Military Provost Staff Corps / Military Foot Police
The Provost Marshal was responsible for maintaining discipline within the British Army. In June 1855, twelve NCOs from Cavalry Regiments performed duties as Mounted Police, but during the next twenty years there was a substantial increase in numbers.
On 1 August 1877, the Military Mounted Police was created as a distinct Corps for home and overseas service.
The Corps of Military Foot Police was established in 1882 for service in Egypt. It became a permanent Corps in 1885.
In 1927, the Mounted and Foot elements were amalgamated to become the Corps of Military Police. It was granted the Royal prefix in 1946 in recognition of its war services.
The Military Prison Staff Corps was organised under Army Order 241 of 1901. It was re-designated Military Provost Staff Corps in 1906. Recruitment to the Corps was by the transfer of suitable NCOs above the rank of sergeant from other regiments and corps.
In 1935, Provost companies were raised with fixed establishments.
In 1937, a Field Security Wing was formed, but this transferred to the Intelligence Corps in 1940.
The Military Prison Staff
1852 Military Prison Staff
Marriages in 1852:
- 5 July In the Collegiate Church of St Paul Valletta Bachelor John Gollifer of Leeds in the County of York, a cook in the Military Prison St Elmo Barracks, married Mary Hughes a widow from Sicily.
Baptisms in 1852:
- 22 June Catherine Jane Price born on 21 January 1852, daughter of Margaret and John Price, Chief Warder in charge of the Military Prison.
1853 Military Prison Staff
1854 Military Prison Staff
Baptisms in 1854:
- 16 Feb Henry Witter Price born on 9 January 1854, son of Margaret and John Price, Chief Warder of the Military Prison Valletta.
1855 Military Prison Staff
1856 Military Prison Staff
Burials in 1856:
- 5 Oct Margaret Price aged 44 years, wife of Chief Warden W John Price, in charge of the Military Prison.
1857 Military Prison Staff
Marriages in the Collegiate Church of St Paul's Valletta in 1857:
- 26 May Margaret Price, spinster daughter of John Price, Chief Warder in charge of the Military Prison St Elmo, married Bachelor CSgt John Knox 48th Regiment, son of John Knox born in Canterbury, Kent.
- 2 June Widower John Price Chief Warder in charge of the Military Prison St Elmo, married Phoebe Gardiner, widow of Garrison QM Sgt John Gardiner.
Burials in Floriana Cemetery in 1857:
- 27 Jan John Price aged 18 years, son of John Price, Chief Warder of the Military Prison St Elmo, Valletta.
1858 Military Prison Staff
Burials in Ta' Braxia Cemetery Pietà in 1858:
- 17 May Henry Witter Price aged 4 years 4 months, son of John Price, Chief Warder of the Military Prison, St Elmo.
1859 Military Prison Staff
1860 Military Prison Staff
1861 Military Prison Staff
Burials in 1861:
- 17 July William Beveridge aged 23 years, Infirmary Warden of the Military Prison was buried in Floriana cemetery.
1898 Military Prison Staff
Baptisms in the Garrison Church in 1898:
- 3 Apr Bertha Elizabeth Danes born on 15 February 1898, daughter of Georgina and Sub Warder Military Prison Sidney Danes, resident at Corradino.
- 30 Oct Thomas William Reeves born on 2 October 1898, son of Clara and Assistant Warder Military Prison Walter Reeves, resident at Corradino.
The Military Prison Staff Corps 1901 – 1906
The Military Provost Staff Corps 1906
1908 Military Provost Staff Corps
Baptisms in 1908:
- 21 Nov Private baptism of James Reuben Lock born on 20 October 1908, son of Elizabeth and SSgt James Lock of the Corradino Married Quarters. He was publicly received into the church on 4 February 1909.
1914 Military Provost Staff Corps
4 Aug 1914 Capt Herbert Dudley Carlton moved from Corradino to St James' Cavalier and took up the duties of Assistant Provost Marshal (APM) Malta Command. He also commanded the Military Foot Police. On 17 August, Capt H D Carlton moved his quarters from Corradino to Floriana. POWs were initially kept at Floriana Barracks. The wives of POWs resident in Malta were confined to their homes.
5 Aug The Detention Barracks at Corradino was closed. Three sergeants and 2 corporals of the Military Provost Staff Corps (MPSC) were sent to work at the Civil Prison. All soldiers under sentence and naval ratings in detention were returned to their units.
21 Aug The Detention Barracks at Corradino was reopened. It admitted soldiers awarded Field Punishment No 1 for 14 days and over, those sentenced by Court Martial to imprisonment with hard labour and men confined by their Commanding officers. POWs punished by the Assistant Provost Marshal were also confined in the Detention Barracks. Active Service conditions for discipline was proclaimed on 18 August 1914.
30 Sep Four NCOs MPSC joined the Infantry Brigade (one to each battalion) as instructors in Physical Training and Musketry.
20 Oct Verdal Barracks was chosen as a concentration camp for Prisoners of War. St Clements parade ground was inspected by the Royal Engineers to serve as a tented detention camp.
26 Oct Verdala Barracks and St Clement's Parade Ground replaced Floriana Casemate Barracks as a camp for Prisoners of War. Stores and equipment were moved from the Ospizio and the Marina Ordnance Stores to Verdala Barracks.
3 Nov 1914 The office of the Assistant Provost Marshal moved to the Sergeant's Mess Verdala Barracks. The Prisoners of War were transferred from Casemate Barracks Floriana to St Clement's Parade Ground, Verdala Barracks. The first ambulance left Floriana at 08:00; the last ambulance arrived at Verdala about 14:00 hours. A canteen opened at St Clement's Parade Ground. The POWs were allowed to buy a pint of beer at dinner time and a pint at night. Mr Rigden, Manager of Messers R Dickeson, Malta made the necessary arrangements for the canteen at Verdala Barracks.
4 Nov The S. S. Osmanieh entered the Grand Harbour. It disembarked 500 POWs who were taken to St Clement's Parade Ground. More POWs arrived from Egypt on the same ship on 1 December 1914.
18 Nov Lt William Raphael Gatt RMA, Garrison Adjutant, joined for duty under the Assistant Provost Marshal.
25 Nov The office of the Assistant Provost Marshal moved from the Sergeant's Mess St Clement's Parade Ground to the Orderly Room, Verdala Barracks.
6 Dec 150 POWs, officers and crew, of SMS Emden arrived on HMS Hampshire and were interred in Verdala Barracks. Among them was Prince Franz Josef (Lieut von Hohenzollern).
20 Dec H. T. Medic arrived with 75 POWs from Egypt.
21 Dec 1914 Upper Salvatore Barracks and the Red House near Fort San Rocco were prepared to accommodate POWs.
Baptisms in 1914:
- 11 Mar Frederick George Harding born on 7 February 1914, son of Alice and Sgt Frederick Henry Harding of the Corradino Married Quarters.
- 17 Dec Jemima Elizabeth Graham born on 2 December 1914, daughter of Ellen Mary and SSgt Thomas Benjamin Graham of the Corradino Detention Barracks was baptised in the Corradino Chapel.
Burials in 1914:
- 10 Dec Major Rudolf Huber, a German POW, died at Cottonera Hospital. His funeral was held on 12 December at the Addolorata Cemetery with full military honours. The funeral was attended by Captain Herbert Dudley Carlton, Assistant Provost Marshal and Lt William Raphael Gatt RMA, Assistant Commandant. A party of 200 men of the 2nd/KOMRM under the command of Major J. V. Aspinall formed the honour guard.
- 15 Dec Mohammed Nasir, a Turkish POW, died at the Military Hospital Cottonera. He was buried at the Ottoman Cemetery, Marsa on 17 December.
1915 Military Provost Staff Corps
4 Jan 1915 The crew of the Emden consisting of 7 WOs and 122 men were transferred to Salvatore Barracks.
6 Jan Small pox was diagnosed in a German POW at Verdala Barracks. The patient was isolated at Cottonera Hospital and contacts vaccinated. On 17 January another three suspicious cases of small pox were detected among the German POWs. Cottonera hospital only had six isolation beds.
12 Jan Captain George Goldie–Taubman took over the duties of Assistant Provost Marshal from Captain Herbert Dudley Carlton.
1 Mar 1915 Prisoners of War were today granted permission to purchase the Daily Malta Chronicle.
3 Mar Staff Officers Maj Charles Hotham Montagu Doughty-Wylie CB CMG and Capt Deedes, on their way to the Dardanelles, called at the office of the Assistant Provost Marshal and interviewed Sabri Bey and Zenoun Bey, agents of the Committee Union and Progress in Turkey (later the Union and Progress Party), and other Turks.
4 Mar The crew of the Emden interred in Salvatore Barracks was visited by the Governor and Commander-in-Chief Malta Garrison.
24 May Seven wounded Turkish POW disembarked from the Hospital Ship Soudan and were admitted to the Cottonera Hospital.
Baptisms in St Matthews Church Ricasoli in 1915:
- 16 Sep John Clarke born on 15 August 1915, son of Cpl Walter Clarke and Florence of the Corradino Detention Barracks Married Quarters.
Burials in 1915:
- 1 May The funeral of Virgilio Mengotti, an Austrian prisoner of war who died at Cottonera Hospital on 29 April took place on 1 May. He was buried at the Adolorata Cemetery. Capt George Goldie–Taubman, Assistant Provost Marshal, and Lt William Raphael Gatt, Assistant Commandant, attended the funeral.
- 26 May Sgt Halil Mohammed a Turkish POW, was admitted to the Cottonera Hospital from the Hospital Ship Soudan on 24 May. He died on 26 May and was interred at the Ottoman Cemetery, Marsa. Lt William Raphael Gatt, Assistant Commandant, attended his funeral.
1916 Military Provost Staff Corps
1917 Military Provost Staff Corps
1918 Military Provost Staff Corps
Baptisms in Corradino Chapel in 1918:
- Ada Eleanor Harding born on 14 January 1918, daughter of Sgt Major Frederick Henry Harding and Alice nee Beckett, of 5 Married Quarters, Corradino.
1921 Military Provost Staff Corps
Baptisms in the Barracca Church Valletta in 1921:
- 29 Dec Aubrey James Evans born on 9 December 1921, son of Staff Sgt Stanley Evans and Alice Maud of Corradino.
1923 Military Provost Staff Corps
Burials in 1923:
- 24 Aug SSgt Hill C A aged 37 years was buried at Pietà Military Cemetery.
1936 Military Provost Staff Corps
Baptisms in the Barracca Church Valletta in 1936:
- 10 June Shirley May Lang born on 18 March 1936, daughter of Kathleen May and WO I RSM William Thomas Lang of Warrant Officer's Quarters, Corradino.
- 10 June Jennifer Ann Tierney born on 1 April 1936, daughter of Amelia and SSgt Archibald Allan Tierney of No 1 Married Quarters, Corradino.
1939 Military Provost Staff Corps
1940 Military Provost Staff Corps
- Strength (30 June 1941) – 1 man
- Military Detention Barracks – 11 men
The Military Foot Police
1897 Military Foot Police
1898 Military Foot Police
1 Jan 1898 Strength: 20 men.
Baptisms in the Garrison Church in 1898:
- 14 Mar Elizabeth Bennett born on 27 January 1898, daughter of L/Sgt Robert Joseph Bennett and Kate, resident at Mtarfa.
Burials in 1898:
- 29 Sep Alfred Nobes aged 32 years was buried at Pietà Military Cemetery.
1899 Military Foot Police
1 Jan 1899 Strength: 20 men.
1900 Military Foot Police
1 Jan 1900 Strength: 9 men.
Baptisms in the Garrison Church in 1900:
- 21 Apr Robert Redgewell born on 29 March 1900, son of Edith Annie and Cpl Thomas Redgewell, resident at Cottonera.
1901 Military Foot Police
1 Jan 1901 Strength: 7 men.
Burials in 1901:
- 31 July 1901 Joseph Ed Bennion aged 4 months, of Military Prison Corradino died at Cottonera and was buried in Rinella Military Cemetery.
1906 Military Foot Police
Burials in 1906:
- 17 Jan 1906 Cpl Henry Helmar MFP aged 34 years 4 months, of 22 Strada Maggiore and was buried in Rinella Military Cemetery.
1913 Military Foot Police
Baptisms in the Zejtun Gate Church Room in 1913:
- 14 Dec Harold Arthur Richardson born on 19 November, son of Ethel Violet and Acting Sgt Arthur Richardson of married Quarters Verdala Barracks.
1914 Military Foot Police
28 July 1914 Start of the Great War.
4 Aug Britain declared war on Germany.
5 Aug 1 NCO and 6 men boarded the German S. S. Erymanthos at the Custom House. Another guard boarded the Austro-Hungarian S. S. Carola on 8 August, but this was withdrawn as war against Austria-Hungary had not yet been declared.
6 Aug The Military Foot Police provided a guard for the Army Service Corps (ASC) Preserve Store at Sa Maison. On 19 August, another guard was placed over the Royal Engineer's Workshop at Haywharf.
13 Aug 1914 A guard was placed outside the Austro-Hungarian Consulate. Mr Otto Schmidt, Austro-Hungarian Acting Consul was arrested and interred and a guard placed over his house in Sliema. Mr Otto Schmidt was given a separate room with one of the prisoners allowed to wait upon him.
The staff of the Austro-Hungarian Consulate in Cairo, Egypt was interred in Malta. The wives of POW, resident in Malta were confined to their own homes.
22 Aug The crew of the German Steam Ship (S. S.) Erymanthos, 29 men in total, together with one passenger were arrested. The ship was sealed by the Collector of Customs. The detained were landed near St Paul's Petroleum Tanks and sent to Floriana Barracks in motor ambulance.
23 Aug A sick detainee with pneumonia was admitted to Mtarfa Military Hospital. Malta became a permanent place of internment for Prisoners of War. A total of 99 POWs were in detention.
11 Oct LCpl Britton MFP was attached for duty with 4th/London Regiment at Ghajn Tuffieha. 2nd Lt C Gordon 2nd/London Regiment replaced 2nd Lt Stevens 2nd/London Regt. Sgt Bath, LCpl Dever, LCpl Aston moved to Corradino for duty in the Detention Barracks.
1915 Military Foot Police
1916 Military Foot Police
1917 Military Foot Police
1918 Military Foot Police
1919 Military Foot Police
1920 Military Foot Police
1 Nov 1920 Strength: Detachment of 24 rank and file.
1921 Military Foot Police
1 Jan 1921 Strength: Detachment of 22 rank and file.
1922 Military Foot Police
1 Jan 1922 Strength: Detachment of 15 rank and file.
Baptisms in the Barracca Garrison Church Valletta in 1922:
- 31 Mar Annie Maureen Heighway born 15 February 1922, daughter of Grace Louisa and L/Cpl Harry Heighway of the Camerata Quarters, Valletta.
1923 Military Foot Police
1 Jan 1923 Strength: Detachment of 14 rank and file.
Baptisms in St Oswald's Chapel Mtarfa 1923:
- 25 Oct Cecil Robert Basey son of Florence Mary and L/Cpl Edward Cecil Basey MFP of Imtarfa Barracks, born on 10 October 1923.
1924 Military Foot Police
1 Jan 1924 Strength: Detachment of 14 rank and file.
1925 Military Foot Police
1 Jan 1925 Strength: Detachment of 14 rank and file.
Baptisms at the Barracca Garrison Church Valletta in 1925:
- 16 July Gladys Violet Read born 19 February 1925, daughter of Alice Rose and L/Cpl Ernest Arthur Read, of the Camerata Married Quarters, Valletta.
- 16 July Rosemary Annie Elizabeth Jullien born 5 June 1925, daughter of Rose Ena and L/Cpl Sidney Christie Jullien, of the Camerata Married Quarters, Valletta.
1926 Military Foot Police
1 Jan 1926 Strength: Detachment of 15 rank and file.
Baptisms at the Barracca Garrison Church Valletta in 1926:
- 2 June Thomas Edward Timbrell born 2 May 1926, son of Mary Margaret and Cpl Frank Timbrell of No 1 B Block, Msida Bastion Married Quarters, Floriana.
1927 Military Foot Police
1 Jan 1927 Strength: Detachment of 15 rank and file.
Baptisms at the Barracca Garrison Church Valletta in 1927:
- 11 Jan Sidney Charles Vernon Jullien born 26 November 1926, son of Rose Ena and L/Cpl Sidney Christie Jullien, of Msida Bastion Married Quarters, Floriana.
- 6 Apr Lily Margaret Read born 10 January 1927, daughter of Alice Rose and L/Cpl Ernest Read, of No 4 B Block, Msida Bastion Married Quarters, Floriana.
1928 Corps of Military Police
1 Jan 1928 Strength: Detachment of 15 rank and file.
Baptisms at the Barracca Garrison Church Valletta in 1928:
- 22 Jan Victor William Jullien born 10 November 1927, son of Rose Ena and Cpl Sidney Christie Jullien, of Msida Bastion Married Quarters, Floriana.
- 23 Sep Reginald Edward Young born 6 July 1928, son of Maria Elizabeth and L/Cpl Reginald Edward Young of Mtarfa.
1929 Corps of Military Police
1 Jan 1929 Strength: Detachment of 14 rank and file.
1930 Corps of Military Police
1 Jan 1930 Strength: Detachment of 16 rank and file.
1931 Corps of Military Police
1 Jan 1931 Strength: Detachment of 16 rank and file.
Baptisms at the Barracca Garrison Church Valletta in 1931:
- 2 Aug Peter Desmond Newbury born 26 June 1931, son of Bertha Amy and L/Cpl Robert Newbury, of No 23 C Msida Bastion Married Quarters, Floriana.
1932 Corps of Military Police
1 Jan 1932 Strength: Detachment of 18 rank and file.
1933 Corps of Military Police
1 Jan 1933 Strength: Detachment of 16 rank and file.
Baptisms at the Barracca Garrison Church Valletta in 1933:
- 23 July William Arthur Morris born 13 June 1933, son of Alice Grace and L/Cpl Frank Morris, of No 10 C Msida Bastion Married Quarters, Floriana.
1934 Corps of Military Police
31 Dec 1934 Strength: Detachment of 15 rank and file.
1935 Corps of Military Police
30 June 1935 Strength: Detachment of 15 rank and file.
1936 Corps of Military Police
30 June 1936 Strength: Detachment of 9 rank and file.
1937 Corps of Military Police
31 Dec 1937 Strength: Detachment of 9 rank and file.
1938 Corps of Military Police
30 June 1938 Strength: Detachment of 9 rank and file.
1939 Corps of Military Police
30 June 1939 Strength: Detachment of 7 rank and file.
Baptisms at the Barracca Garrison Church Valletta in 1939:
- 15 Oct Rosemary Elizabeth Simmons born 3 September 1939, daughter of Iris Evelyn and L/Cpl Rosemary Elizabeth Simmons, of No 15, B Block, Msida Bastion Quarters, Floriana.
1940 226 Provo Coy
30 June 1940 Strength: Detachment of 18 rank and file.
1941 226 Provo Coy
31 Mar 1941 Strength: Detachment of 27 rank and file.
30 Sep 1941 Strength: Detachment of 39 rank and file.
1942 226 Provo Coy
27 June 1942 Strength: Detachment of 119 rank and file.
1943 226 Provo Coy
30 June 1943 Strength: Detachment of 49 rank and file.
1944 226 Provo Coy
30 June 1944 Strength: Detachment of 56 rank and file.
1960 RMP
1961 RMP
Baptisms in St Oswald's Chapel Mtarfa in 1961:
- 2 Apr Lynne Redsull born 24 Jan 1961, daughter of Mavis Kathleen and L/Cpl Brian Richard Redsull RMP of 1 Blackpool Flats, Constitution Street, Mosta.
Bibliography
- TNA:WO 73/60, 1900 Jan-June; Office of the Commander-in-Chief and War Office: distribution of the army monthly returns.
- TNA:WO 73/61, 1900 July-Dec; Office of the Commander-in-Chief and War Office: distribution of the army monthly returns.
- TNA:WO 73/62, 1901 Jan-June; Office of the Commander-in-Chief and War Office: distribution of the army monthly returns.
- TNA:WO 154/325, War Diary Assistant Provost Marshal Malta August 1914–May 1915.
- TNA:ADM 338/54. Baptisms in the Garrison of Malta in St Oswald's Church Mtarfa.
- TNA:WO 156/115. Register of burials in the military cemetery Rinella from January 1890 to January 1908.
- TNA:WO 156/113. Register of burials September 1853 to June 1862.
- TNA:WO 156/600. Register No 19. Baptisms in the Chapel School of Margherita and in the Zejtun Gate Church Room between 29 April 1913 to 11 August 1918.
- TNA:WO 156/594. No 2, Baptism Register 2 January 1820 to 29 June 1839.
- TNA:WO 156/602. Baptism Register of the Church of St Matthews Ricasoli from 9 March 1913 to 18 August 1929.
- TNA:WO 156/599. Baptism Register of the Barracca Church Valletta from 18 August 1916 to 6 November 1949.
- TNA:WO 156/598. Baptism Register No 16; Malta from 20 February 1898 to 17 July 1916.