Feb Maggie Lawrence born 23 Jan 1896, daughter of Catherine and Pte Abraham Lawrence of Valletta was privately baptised by the Rev Alfred Malim Senior Chaplain to the forces and received into the church on 13 May 1896.
• 9 Feb Florence Gertrude Richards born 24 Jan 1896, daughter of Emma Louisa and Pte Henry Walter Richards of Cottonera.
• 20 May James Edward Marsh born 7 May 1896, son of Nellie and Sgt James Marsh of Floriana.
• 12 Aug Charlotte Cornwallis Richards born 28 July 1896, daughter of Mary and Pte Charles Trevelyan Cornwallis Richards of Valletta.
• 4 Sep William Owen Pratt born 8 Aug 1896, son of Mary and Pte Alfred Pratt of Valletta.
• 9 Sep Thomas William Perkins born 23 Aug 1896, son of Mary Alice and Sgt Thomas Perkins of Valletta.
• 15 Sep Elsie Eleanora Archer born 23 Aug 1896, daughter of Jane and Pte John Archer of Valletta.
• 23 Sep Emily Lingard born 31 Aug 1896, daughter of Emelia and Pte John Edward Lingard of Floriana.
• 30 Oct Albert Arthur Miller born 23 Oct 1896, son of Mary Jane and Pte Albert Richard Miller of Valletta.
• 11 Nov Margery Norton born 22 Sep 1896, daughter of Mary and Sgt William Norton of Valletta.
• 11 Nov Phyllis Maud Gascoyne born 21 Oct 1896, daughter of Caroline Frances and Sgt George Thomas Gascoyne of Valletta.

Burials in 1896:

• 5 July Pte Ernest Banks aged 22 years, was buried in Pietà Military Cemetery.

1897 2nd/KRRC

A detachment of 6 men was left in Malta on the departure of the regiment.

The 3rd/The King's Royal Rifle Corps

1 July 1881 The 3rd/60th Regiment became the 3rd Battalion The King's Royal Rifle Corps.

1882 3rd/KRRC

23 Feb 1882 The 3rd/KRRC embarked in the Cape of Good Hope on the Orontes, and disembarked in Malta on 3 April 1882.

The 3rd/King's Royal Rifles had an average strength of 217 men. It had 151 admissions (695.8/1000 mean strength) into hospital with 2 deaths (9.21 deaths/1000 mean strength). 4 invalids returned to England.

Its average constantly sick was 11.71 (53.96/1000 mean strength). The average sick time to each soldier was 19.69 days. The average duration of cases of sickness was 28.30 days.

8 July The 3rd Battalion embarked for Egypt on the Agincourt.
The battalion was involved in operations in the Sudan from 16 February to May 1884. It left Egypt for Cyprus on 31 August 1884 leaving 4 companies in Egypt.

The 3rd/The King's Royal Rifle Corps

1908 3rd/KRRC

28 June 1908 Two coys of the 3rd Bn arrived from Crete on the Somali.

1909 3rd/KRRC

19 Jan 1909 The 3rd/KRRC embarked in Crete on the Braemar Castle, and disembarked in Malta on 22 January. The men moved into Verdala Barracks, Cottonera.

21 Sep The battalion moved into St George's Barracks.

Baptisms in 1909:

• 18 Apr Thomas Ulric Curzon Shirley born on 4 June 1909, son of Ellen and Sgt Thomas Shirley, of Old St Nicholas Quarters, Verdala.

1910 3rd/KRRC

Aug 1910 Towards the end of August 1910, there was a sudden outbreak of Paratyphoid B fever in the 1st/Suffolk Regiment. The outbreak was preceded by a few isolated cases earlier in the year. The first case was that of a soldier from St Andrew's Barracks who had been admitted to hospital on 29 May 1910 and discharged to barracks on 25 July 1910. Sixteen days later, a second soldier fell ill, followed by a further twelve, all from the Suffolk Regiment except one from the King's Royal Rifle Corps living in the adjoining St George's Barracks. The last case was admitted on 14 September and discharged on 12 October 1910. The duration of the pyrexia varied from 4 to 23 days. Bacillus paratyphoid was isolated on blood cultures.

12 Nov 1910 The 3rd/KRRC embarked on the Rewa and arrived in Karachi on 25 November 1910.

Baptisms in 1910:

• 3 Apr Mabel Elsie Foster born on 27 January 1910, daughter of Hazel Edith and Rfn Daniel Foster, of No 12 Vicolo, Tigné Sliema.
• 24 Oct James Alan Yates born on 28 September 1910, son of Esther Sarah and Sgt Henry Yates, of St George's Barracks, Pembroke.