56 I JUNE 18, 2017 THE SUNDAY TIMES OF MALTA THESUNDAYTIMESOFMALTA . ' ' LIFE& WELLBEING HISTORY

• • • Vantty Fatr Governors The pair of historical articles on these pages mark the start of a short series of five articles by Christopher Grech that will

! feature the British Governors of Malta who enjoyed the (sometimes dubious) honour of being caricaturised by Vanity Fair magazine's resident artist. The·Governors to be featured are Sir Henry Storks (1864-67), Sir Lintorn Simmons (1884-1888), Sir Francis (later Baron) Grenfell (1899-1903), Baron Methuen (1915- 1919) and Sir Herbert (later Viscount) Plumer (1919-1924). Storks was drawn by Carlo Pellegri ni, who used the nom de crayon "Ape" (bee in Itali an); the remainder by Sir Lesli e Ward . _under the name of "Spy", which he claimed allowed him "to observe secretly, or to discover at a distance or in concea lment". Three field marshals (from left) Field Marshal Viscount Plumer, Field Marshal Sir Governor Methuen from the Palace dated October 24, Methuen Claud Jacob and Field Marshal Baro':' Methuen, 1931. was able to inform Sir John Clark that he had (1915-1919) "already received a far more liberal support Paul Sandford Methuen was a soldier through than I could have expected". and through, such that his whole life revolved Governor Plumer ( 1919-1924) the second Battle of Ypres. It " around military service. Born in -1845, he was at the Battle of Messines Admiralty sloop Bryony leaving Grand Harbour with Lord and -- joined the army in 1862, held numerous posts It was while Sir Herbert Plumer was sailing to that Plumer distinguished him­ Lady Plumer on board, May 16, 1921.. PHOTO: S. L. CASSAR and saw action in various parts of the British "Under Methuen's Malta, that the Sette Giugno riots erupted in self by winning a decisive vic­ Empire, notably in Egypt, the Sudan and South DINNER guidance local medical Malta. The new Governor arrived in Malta on tory over the German Army. Africa. Methuen was also an experienced June 10,just three days after the riots in which After the disaster of the Battle administrator, having been appointed general THE MEMBERS four Maltese had been killed. of Caporetto, Plumer was given OF 1"0 facilities proliferated; officer commanding-in-chief in South Africa, command, in November1917, of CASINO MALTESE Images of Plumer make him out to be some­ and subsequently Governor and Commander­ the British Expeditionary Force TO existing hospitals were thing of a Colonel Biimp; a thick brush of a .in-Chief of Natal in 1910. MAJOR W. SAVONA. R.ll. A. moustache on an amiably chubby face. He also in Italy. Plumer was one of the Although Methuen rose to the highest rank . A.V. FAUON SANT l!IANOUCA. R.II.A. expanded, barracks and sported a monocle that gave him an air of hau­ best performing and most in the British Army, being promoted to Field teur and aloofness - a far cry from the popular highly regarded officers in the lJEUT. W. R. GATT. R. It A. Marshal in 1911, he was a modest and private image of a war hero. And yet he proved to be the Allied forces. H:e was always LIEUT. A. GAIT. R. II. A. schools were pressed man imbued with an innate sense of duty. An man for the moment: a tested leader of men, considerate of his men and spar­ ON THE OCCASION excellent example of this is given by the ing of their lives. Of THEIR DEPARTURE FROII MALTA into service so that kindly, resolute and fearless. Having just relin­ American historian and educator, Andrew FOR THE FRONT quished command of the Army of Occupation In the aftermath of the war, Dickson White, who encountered Methuen eventually 27 hospitals in Germany he was experienced in the handling all sectors of Maltese society when the latter served as military attache in of strikes and demonstrations. were dissatisfied. Dr Filippo Berlin {1871-1888). and 25,000 beds were Herbert Charles Onslow Plumer was born in Sciberras took the initiative White recounts that one winter's day, as Casino Maltese dinner menu, June 19, 1915. London in 1857. Educated at Eton College and and rallied his fellow citizens to take action. By August 1919, the National Assembly had Methuen was strolling through the Thier­ provided for the the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, he was Through his encouragement, a National Assem­ drafted a Constitution whereby a local govern­ garten, he spotted a workman fling himself commissioned into the York and Lancaster bly was formed of representatives of every con­ ment would deal with local matters, such as civil into the river. Methuen instantly jumped into 1915, marked the departure from Malta for the wounded of the Regiment in 1876. He joined his battalion in stituted body. The assembly decided unani­ legislation, public instruction and finance. Items the icy stream, grappled with the unfortu­ battle front of the following officers of the Lucknow, India, and later served with distinc­ mously to request the British government to of imperial interest (defence, naval and military nate soul, pulled him out of the water, laid Royal Malta Artillery: Major W. Savona, Dardanelles expedition" tion in the Sudan and South Africa. In World allow the Maltese to have full political and admin­ services and functions) would be dealt with by him out on the bank and promptly walked Lieutenenat A. V. Falzon Sant Manduca, Lieu­ War I, he commanded V Corps, which he led at istrative autonomy in local matters. Westminster. Governor Plumer threw his support off. When rumours of this rescue started tenant W. R. Gatt, and Lieutenant A. Gatt. Lady Methuen laid the foundation stone of As a result of this request, when Plumer was sent behind this constitution, and by 1921 Malta was circulating around the diplomatic corps the Methuen was guest of honour. the hospital on March 27,1919, however, it was out to Malta he had been charged with evaluating granted self-government. modest young officer blushingly pooh­ In attendance were numerous officers of the Governor Plumer who inaugurated the new how feasible it would be to grant the Maltese people On the April30, 1921, the Letters Patent autho­ poohed the whole affair. King's Own Malta Regiment of Militia, includ­ King George V Seamen's Memorial Hospital their wish withoutjeopardising imperial interests. rising the new Constitution were promulgated in However, this was not to be the end of the ing Major A. Arrigo, Colonel A. Briffa, Baron E. on November 30, 1922. At the end of May, Dr Sciberras had been a ceremony lasting two and a quarter hours held Sir Herbert Plumer by Spy, Vanity Fair, 1902. matter. Soon afterwards, White records that J. de Piro, Major F. P. Denaro, Captain A. E. The naval presence in the Mediterranean, informed of Plumer's charge and the National in the hall of St Michael and StGeorge at the Palace one evening while he' was enjoying a private Micallef and A. Zammit Cutajar. which included not just the British but the Assemby implemented a commission to draft a where the Governor read out the text of the Con­ event to which the German Emperor, Wilhelm Even before the war was over, Methuen was French and Italian navies, meant that the Constitution in readiness for discussion with the stitution. The accompanying image records this passed were crowded with people who cheered I, was invited, the old Emperor sent for colonel thinking of the ongoing care of British ser­ Malta Dockyard came under great pressure to new Governor when he arrived. In the meantime, event. Dr (later Sir) Filippo Sciberras, president of with great enthusiasm. Methuen, and on his arrival took from his own vicemen in Malta. In a letter to The Times of service these fleets during the war. The events started to get out of control and British the National Assembly, was a guest of honour at When Plumer left Malta in May 1924 he left to coat a medal for life-saving and pinned it to the London, dated August 23, 1918, he praised the increased workload brought affluence to troops fired on the rioters. the ceremony. So overcome was the elder states­ a hero's farewell. Newspapers recorded that "The ..... embarrassed attache's breast. Merchant Sailor's Rest Home and proposed Malta, however the immediate post-war When Plumer arrived in Malta the atmosphere man by this milestone achievement that he fainted greatest popular send-off ever received by a - Age prevented Methuen from active that a hospital be built that would cater "not period was one of great turmoil around the was tense; troops guarded the streets, and at the end of the ceremony. departing Governor was certainly that accorded involvement in World War I; however, he only for merchant sailors and their depend­ world; Malta was no exception. although there was no violence, a palpable air of Elections followed soon after and a government to Field-Marshal Lord Plumer". used his time as Governor and Commander­ ents, but also for any English men, women, The new prosperity in Malta brought an hostility could be felt. Undeterred, Plumer got out was formed. The inauguration of the new Parlia­ Valletta as beflagged and placarded with such in-Chief, Malta from 1915 to 1919 to prepare and children living in Malta". increase in the cost of living; however, a large of the official car and walked calmly through a ment occurred on November 1, 1921, when His inscriptions as "Plumer, Father of the Maltese" for the "wreckage of battle" that would result Methuen suggested that the hospital would number of demobilised soldiers and dis­ crowd of thousands assembled in St George's Royal Highness Edward, Prince of Wales Oater and he and his wife were cheered and showered from the Mediterranean theatre of war. act as a reminder to the Maltese of the charged civilians found employment scarce. Square. This worked in his favour and he was seen Edward VIII), stopped in Malta on his way to India, with flowers from roofs and balconies; their car Under his guidance and Lady Methuen's 132,000-plus patients who had recently The seeds of unrest had been sown among to be engaged. to perform the ceremony. It was also on this occa­ was accompanied by civic bands and cheering fervent support, local medical facilities pro- passed through Malta and of the "noble man­ the local population. The situation was The Governor set to work immediately. Between sion that Dr Sciberras was rewarded for his patri­ crowds down to the Customs House and multi­ f.,- liferated; existing hospitals were expanded, ner in which the people of Malta have done becoming desperate, and things were starting his arrival in Malta at 9.30am and noon the same otism and awarded a knighthood. tudes lined the Grand Harbour. barracks and schools were pressed into serv­ all in their power to aid the several charitable to get out of hand. day, Plumer had received a delegation of Maltese, In June 1888, Plumer married his second cousin The final image shows a rare scene: three field ice so that eventually 27 hospitals and 25,000 societies in making their lives happy". Lord Methuen's tour of duty at Malta came listened to them sympathetically and inspired Annie Constance Goss. They had a son and three marshals (Plumer, Jacob and Methuen) two of beds were provided for the wounded of the The estimated cost was £7,000 (eventu­ to its natural conclusion onApril29, 1919. The them with the confidence that their grievances daughters. On January 27, 1920, the Plumers1 whom were former Governors of Malta, posing Dardanelles expedition. The first convoy of ally to rise to £16,000). Methuen himself next Governm~ Sir Herbert Plumer, was not would be heard and acted upon. Plumer had youngest daughter Marjorie married Major for a photograph at the annual meeting and wounded arrived in Malta on May 4, 1915, donated £300, which would fund three due to arrive until June 10. This left an auspi­ defused a tense situation and conditions were William Hallily Brooke, MC, the Governor's aide­ prize-giving at the Royal Soldiers' Daughters and their presence solicited much admira­ beds. The Governor also identified a suitable cious vacuum of power for a few fateful weeks. gradually returned to normal. So much so that de-camp. The ceremony took place at St J>auPs Home at Hampstead, London, on July 14, 1931. tion and respect locally. site "above the Merchant Seamen's Rest and when he was raised to the peerage in October 1919 Anglican Cathedral in Valletta. The Derby Daily Tele­ Both former Governors retain an air of dignity Soon after this date, Maltese officers as well close to the Grand Harbour". The author acknowledges Dr Charles Savona Lord Plumer portrait impression by Edmond as Baron Plumer of Messines, Malta welcomed the graplt reported that Valletta was en fete and the and composure even in old age; sadly both were as numerous labourers were despatched to By September 30, the directors of the Ventura's publications for information Kapp, 1928. news and celebrated with him. streets through which the marriage procession to 'fade away' the following year. various theatres of war. A dinner given by the British and Foreign Sailors' Society had voted relating to the King George V Seamen's members of the Casino Maltese on June 15, £3,000 for the hospital, and in a letter sent Memorial Hospital.