Regimental History

In 1861 the Royal Malta Fencible Regiment, which was an infantry regiment, was converted into an artillery unit. All ranks were given the opportunity of serving in the new regiment or to retire from service. All men with the exception of two opted to remain in service. The regiment wore uniform of the same pattern as that for the Royal Artillery. The Royal Malta Fencible Artillery, as the new regiment was known, was quartered in various forts and barracks on the island.

In 1882 a battery of 100 men volunteered for service with Wolseley’s army in Egypt. Initially employed on garrison work in Alexandria, the Maltese detachment was later attached to Sir Evelyn Wood’s brigade which advanced on Damietta. The men who took part in this campaign later received the Queen’s Egyptian Medal and later still the Khedive’s bronze star. Moreover the regiment was granted the privilege of bearing the honour ‘Egypt 1882’ on it appointments.

In 1889 with the forming of the Royal Malta Regiment of Militia it was approved by the War Office that the Royal Malta Fencible Regiment drop the word Fencible from its title and henceforth became known as the Royal Malta Artillery. The Royal Malta Artillery provided detachments to man the guns in various forts and batteries all over the island. As from 1900 a battery from the Royal Malta Artillery started being sent in Egypt to perform garrison work over there. This regiment formed the backbone for manning Malta’s anti-aircraft defences during the Second World War. The Royal Malta Artillery remained in service until 1970 when it was absorbed by the newly set up Malta Land Force.

Uniform

The uniform worn by the HIG re enactors who portray the Royal Malta Artillery, consists of a dark blue frock with red collar, dark blue trousers, and white ‘foreign service’ helmet. Like all Royal Garrison Artillery units the RMA have yellow piping on their uniform. The uniform of the Royal Malta Artillery is distinguishable from the rest in that it has a pair of brass Maltese Crosses on the shoulder-boards, in all other respects it is identical to the Royal Artillery uniform.

When visiting Fort Rinella the visitor might come across some gunners wearing a grey flannel shirt, blue trousers, and a round cap, known as the pillbox hat, held precariously on the head. This is the sort of uniform gunners used to wear when on their daily routine work inside a fort.

Weapons

The Royal Malta Artillery was equipped with the Martini-Henry carbine. This was a smaller version of the infantry rifle; indeed sometimes carbines were made by sawing down rifles. The carbine fired the same bullet as the rifle. Having a short weapon the gunners were equipped with an 18-inch long sword bayonet to enable them to defend themselves when fighting at close quarters. Faithful to their illustrious forebears, the HIG’s Royal Malta Artillery are equipped with original Martini Henry Carbines and sword bayonets.