Leading Stoker 105132 Phillip Barry HMS Hibernia
Born December 1858, baptised 13 December 1858 at Ballinspittal County Cork to Philip and Kate Barry, nee Leary
1881 aged 22 years Stoker of HMS Triumph on HMS Gunboat Mosquito at China
Married Mary Conway 1882 at St John’s Cathedral, Portsmouth, Hampshire
The 04 March 1892, shot dead in Valetta, Malta.
He served on several ships 1st was HMS Asia, Triumph, Asia and promoted to Stoker in 1878, next ship Neptune, Northampton, Invincible and Hibernia. A note on his record stating the he was found dead in a field near Valetta with a bullet wound in his back by Person of persons who fired the shot.
South Wales Echo - Saturday 12 March 1892
A BLUEJACKET MURDERED AT MALTA.
The Malta correspondent of the Central News writes under date the 6th inst:- Phillip Barry, leading stoker, serving in H.M.S. Hibernia for duty in torpedo boats of the reserve, was killed yesterday under strange circumstances. He went for a walk with some Maltese near the naval recreation ground, Corrandio and with some of his companions for some unknown reason got upon a wall surrounding a field. The owner of an adjacent house, alarmed at the noise made by the men and fearing that they were robbers, took a gun and deliberately fired two shots, one of which took effect in Barry's left breast. He fell into the field, and his companions fled without attempting to ascertain whether he was dead or alive. It was not until two o'clock this morning that a passing policeman found Barry's dead body. The police did not disturb this body, but proceeded leisurely to find the coroner, and it was not until three o'clock this afternoon that the corpse was taken to the Morgue. Barry was a married man, and the father of two children. His death has caused great excitement among the seamen of the fleet, coming as it does soon after the cowardly stabbing of several blue jackets by Maltese during Carnivals. The man who fired the fatal shot and his son have been arrested and the men of the fleet have started a subscription to provide counsel of behalf of Barry’s family and in the hope of making certain the convictions of the assassins
He was buried on the 07 March 1892 in Roman Catholic Cemetery, Bighi, Malta with full naval honours.
UK Parliament.
A British Seaman Shot At Malta. Debated on Tuesday 31 May 1892
MR. MAURICE HEALY (Cork)
I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether P. Barry, leading stoker of H.M.S. "Hibernia," was shot dead by a Maltese at Malta on the 4th February last; whether anyone was arrested for the crime; and, if so, with what result, and what steps the authorities propose to take to bring the criminal to justice; and whether any provision will be made for the widow and orphans of the deceased?
THE SECRETARY TO THE ADMIRALTY
(Mr. FORWOOD, Lancashire, Ormskirk) (who replied)
The Admiralty have received a Report to the effect that Philip Barry, who was employed as leading stoker in the Steam Reserve at Malta, was found dead from a gunshot wound in a field adjoining his residence on the 4th March last. The circumstances are being investigated by the Civil Police, but the result of their inquiry has not yet been communicated. Until a further Report has been received the Admiralty are not in a position to settle the question of granting relief to the widow.
