Royal Garrison Regiment

The Royal Garrison Regiment

The Royal Garrison Regiment was formed in 1901 and consisted of five battalions. The regiment served as an infantry reserve for service during the second Boer War.

The 1st, 3rd and 4th Battalions arrived at Malta in 1901. In April 1904 the battalions from Malta left for South Africa to relief the regular units which returned to normal duties.

The 2nd Battalion was formed at Aldershot on 10 April 1901 and embarked on the Dilwara for Gibraltar on 15 May 1901. It left Gibraltar for Durban, South Africa on 11 April 1904. The 2nd Battalion returned on the Dunerato Southampton on 4 August 1905 and was disbanded on 15 September 1905.

The 5th Battalion Royal Garrison Regiment was raised at Aldershot on 1 March 1902. It embarked on the Aurania for Halifax, Nova Scotia on 20 September 1902. The battalion embarked of the Canada in Halifax Nova Scotia on 24 November 1905. It disembarked in Liverpool on 23/24 Nov 1904 and was disbanded on 31 December 1905.

The Royal Garrison Regiment was disbanded in 1908.

The 1st/Royal Garrison Regiment

1901 1st/Royal Garrison Regiment

10 Apr 1901 The 1st/Royal Garrison Regiment was formed at Aldershot on 10 April 1901.

23 May 1901 The 1st/Royal Garrison Regiment embarked at Southampton on the SS Formosa and disembarked at Malta on 31 May.

The following were buried in Rinella Military Cemetery in 1901:

15 June Frances Maude Lyne aged 8 months, died at Verdala Barracks.
15 June Mabel Irene Muir aged 4 months, died at Verdala Barracks.
2 July Garwaker aged 34 years, died at Cottonera.
25 Aug William Young aged 34 years, died at Verdala Barracks.
26 Sep William Borling aged 38 years, died at Verdala Barracks.
18 Nov Pte John Tipping aged 33 years 6 months, died at Cottonera Hospital.

1902 1st/Royal Garrison Regiment

Fort Verdala Cottonera built in 1853 behind Verdala Curtain within the Firenzuola lines of fortifications.

The regiment was located at Verdala Barracks.

The following was baptised in the Garrison Church in 1902:

4 Apr Harold Bailey born on 15 March 1902, son of Mary Hannah and CSgt James Bailey, resident at Floriana.

The following were buried in Rinella Military Cemetery in 1902:

4 Jan Pte James Woodley aged 38 years, died at Cottonera Hospital.
2 May Sgt James McReynolds aged 40 years, died at Verdala Barracks.
3 May Pte Edward Cunningham Evans aged 37 years, died at Verdala Barracks.
5 May Elizabeth McReynolds aged 39 years, wife of Sgt McReynolds 1st/RGR died at Cospicua.
18 June Ursula Sarah Coles aged 9 months, daughter of Pte Coles 1st/RGR died at Cottonera.
23 June George Hollis aged 4 months, died at Cottonera.
30 June Florence Annie Gregory aged 8 months, died at Cottonera.
11 July Frederick John Day aged 9 months, died at Cottonera.
18 July Grace King aged 11 months, daughter of L/Cpl King 1st/RGR died at Cottonera.
27 July Edward Charles Lyne aged 7 months, son of Pte Lyne 1st/RGR died at Cottonera.
7 Aug Beatrice Ethel Gray aged 1 year 3 months, daughter of Pte Gray 1st/RGR died at Tas Silg.
21 Aug Pte George Cox 1st/RGR aged 38 years 8 months, died at Verdala Barracks.
30 Aug Pte Thomas Hodges 1st/RGR aged 35 years 5 months, died at Cottonera.
6 Sep Pte Albert Bird 1st/RGR aged 38 years 6 months, died at Cottonera.
1 Nov Gerald Gordon Grove aged 2 years, son of Sgt Grove 1st/RGR died at Cottonera.
9 Dec Samuel James Marshall aged 2 years 3 months, son of Sgt Marshall 1st/RGR died at Corradino.
15 Dec Ada Mary Day aged 26 years 5 months, wife of Pte Day 1st/RGR died at Cottonera.
23 Apr Pte Henry Boothman 1st/RGR aged 36 years 4 months was buried in Pietà Military Cemetery.

1903 1st/Royal Garrison Regiment

1903 The regiment moved to Fort St Elmo.

Baptisms in the Garrison Church in 1903:

29 Apr Jeanette Campbell born on 26 February 1903, daughter of Margaret Ann and Pte Charles Campbell, of Verdala Barracks.

The following were buried in Rinella Military Cemetery in 1903:

7 Mar Pte Richard Beck aged 40 years 6 months, died at Cottonera.
13 Mar George Fuller aged few minutes, died at Cottonera.
13 Mar Henry Fuller aged few minutes, died at Cottonera.
13 Mar William Fuller aged few minutes, died at Cottonera.
1 May Sgt William Marshall aged 36 years, died at Verdala Barracks.
2 May Pte H Whitewood aged 34 years, died at Verdala Barracks.
25 July Cpl Arthur Thomas Rawlings aged 36 years, died at Verdala Barracks.
4 Aug Dorcas Adshead aged 1 year, died at Verdala Barracks.

The following were buried in Pietà Military Cemetery in 1903:

22 Apr Pte George Letts, aged 34 years, of Valletta.
3 Dec Pte George Ttribe, aged 38 years of Fort St Elmo.

1904 1st/Royal Garrison Regiment

The following were buried in Gozo Military Cemetery in 1904:

19 Jan Florence Edith Taylor aged six mths, daughter of Pte Taylor Royal Garrison Regiment.
10 Mar Frances Kate Gray aged 33 yrs 6 mths, wife of Pte Gray 1st/Royal Garrison Regiment.
26 Mar Ada Victoria Taylor aged 2 yrs 6 mths, daughter of Pte John Taylor 1st/Royal Garrison Regiment. The burial service was conducted by Lieutenant E H Thirkell White, Officer Commanding Troops Gozo.
28 Mar CSgt George Alfred Jarvis, aged 41 years was buried in Pietà Military Cemetery.

29 Apr 1904 The 1st/Royal Garrison Regiment embarked on the Sicilia for Durban, South Africa where it arrived on 26 May 1904.

The 1st Battalion Royal Garrison Regiment was disbanded on 30 September 1908.

The 3rd/Royal Garrison Regiment

1901 3rd/Royal Garrison Regiment

20 Jun 1901 The 3rd/Royal Garrison Regiment was formed at Warley, Essex on 20 June 1901.

20 Sep 1901 The 3rd/Royal Garrison Regiment embarked at Southampton on the SS Assaye, and disembarked at Malta on 28 Sep 1901. It was quartered at Verdala Barracks and Lower St Elmo Barracks.

The following was buried in Pietà Military Cemetery in 1901:

4 Dec Pte William Old aged 33 years, 3/RGR Pembroke (attached).

1902 3rd/Royal Garrison Regiment

C Gallagher — Sgt C. Gallagher 3rd Bn Royal Garrison Regt died 4 October 1902 aged 29 years (Mtarfa Military Cemetery).

The following were baptised in the Garrison Church in 1902:

11 Apr Esther Margaret Kidd born on 29 March 1902, daughter of Maggie and Acting Sgt John Kidd, resident at Valletta.
31 Oct Margaret Sultee born on 22 May 1902, daughter of Annie and Sgt William Sultee, resident at Valletta.

The following were buried in Pietà Military Cemetery in 1902:

6 Jan Pte William Boswell aged 31 years, 2nd/Royal Warwickshire Regt attached to 3rd/RGR.
25 Feb Pte George Peters aged 41 years.
21 July Infant son Arthur Barnett aged 6 months.
6 Oct Sgt Charles Gallagher aged 28 yrs 11 mths was buried in Mtarfa Military Cemetery.

1903 3rd/Royal Garrison Regiment

3rd Royal Garrison Regt — 3rd Bn Royal Garrison Regt (Malta Sep 1901–Apr 1904). (St Paul's Anglican Cathedral Valletta)

Jackson A H — Sgt A H Jackson died 3 Oct 1903, aged 40 yrs (Pieta Military Cemetery)

1903 The regiment was stationed at Mtarfa Barracks

22 Apr 1903 Pte O'Shea 3rd Royal Garrison Regiment was found guilty of murder but was also judged to be insane. He was transferred to Broadmoor Lunatic Asylum on board the SS Peria. The Lunatic Asylum at Malta had pronounced him not insane. O'Shea had claimed that his moment of insanity had been caused by the affects of a wound received on the battlefield and on certain surgical operation that he had underwent.¹

The following was baptised in 1903:

29 Apr Jeanette Campbell born on 26 February 1903, daughter of Margaret Ann and Pte Charles Campbell, resident at Verdala Barracks.

The following were buried in 1903:

4 Oct Pte Henry Charles Fay aged 39 yrs. was buried in Gozo Military Cemetery
19 Oct L/Cpl Arthur Edward Atherly aged 33 yrs was buried in Mtarfa Military Cemetery.
24 Nov Pte John Henry Taylor aged 34 yrs 6 mths was buried in Mtarfa Military Cemetery.
14 Nov Pte Alfred Edward Evans 3rd/RGR aged 36 yrs, died at Verdala and was buried in Rinella Military Cemetery.
14 Feb Pte Matthew Seymour, aged 37 yrs was buried in Pietà Military Cemetery.
31 Mar Child Amy Perks, aged 13 yrs 6 months, daughter of Pte Perks of Valletta was buried in Pietà Military Cemetery.
4 Apr Pte Thomas Gammage, aged 36 yers of Valletta was buried in Pietà Military Cemetery.
4 Oct Sgt Arthur Henry Jackson, aged 40 yrs of Valletta was buried in Pietà Military Cemetery.

1904 3rd/Royal Garrison Regiment

E J Crane — Maj E. J. Crane born 22 Mar 1851, died at Mtarfa 23 Mar 1904.
(Mtarfa Military Cemetery)

20 Apr 1904 The 3rd/Royal Garrison Regiment embarked for Capetown South Africa on board the Plassy. It disembarked at Capetown on 13 May 1904 and returned on the Dilwara to Southampton on 2 Oct 1905.

The following were buried in Mtarfa Military Cemetery in 1904:

12 Jan Cpl George William Marfleet aged 35 yrs 5 mths.
18 Apr Pte Charles Aston aged 32 yrs.
24 May Maj and QM Evi John Crane aged 54 yrs 6 mths.

The 3rd Battalion Royal Garrison Regiment was disbanded on 30 November 1905.

The 4th/Royal Garrison Regiment

1901 4th/Royal Garrison Regiment

1 Sep 1901 The 4th/Royal Garrison Regiment was formed at Warley, Essex on 1 Sep 1901.

7 Dec 1901 "A" Coy, "B" Coy, "C" Coy and "D" Coy embarked at Birkenhead from Aldershot on the SS Assyria, and disembarked at Malta on 18 Dec 1901.

1902 4th/Royal Garrison Regiment

12 May 1902 HQ Coy and another four coys embarked on the SS Borneo at the Royal Albert Dock from Aldershot, and disembarked at Malta on 21 May 1902.

The following were baptised in the Garrison Church in 1902:

12 Oct Bertha Gibson born on 24 September 1902, daughter of Blanche and Sgt Master Tailor Robinson Gibson, resident at No 13 Married Quarters Mtarfa.
19 Oct Gladys Gough born on 7 October 1902, daughter of Jane and Armourer Sgt George Gough, resident at Pembroke Camp.

The following were buried in Mtarfa Military Cemetery in 1902:

1 Jan Pte James Taylor 4th/RGR aged 33 yrs.
30 Dec CSgt James Bailey aged 33 yrs.

The following were buried in Pietà Military Cemetery in 1902:

13 Apr Child Thomas Wilson Goffe aged 6 years 8 months, son of Cpl Goffe 4th/RGR.
22 July Child Daisy Florence Wiggans aged 2 years 6 months, daughter of CSgt Wiggans 4th/RGR.
4 Aug Pte William Swain aged 38 years.
1 Nov Infant Robert A Young, aged 10 months, son of Pte Young.

1903 4th/Royal Garrison Regiment

1903 The regiment was at Verdala Barracks.

The following were buried in 1903:

11 May Pte Samuel Chubb aged 37 yrs was buried in Mtarfa Military Cemetery.
27 Oct Pte William Pegram 4th/RGR aged 35 years, died at Verdala Barracks and was buried in Rinella Military Cemetery.
8 Nov Glades Mabel Willey aged 1 year 4 months, daughter of Sgt George Willey, died at Verdala and was buried in Rinella Military Cemetery.

The following were buried in Pietà Military Cemetery in 1903:

5 Feb Child Henry McDermott, aged 2 years 6 months, son of Pte McDermott.
6 Feb Infant Leslie Bernard Scott, aged 6 months, son of L/Cpl Scott.
10 Feb CSgt Edward Waylen, aged 30 years.
20 Apr Child William McLaren, aged 2 years, son of Pte McLaren of Sliema.
21 Apr Child Beatrice Ede, aged 1 year 1 month, daughter of Pte Ede of Msida.
14 June Pte Henry Richardson, aged 34 years 6 months, of Mtarfa.
21 June Infant Albert George Bindings, aged 8 months, son of Sgt Bindings of Floriana.

1904 4th/Royal Garrison Regiment

1904 The regimental strength was 205 men located at Verdala Barracks.

29 June 1904 The 4th/Royal Garrison Regiment embarked on the Dunera for Durban, South Africa where it arrived on 25 July 1904.

The following was baptised in 1904:

23 Oct Herbert Frost born on 25 September 1904, son of Mary Ann and L/Cpl William John Frost, resident at Mtarfa Barracks.

The following were buried in Rinella Military Cemetery in 1904:

25 Jan Pte James Welch 4th/RGR aged 33 years 10 months, died at Verdala.
23 Apr L/Cpl James Douglas 4th/RGR aged 42 years 3 months, died at Verdala.
24 Apr Gladys Gough aged 1 year 4 months, daughter of L/Sgt G Gough died at St Nicholas Married Quarters.
19 June Winifred Alexandr Mew aged 7 months, daughter of Sgt Mew died at St Nicholas Married Quarters.
13 July Alice Ethel Beard aged 10 months, daughter of Pte Beard died at St Nicholas Married Quarters.

The 4th Battalion Royal Garrison Regiment was disbanded on 30 September 1905.

Bibliography

Farmer J. S., 1984. The regimental records of the British Army Reprint Edition, Trowbridge, Wiltshire: Crecy Books.
Edwards T. J., 1980. Regimental Badges First Edition, Tonbridge, Kent: Ernest Benn Ltd.
Famous Units. The National Army Museum. Available from http://www.nam.ac.uk/research/famous-units.
¹TNA:CO 158/344. Pte O'Shea. Despatches War and Colonial Department Malta original correspondence, 01 January 1903 to 14 July 1903.
TNA:WO 379/15. Stations of Regiments 1901–1920.
TNA:WO 156/115. Register of burials in the military cemetery Rinella from January 1890 to January 1908.