Hi all, I dont want to sound stupid but what was happening in Malta during the war? what was there? My Great grandad landed in Galipolli in August with 10th Londons. He then went to Malta from 1/10/15 to 29/11/15. Then a gap of almost 6 months then rejoined Batallion 15/5/16. I found this info from the medal roll. Was Malta used as a field Hospital in anyway, Is there a possibility he could of fell ill and been sent there? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

James

I think you could take it almost as a guarantee.

He might have been been wounded but by that stage of the campaign, the men were dropping like flies from jaundice, dysentry, frostbite - you name it, men were getting it.

John

Thanks John. I dont know why but i automatically thought that. Theres no mention of SWB on his MIC, He was killed in 1917. Did men ever get sent home for illness, To then return to the front?

James

James

Yes, indeed. I've been doing some Gallipoli research recently. Many of the men who fell ill there were out of action for several months and, almost certainly, will have spent some time at home.

He wouldnt have a SWB if he was sick and returned to duty - you only got one if you were discharged from the army. Everything you mention in your first post shouts "HE WAS POORLY" at me and I'd reckon he was probably in a UK hospital recovering for most of the time after 29/11 until he rejoined. Might be worth you looking in the local newspapers to see if there's any mention of him being home on sick leave - the very local weekly paper will be a better bet than a more regional daily or evening paper.

John

During the First World War, like the Crimean War period, Malta served as a "Nurse of the Mediterranean". From the Gallipoli campaigns 2500 officers and 55400 troops were treated in the Maltese hospitals, while from the 1917 Salonika campaigns 2600 officers and 64500 troops were treated. The years of the conflict thus required the significant augmentation of hospital beds for injured and sick troops. The number of beds in the Valletta Military Hospital were augmented from 26 beds to 340 and later to 440 beds. This augmentation was achieved by renovating disused wards and bringing the sanitary and medical facilities up to date. The Valletta Station Hospital served as a sorting base for the wounded arriving in the hospital ships prior to their being transferred to the other 30 hospitals and camps scattered over the Islands. The Valletta Hospital itself was reserved for dangerously ill cases that could not be safely moved. The principal hospitals and camps used were the commissioned Naval and Military hospitals: Bighi Naval Hospital, Valletta Hospital, Cottonera Hospital, Forrest Hospital, Mtarfa Hospital (commissioned in 1912) and Chambray Convalescent Depot. Other hospitals and hospital camps were set up including: the Hamrun Hospital, St. Andrew's Hospital, St. George's Hospital, St. Paul's Hospital (close to St. Andrew's), St. David's Hospital and St. Patrick's Hospital, St. John's Hospital (in the Sliema Primary School), St. Ignatius Hospital (in the old Jesuit College in St. Julians), Tigne Hospital, St. Elmo and Baviere Hospitals in Valletta, Manoel Hospital, the Blue Sisters' Hospital and the Ghajn Tuffieha Camp [27].

http://www.geocities.com/hotsprings/2615/m...t/hospital3.htm

Thank you John and Phil. If it wasnt for checking the medal rolls, I would have never have found out. Just goes to show. Would a soldier be awarded a SWB even if they were Killed?

Phil, Thank you for that Information. Much appreciated.

James

Another interesting aspect of the role of Malta was that men who had been hospitalised and then recovered, were sent to Convalescent Camps on the island where they could be reintroduced to the rigours and disciplines of army life. Their progress was monitored until it was decided that they were fit for action. It seems that there was no guarantee they would return to their original unit, as a drafting process could send men to where they were most needed.

Have you any idea how many such camps existed there Phil B?

I had an uncle in the RAMC (WW1) whom my father had said had been in Malta . The only medal card for him is for a Territorial Efficency medal. I am wondering if he could have worked at such hospitals on Malta as you mentioned . Is there any way to find out more?

Putting "convalescent camp malta" in google will reveal a few.




In a word - No. I suppose he could have been discharged because of wounds with a SWB and subsequently DoW.

Thanks for the tip! Googling was so obvious it hadn't occurred to me!! It certainly does provide a lot of information - I'm quite amazed to see that Malta ended up with 20,000 beds for the wounded and sick though.

A Great great Grandfather on my Mothers side of the family upon the outbreak of the war enlisted in the Tyneside Scottish leaving his wife to look after a house full of children on her own. Not a popular decision by all accounts and it is thought he saw enlistment as a way to escape his domestic situation and commitments.

He wasn't passed as A1 fit, probably owing to his age, and was transfered to the Garrison Battalion which ended up in Malta.

Here he died and is buried. He drank himself to death.

I thought this might interest someone.

The Museum and Library of the Order of St John has the best collection of books on Malta in the UK. Is is of course strongest for details relating to the Order and later St John Ambulance organisation.
http://www.sja.org.uk/sja/about-us/our-museum.aspx

Great link, Thank you very much. Would be great to get down there.

James

The order of the St John Museum, You say books, Will that contain details of casualties who were there? Or just details on the hospitals themselves?

James

There is a bit of information about the medical facilities in Malta here.

For those who had relatives died in Malta the National Archives hold the Register of Burials 1902-1946. As far as WW1 deaths are concerned it is unlikely to tell you much more than you will get from the CWGC however, it does give the actual date of burial and the name of of the officiating padre.

TR

Thanks Pete and Terry. Terry thats handy to know. Knowing the exact date someone was buried. As we all know dates differ sometimes. Its becoming clearer to me what was going on in Malta during the war. I appreciate all the replies and all the links have been a great help.

James

hello to all.

I have never been in the army, and thanks god i never lived in war I'm Simon Spiteri 37 year old i live behind the old Military hospital of Imtarfa (Mtarfa) Malta. I'm trying to build the History of Imtarfa during the 1st and 2nd world war any help is appreciated and if you wish any photos from Malta just ask me folks I will do the best. i can touch these places by hand every day so i hope i can be usefull.

Simon
my email numx AT onvol.net - website www.marica.tk

Hello all,
Apart from medical facilities at Malta, there was also an internment camp there. At the start of the war some 500 Austrians and Germans who were in Egypt and of military age were sent to Malta; and I believe that some Turkish officers captured in the attack on the Suez Canal (Feb 1915) were sent there as well.
Russell

russell,

Have you been in Malta, I'm Maltese I'm trying to collect data about Mtarfa(Malta) in war

Can You Help ME?

Thanks
Simon

Dear Simon,

No, I’ve not yet been to Malta. My information about the internment camps is from The Egyptian Gazette, Aug., Sept, Oct. 1914. I was researching what was happening in Egypt in the early part of the world war (1914-15) for my book The Sanusi’s Little War.

The information about Turkish officers being sent to Malta is from another book, The Turkish Battle at Khaybar by Esref Kuscubasi (translated by Philip H Stoddard).

Regards,
Russell

Thanks, Rusell,

I hope i can get someone to help me built the history of Mtarfa (Malta) or he can give me some refernce.

thanks
my friend,

simon

Simon,

I'm afraid I don't have other references on Malta. Good luck with the history!
Russell

Simon,

Apart from the suggestions made by fellow forum members, may I suggest the following ?

For the First World War, consult Rev. A.G. Mackinnon MALTA: The Nurse of the Mediterranean. For the Second World War, consult Philip Vella MALTA: Blitzed but not beaten.

Regards

Wayne

thanks wayne,

an idea how i can make contact with them,

simon

Simon,

Both of these books are available in our local libraries - or else, if you prefer, MALTA: The Nurse of the Mediterranean, is available online.

Hope this helps.

Regards

Wayne

thanks,

i will give a visit to the library this week

simon

My grandfather did just that. Evac from Gallipoli to the hospital ship, then to Malta, then to England, and then back to Australia for months of recoop - then off to the Sini to join Allenby. His medical forms from all the hospitals have been digitized by the AWM. Maybe you can find some such on your subject too. - Rod