Regimental History

The Royal Malta Regiment Of Militia (1889-1902)

The Royal Malta Regiment Of Militia was raised on 1st May 1889. This was the first Maltese infantry unit to be raised after 1861 when the Royal Malta Fencible Regiment was converted to an artillery unit.

In October 1888 the Governor Sir H D’Oyley Torrens, with the approval of the Council of Government enacted an ordinance for the establishment of a new regiment.

Three regular officers were appointed to raise the regiment, these were: Lt Col F.Gatt from the Royal Malta Artillery, Mjr H. Hughes Hallett from the Middlesex Regiment, and Lieut. R. Briffa from the Royal Malta Artillery. Furthermore, Colour Sergeant Morrison of the Royal Highland Regiment (The Black Watch) was appointed to the militia regiment with the rank of Sergeant Major, and five NCOs were transferred from the Royal Malta Artillery to the new regiment.

As at the end of the year 1889 the complement of the regiment stood at 1,131 all ranks, of these 29 officers and other NCOs constituted the permanent staff.

Militiamen enrolled for five years’ service with the colours with the option of re-engaging for another four years. Recruits were expected to attend for an annual camp, of twelve days’ duration, which was usually held under canvas at either Pembroke or at Fort Mosta during the summer months.

The dress adopted by the regiment was of the same pattern as that of the regular regiments of the line, that is, scarlet tunic, blue trousers and white helmet. Since this was a ‘Royal’ regiment the colour of the facings (collar and cuffs) was dark blue. In November 1889 the regiment was granted the honour of bearing the distinction ‘ MDCCC’ on its badges and appointments. This was to commemorate the services of the Maltese units involved in the fight against the French forces in Malta in 1800.

In 1894 the Royal Malta Regiment of Militia was re-equipped with Lee-Metford Rifles that replaced the Older Martini- Henry rifles as the standard weapon for the British infantry. A second battalion was raised in 1897.

In 1903, King Edward VII paid a visit to Malta. In the course of his stay the King became deeply interested in the Royal Malta Regiment of Militia, so much so that he expressed his wish of becoming the patron and Colonel –in- Chief of the regiment. Moreover he commanded that the regiment be henceforth designated as the King’s Own Malta Regiment of Militia. This regiment was disbanded in 1921; two years later it was revived as a regimental cadre bearing the name of ‘King’s Own Malta Regiment’.

Uniform

The HIG members re enacting the Royal Malta Regiment of Militia wear the standard pattern red frock, blue trousers, and white ‘foreign service’ helmet. Since the RMR were a royal regiment they had dark blue cuffs and collar. The Maltese regiment could be distinguished from all other line regiments by its badges:
Maltese Crosses on the collar and the brass initials RMR on the shoulder- boards. Further to this the regiment also had its own Helmet Badge which consisted of a Maltese Cross with a scroll on which was written Royal Malta Militia, and the Regiment’s battle honour MDCCC. Besides this the regiment also had
a distinct glengarry badge.

Weapons and Equipment

As the re enactment group focuses on the year 1892, the Royal Malta Militia is equipped with the Martini Henry rifle. The Martini Henry was the first purposely breach-loading rifle built for the British Army. It entered service in 1878, and was the rifle used by the British during the Zulu Wars of 1879. This was an exceptionally powerful weapon, and fired a .455 bullet. The bullet, which was made of lead, was attached to a brass cartridge inside of which was the powder charge. Today one can regularly see the Royal Malta Militia performing rifle drill and firing blank cartridges from original Martini Henry rifles at Fort Rinella.

The equipment carried by the re enactors consists of the 1882 pattern. All the replica equipment is made of buff leather which has to be meticulously pipe-clayed by the re enactors in order to give it its radiant white finish.

The 1882 Pattern Equipment

This is the type of equipment used by the Royal Malta Militia re enactors. Although by 1892 this equipment had been succeeded by the Slade Wallace equipment, the latter had not been universally issued to all troops, and by the mid 1890s there was still a good mix of equipment in use.

This equipment consists primarily of a buff waist belt fastened by a brass buckle. Worn on the belt were two ammunition pouches and the bayonet-frog.

The ammunition pouches were made of buff leather. Thirty rounds of Martini Henry ammunition could be carried in each pouch.

Attached to the ammunition pouches were two buff leather braces, which were worn over the shoulders, crossed at the back and were then made secure to two loops attached to the waist belt. These braces were meant to take the weight of he ammunition pouches and to support the valise on the soldier’s back.

This equipment was completed by wearing a white canvas bread basket and the Oliver pattern waterbottle which was put in a leather carrier worn over the left shoulder.