The Malta Garrison 1923

Garrison Strength

1 Jan 1923: 74 officers, 696 rank and file.
1 July 1923: 22 officers, 387 men.

Sandfly Fever

In 1921, 1922 and 1923, the Royal Air Force Sandfly Fever Commission Malta consisted of:

1921: Sqn Ldr Harold Edward Whittingham, Cpl G H Noakes, and Aircraftman 341189 R Stewart (June 1921).
1922: Sqn Ldr H E Whittingham MB DPH DTM, Flt Lt Alan Filmer Rook MRCP DPH, Cpl R Stewart, and 337215 Aircraftman H A Collett (1922).
1923: Wg Cmdr H E Whittingham, Cpl R Stewart and Leading Aircraftman H A Collett, all of the Royal Air Force Medical Service (May 1923).

On 25 May 1923, Wg Cmdr Whittingham and his medical orderlies returned to Malta on the SS Khiva to complete their investigations on Sandfly Fever. The Sandfly Fever Commission aimed at proving or disproving the transmission of the virus from phlebotomus to phlebotomus, and the isolation of the causal organisms of phlebotomus fever.

Wg Cmdr Whittingham paid a courtesy visit to the Governor of Malta. The Commission stayed in Malta for seven weeks. Eggs of sandflies were returned to the Laboratory RAF Central Hospital Finchley for further research work.

Red Cross Badge

The wearing of the Red Cross Badge on the sleeves of RAMC soldiers was discontinued in 1923. This was at a time when the Corps had not yet recovered from the Great War years and when not every one was qualified as a nurse. Many were therefore not in a position to uphold the reputation of the Red Cross.

Baptisms Burials 1923

21 Mar Baptism at the Barracca Garrison Church Valletta of George Henry Wormald born 5 February 1923, son of Jennie and Cpl William Albert Wormald Corps of Military Accountants (CMA) of Msida Bastion Married Quarters, Floriana.
23 Dec Baptism at St Oswald's Chapel Mtarfa of Winifred Mary Willis born 5 Dec 1923, daughter of Rose and SSgt Harold Wilfred Willis Corps of Military Accountants (CMA) of Mtarfa.

Bibliography

Drew R, Commissioned Officers in the Medical Services of the British Army Vol II. Roll of Officers in the Royal Army Medical Corps 1898–1960. London The Wellcome Historical Medical Library 1968.

The Army List January – March 1923, London 1923.

The Army List April – June 1923, London 1923.

The Army List July – September 1923, London 1923.

The Army List October – December 1923, London 1923.

General monthly returns of the regimental strength of the British Army for 1st January 1923.

General monthly returns of the regimental strength of the British Army for 1st June 1923.

General monthly returns of the regimental strength of the British Army for 1st July 1923.

General monthly returns of the regimental strength of the British Army for 1st November 1923.

General monthly returns of the regimental strength of the British Army for 1st December 1923.

TNA:AIR 2/219, Investigations of Sqn Ldr Whittingham and Flt Lt Rook of Sandfly Fever at Malta.

Report of the Royal Air Force Sandfly Fever Commission on Prophylactic Measures against Phlebotomus and Phlebotomus Fever. Malta 1922.

Whittingham H E and Rook A F, Observations on the life history of Phlebotomus papatasii Br Med J (1923), 2; 3285: 1137-1151 (Published 15 December 1923).

The Royal Army Medical Corps
And the Malta Garrison
1923