Garrisoning the military ‘fief’: The Maltese Corps and the Troops (1800 – 1860s) University of Malta Library – Electronic Thesis & Dissertations (ETD) Repository The copyright of this thesis/dissertation belongs to the author. The author’s rights in respect of this work are as defined by the Copyright Act (Chapter 415) of the Laws of Malta or as modified by any successive legislation. Users may access this full-text thesis/dissertation and can make use of the information contained in accordance with the Copyright Act provided that the author must be properly acknowledged. Further distribution or reproduction in any format is prohibited without the prior permission of the copyright holder. Garrisoning the military ‘fief’: The Maltese Corps and the Troops (1800 – 1860s) James Baldacchino A dissertation presented to the Faculty of Arts of the University of Malta, in part fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in History. May 2014 To Joana without whom UNIVERSITY OF MALTA FACULTY/INSTITUTE/CENTRE: _____ARTS_____ DECLARATION Student’s I.D. /Code 297190 (M)_________________________________________ Student’s Name & Surname James Baldacchino____________________________ Course B.A. (Hons) History_____________________________________________ Title of Long Essay/Dissertation/Thesis GARRISONING THE MILITARY ‘FIEF’: THE MALTESE CORPS AND THE TROOPS (1800-1860s)___________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ I hereby declare that I am the legitimate author of this Long Essay/Dissertation/Thesis and that it is my original work. No portion of this work has been submitted in support of an application for another degree or qualification of this or any other university or institution of learning. ______________________ _JAMES BALDACCHINO_ Signature of Student Name of Student (in Caps) ______30 MAY 2014______ Date PREFACE It has to be said that this work contains little that is original. Rather than being an in- depth study of a much-known subject in Maltese history, the aim of this dissertation is to make a contribution to a topic about which has already been written a great deal. The first official Maltese Corps as part of the British Army was raised in 1800 with the advent of British rule. The end point chosen was the 1860s as this was the era in which the changes which had characterised the period under study ceased and led to the Islands being regarded as a bastion and an integral part of the imperial military chain. Following this decade, the Corps saw no worthwhile changes and only two major military units managed to serve in the following century and up till the end of British rule. The research undertaken is mainly based on official government correspondence which took place between the Governor of Malta and, more often than not, the Secretary of State for War [and the Colonies]. These sources are housed at the National Archives and were further complimented by secondary sources which are found at the University of Malta Library and elsewhere. The first chapter of this dissertation deals with each and every Maltese Corps that was formed and disbanded in the aforementioned time period. The second chapter provides the uniforms of the men and an account as to how the Colonial and Imperial governments sought to regulate the salaries given to the troops, while the third chapter brings to light certain themes which the High Command and the authorities felt were of a sensitive nature to warrant significant attention. As a final note, I would like to express my deepest gratitude towards a multitude of people who have aided me in the final chapter of the attainment of this degree. I am extremely grateful to my tutor, Prof. John Chircop, without whose help, cooperation and patience, I would not have succeeded in compiling this dissertation. Words of gratitude also go to all the lecturers of the Department of History who have jointly contributed to making my three-year stay at university an enjoyable one and a great learning i experience. I am greatly indebted to Mr. Patrick Micallef, Chairman of the King’s Own Malta Regiment Association, for making me feel most welcome in his home numerous times for hours on end and for willingly providing sources, especially the illustrations in the second chapter which have come in very useful. Thanks also go to Lt. Col. Albert Brincat, President of the Officers’ Mess at Luqa Barracks, Armed Forces of Malta, for taking the time to show me around the Mess Hall. I cannot fail to mention several librarians and archivists for their constant assistance: Mr. Joe Mizzi and Ms. Maria Chircop of the University of Malta Library Melitensia section, Mr. Donald Briffa and Mr. Louis Curmi of the National Library and finally, the staff at the National Archives, particularly Mr. Joseph Amodio, who helped me in the laborious task of translating relevant documents which were otherwise illegible. Finally, my sincere appreciation must certainly go to friends and family. Thank you to Nickolas Pace, a good friend and colleague, who has been with me every step of the way; to my family, especially my brother Julian, who, notwithstanding his own dissertation commitments, obliged to assist me nonetheless. Last but not least, my heartfelt gratitude has to go to Joana who spurred me on the most when I believed the impossible could not be attained. ii CONTENTS LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS......................................................................................................... iii LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ......................................................................................................... v LIST OF APPENDICES ............................................................................................................. vi INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................................... 1 CHAPTER I The Maltese Corps in the Garrison 1800 – 1860s ............................................... 4 1.1 The Maltese Light Infantry ............................................................................................ 4 1.2 The Maltese Pioneers .................................................................................................. 8 1.3 The Maltese Militia and the Maltese Militia Coast Artillery ............................................ 9 1.4 The Maltese Provincial Battalions, the Malta Coast Artillery & the Maltese Veterans ..12 1.5 The Royal Regiment of Malta ......................................................................................17 1.6 The Maltese Military Artificers, Sappers and Miners ....................................................21 1.7 The Royal Malta Fencible Regiment ...........................................................................23 1.8 The Royal Malta Fencible Artillery ...............................................................................29 1.8 The Malta Militia ..........................................................................................................32 1.9 The Malta Dockyard Battalion of Artillery ....................................................................35 1.10 The Royal Malta Fencible Pensioners Company .........................................................36 CHAPTER II Circumstance and pomp .....................................................................................38 2.1 Uniforms .....................................................................................................................38 2.1.1 The Maltese Light Infantry .......................................................................................38 2.1.2 The Maltese Militia and Maltese Militia Coast Artillery .............................................40 2.1.3 The Maltese Provincial Battalions ............................................................................41 2.1.4 The Maltese Veterans .............................................................................................42 2.1.5 The Malta Coast Artillery .........................................................................................43 2.1.6 The Royal Regiment of Malta ..................................................................................44 2.1.7 The Maltese Military Artificers and Sappers and Miners ..........................................45 2.1.8 The Royal Malta Fencible Regiment ........................................................................46 2.1.9 The Royal Malta Fencible Artillery ...........................................................................47 2.1.10 The Malta Militia ......................................................................................................48 2.1.11 The Malta Dockyard Battalion of Artillery .................................................................49 2.1.12 The Royal Malta Fencible Pensioners Company .....................................................51 i 2.2 Salaries .......................................................................................................................52 2.2.1 Pre-‘Amiens’ ............................................................................................................52 2.2.2 Resuming the Occupation .......................................................................................54 CHAPTER III Imperial Triumphalism ........................................................................................59 3.1 Language ....................................................................................................................59