Robert Edward ROCKLIFF.  Arthur TITTERTON.  Harold RAINEY

Extended Description
ROCKLIFF Robert Edward. Private 2014, 11th Australian Infantry. Died 4th August 1915 aged 27. Son of Eliza Mary Tullock (formerly Rockliff), of 19, Ocean Rd., Cottesloe Beach, Western Australia, and the late John Bullen Rockliff. Born at Junee Junction, New South Wales. Not dead but gone before.

TITTERTON Arthur. Private PO/174 (S) Royal Marine Light Infantry. Portsmouth Battalion, Royal Navy Division. Formerly served with the Notts and Derby Regiment in 1914, transferred to the marines, Portsmouth Division on the 16th September 1914. Born on the 10th April 1882 at South Normanton, Alfreton, Derbyshire and died of disease 5th August 1915 at Malta. He was the son of Mrs Patience Collishaw of 208 Sherwood Street, Nottingham and wife of Beatrice Helena, (nee Haywood). In 1911 he was living with his wife and children at Birchwood Lane, Somercotes, Alfreton, Derbyshire.

RAINEY Harold. Private 2009, 10th Australian Infantry died 7th August 1915 aged 23. Loved by all that knew him. Son of George and Mary Rainey, of Scott's Creek, South Australia.

All at rest in Pieta Military Cemetery, Malta. Plot B. Row IV Grave 6

It seemed to be common place to bury servicemen of mixed corps in joint graves in Malta.
Was that because of the lack of space? or urgency I wonder?
 
Hi Brit-Pop
I have seen a few old photos of the graves for WW1 which show they were buried in single graves. As time went on thay had to be put together in deep trenches, sectioned off with stone walls to make 2 or more graves, mostly up to six in a grave and for some reason they were placed in no particular order. I will hopefully find out in September when I return to Malta. All the military cemeteries in Malta are like this. Addolorata cemetery, some of the graves hold up to 30 remains or more. Space is the problem, also the fact that the ground is solid rock and they do not cremate bodies. I have not yet in all the years I have been going to Malta seen the construction of a new grave site. If the Serviceman died in a hospital, the burials were carried out on the day they died. If they died late in the evening, they were buried immediately the following morning. All deaths at sea (ie hospital ships) they were buried as soon as the ship docked. One great factor in the early burials was of course the heat.
Regards,
Alf
 
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PIETA MILITARY CEMETERY
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