98th (The Prince of Wales's) Regiment

The 98th (The Prince of Wales's) Regiment

98th officer — Officer of the 98th Foot. (Main Guard Valletta)

Colours 98th — Presentation of Regimental Colours by HRH Edward Prince of Wales, 6 April 1876.

The 98th Foot was raised in Chichester in 1824.

The regiment was in Malta in 1875 during the visit of Albert Edward, Prince of Wales. On 6 April 1876, the Prince of Wales presented Colours to the 98th Regiment at the Floriana Parade Ground. Subsequently, on 27 October 1876, the 98th incorporated The Prince of Wales's in their regimental title.

On 1 July 1881, The 98th (The Prince of Wale's) Regiment of Foot merged with the 64th Foot to become The 2nd Battalion The Prince of Wales's (North Staffordshire) Regiment. The 64th Foot became The 1st Battalion.

In 1920, the regimental name changed to The North Staffordshire Regiment (The Prince of Wales's).

On 31 January 1959, The North Staffordshire Regiment amalgamated with The South Staffordshire Regiment to form The Staffordshire Regiment (The Prince of Wales's).

The 98th (The Prince of Wales's) Regiment

1875 98th Foot

23 Nov 1875 The 98th embarked at Barbados and disembarked in Malta on 13 December. It replaced the 28th (North Gloucestershire) Regiment, which departed for Hong Kong on 17 December.

The 98th Foot had an average strength of 39 men. It had 43 admissions (986.3/1000 mean strength) into hospital.

1876 98th (The Prince of Wales's) Regt

N McBride — Noemi McBride daughter of Col L Armit RE, wife of Capt Ernest Ehlers McBride died 7 May 1876 aged 22 yrs (Ta Braxia Cemetery).

The 98th Regiment had an average strength of 731 men. It had 653 admissions (898.8/1000 mean strength) into hospital with 6 deaths (8.21 deaths/1000 mean strength).

17 invalids were returned to England for discharge from the service. Its average daily sick was 30.41 (41.60/1000 mean strength). The average sick time to each soldier was 15.18 days. The average duration of cases of sickness was 17.0 days.

Of the 20 admissions of remittent fever, one-half were from the 98th Regiment. One ended fatally with the appearance of jaundice at the onset of the illness, a high temperature which peaked on the 7th day, anuria and the appearance of ecchymosis on the 11th day. Death was preceded by repeated attacks of convulsions.

6 Apr 1876 Albert Edward, Prince of Wales, presented Colours to the 98th Regiment at the Floriana Parade Ground.

1877 98th (The Prince of Wales's) Regt

W Nothdorft — Sgt William Nothdorft died 1 Dec 1877 aged 28 yrs. (Pieta' Military Cemetery)

The 98th Foot had an average strength of 725 men. It had 508 admissions (700.7/1000 mean strength) into hospital with 9 deaths (12.41/1000 mean strength). It had 18 invalids returned to England. Its average daily sick was 26.70 (36.83/1000 mean strength). The average sick time to each soldier was 13.44 days. The average duration of cases of sickness was 19.18 days.

The 98th had two deaths from Simple Continued Fever. In both instances the men had been released from the military prison a few days prior to their admission into hospital.

1878 98th (The Prince of Wales's) Regt

Charles Victor Sceberras aged 11 mths.
(Ta' Braxia Cemetery Pieta)

The 98th Foot had an average strength of 763 men. It had 433 admissions (593.1/1000 mean strength) into hospital with 6 deaths (7.86 deaths/1000 mean strength). 17 invalids were returned to England. Its average constantly sick was 26.64 (32.29/1000 mean strength). The average sick time to each soldier was 11.79 days. The average duration of cases of sickness was 20.77 days.

Burials in 1878:

31 Aug 1878 Charles Victor Sceberras son of Lt Col Attilio and Matilda Sceberras, aged 11 mths.

1879 98th (The Prince of Wales's) Regt

The 98th Regiment had an average strength of 658 men. It had 478 admissions (726.5/1000 mean strength) into hospital with 5 deaths (7.60/1000 mean strength). 16 invalids were returned to England. Its average daily sick was 25.33 (38.5/1000 mean strength). The average sick time to each soldier was 14.05 days. The average duration of cases of sickness was 18.34 days. Four men drowned during the year.

1880 98th (The Prince of Wales's) Regt

Attilo Sceberras — Lt Col Attilio Sceberras commanding 98th Prince of Wales's Regt (1860–1880). (St Paul's Cathedral Valletta)

The 98th Foot had an average strength of 418 men. It had 372 admissions (889.9/1000 mean strength) into hospital with 3 deaths (7.17 deaths/1000 mean strength). 16 invalids returned to England. Its average constantly sick was 19.60 (46.88/1000 mean strength). The average sick time to each soldier was 17.16 days. The average duration of cases of sickness was 19.28 days.

19 Aug 1880 The 98th embarked for Bombay where it arrived on 5 September.

Reinforcements were sent from Europe following the disaster which befell Brigadier-General Burrow's in Southern Afghanistan. Among the regiments dispatched were the 98th and 61st which were at the time stationed at Malta. The 98th arrived at Karachi from Malta, but by the time of its arrival in India, Kandahar had been relieved by General Sir F. Roberts. After a few months residence in Karachi, this exceptionally healthy regiment had become so weakened and so fever stricken, that, had the necessity again arisen for reinforcements being sent to Afghanistan, the 98th could not possibly have gone.¹

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.
¹Quill R. H., Remarks on the movement of troops. Br Med J (1882), 1; 1106: 359 (Published 11 March 1882).
Military and Naval Medical Services 11 Mar 1882, Br Med J (1882) 359.
Boileau J. P. H., 1882. A few remarks on yellow fever and on the movement of troops. Br Med J (1882) page 7 (Published 7 Jan 1882).
Wickes H. L., 1974. Regiments of Foot Southampton, Osprey Ltd, 89.