Regiments
Of the Malta Garrison
Military Foot Police
Provost Staff Corps

Military Provost Staff Corps / Military Foot Police

Elmo Prison
Lower St Elmo with prison block behind washing shed and water fountain.

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.

Elmo Prison
Plan Lower St Elmo 1841. The prison was designed on 3 Dec 1836 (TNA:MFQ 1/330).

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.

Corradino
The military prison Corradino Heights 1896 (TNA:MR 1/1975/8).

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:

Baptisms in 1852:

1853 Military Prison Staff

1854 Military Prison Staff

Baptisms in 1854:

1855 Military Prison Staff

1856 Military Prison Staff

Burials in 1856:

1857 Military Prison Staff

Marriages in the Collegiate Church of St Paul's Valletta in 1857:

Burials in Floriana Cemetery in 1857:

1858 Military Prison Staff

Burials in Ta' Braxia Cemetery Pietà in 1858:

1859 Military Prison Staff

1860 Military Prison Staff

1861 Military Prison Staff

Burials in 1861:

1898 Military Prison Staff

Baptisms in the Garrison Church in 1898:

The Military Prison Staff Corps 1901 – 1906

The Military Provost Staff Corps 1906

1908 Military Provost Staff Corps

Baptisms in 1908:

1914 Military Provost Staff Corps

St Clements
Verdala Barracks with St Clements retrenchment (TNA:MPH 1/912)

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.

German Navy
Prisoners of War Imperial German Navy (Mary Muscat's WWI photo album)

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.

Turkish POW
Turkish Prisoners of War Fort Manoel (Mary Muscat's WWI photo album)

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:

Burials in 1914:

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:

Burials in 1915:

1916 Military Provost Staff Corps

1917 Military Provost Staff Corps

1918 Military Provost Staff Corps

Baptisms in Corradino Chapel in 1918:

1921 Military Provost Staff Corps

G T Ashby
SSgt George Thomas Ashby late Prison Staff Corps died 13 Nov 1921, aged 54 yrs (Ta' Braxia Cemetery Pieta).

Baptisms in the Barracca Church Valletta in 1921:

1923 Military Provost Staff Corps

Burials in 1923:

1936 Military Provost Staff Corps

Baptisms in the Barracca Church Valletta in 1936:

1939 Military Provost Staff Corps

1940 Military Provost Staff Corps

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:

Burials in 1898:

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:

1901 Military Foot Police

1 Jan 1901 Strength: 7 men.

Burials in 1901:

1906 Military Foot Police

Burials in 1906:

1913 Military Foot Police

Baptisms in the Zejtun Gate Church Room in 1913:

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:

1923 Military Foot Police

1 Jan 1923 Strength: Detachment of 14 rank and file.

Baptisms in St Oswald's Chapel Mtarfa 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:

1926 Military Foot Police

1 Jan 1926 Strength: Detachment of 15 rank and file.

Baptisms at the Barracca Garrison Church Valletta in 1926:

1927 Military Foot Police

1 Jan 1927 Strength: Detachment of 15 rank and file.

Baptisms at the Barracca Garrison Church Valletta in 1927:

1928 Corps of Military Police

1 Jan 1928 Strength: Detachment of 15 rank and file.

Baptisms at the Barracca Garrison Church Valletta in 1928:

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:

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:

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:

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:

Bibliography