Intro Seeking Information: Imtarfa Cemetery & Burial of Lawrence Moriarty (3rd Battalion, Royal Garrison Regiment)

[suirioch]

Hello all,


I’ve just joined this forum in the hope of finding more information about my great-grandfather, Lawrence Moriarty, who served with the 3rd Battalion of the Royal Garrison Regiment. He died in 1903 while the battalion was stationed at Imtarfa Barracks in Malta.

He is listed on this plaque in the Pro Cathedral in Valletta, Malta:

I'm trying to find out where he might be buried. From what I understand, the military cemetery at Imtarfa was used at that time, but I haven’t been able to find any official record of his burial.


I would be grateful for any information about the Imtarfa Military Cemetery, its records, or how I might go about locating a grave from this period. Any help anyone can give me would be beyond amazing. My Uncle, now in his 80's - a former Irish Guards soldier himself, wants to visit Malta

This is Lawrence:

Thank you in advance for any help or pointers.


Best wishes,
Lorraine

 

[Mark Sman]

Sorry, I struck out. Here is as close as I got.

On this site there is a longer set of images of that Cenotaph at St Paul's Pro Cathedral, Valletta and more of a text description.

Royal Garrison Regiment Memorial 3rd Battalion

• 28th61st
• Oct 6, 2015
• cathedral royal garrison regiment royal garrison regt memorial st pauls pro cathedral valletta

MORIARTY, Lawrence. Private 3189, died 24th June 1903. He was born in Limerick, Ireland to John and Kate who in 1901 were living as a family at 7, Coolnamohoge, Kilglass, County Limerick. He was working as a farm labourer for his father. He enlisted on the 30th July 1901 and he was the husband of Bridget who was his next of kin.
No burial location can be found

I don't know where that text comes from though. I can't find it in the pictures, or a citation. Best guess is it is a record associated with the Cenotaph at St. Paul's, Valleta.

And that is where my Goggle Fu has failed me.

So if I had to go old school, contacting that church might be my first stop.
St Paul's Pro Cathedral, Valletta

St Paul's Pro-Cathedral

www.stpaulspromalta.org

Can they provide some context for the above quoted text. Even where that text appears?

I did get a list of places on Malta where service members are buried.

Search Results | CWGC

Search Results | CWGC

www.cwgc.org

And it has some details about the Imtarfa Military Cemetary.

Imtarfa Military Cemetery | Cemetery Details | CWGC

Imtarfa Military Cemetery | Cemetery Details | CWGC

www.cwgc.org

This page indicates that members of the regiment were buried at a number of different cemeteries though.

Royal Garrison Regiment

British Army Medical Services Malta 1799–1979

www.maltaramc.com

 

[suirioch]

Thanks so much Sman. I did find the text, but some of it is actually incorrect - ie where he was from in Limerick and his parents names so Im at as much of a loss as to where that came from. But thanks a million for the other references, Ill get going on them now. I really appreciate your time.

 

[BravoZulu]

Hello all,


I’ve just joined this forum in the hope of finding more information about my great-grandfather, Lawrence Moriarty, who served with the 3rd Battalion of the Royal Garrison Regiment. He died in 1903 while the battalion was stationed at Imtarfa Barracks in Malta.

He is listed on this plaque in the Pro Cathedral in Valletta, Malta:

View attachment 525146
I'm trying to find out where he might be buried. From what I understand, the military cemetery at Imtarfa was used at that time, but I haven’t been able to find any official record of his burial.


I would be grateful for any information about the Imtarfa Military Cemetery, its records, or how I might go about locating a grave from this period. Any help anyone can give me would be beyond amazing. My Uncle, now in his 80's - a former Irish Guards soldier himself, wants to visit Malta

This is Lawrence:
View attachment 525147
Thank you in advance for any help or pointers.


Best wishes,
Lorraine

This might be right up @28th61st & @28TH61ST+ONE alley

 

[suirioch]

This might be right up @28th61st & @28TH61ST+ONE alley

Thanks so much BravoZulu.

 

[Gaz]

I was in Malta back in November and oddly enough was right around the corner from Imtarfa Cemetary to visit Malta's aviation museum. I didn't actually go into see the cemetary but it's easy enough to get to - it's a small island with an excellent bus service though will say, every single one I took was busy which maybe isn't ideal for your uncle. If you don't already have it then download an app called 'Bolt', it's similar to Uber and they'll pretty much come and pick you up from anywhere and take you anywhere on the Island. I did go into St Paul's Cathedral so it's highly likely I saw the plaque pictured above without realising.
I'd genuinely recommend you take your Uncle to Malta if you can, loads of history and the people are friendly - I spent the better part of a day at Fort St Elmo in Valetta which doubles as their war museum so I'm sure your uncle would find interesting stuff there - https://heritagemalta.mt/explore/fort-st-elmo-national-war-museum/

 

[suirioch]

Thanks so much @Gaz , that's very very kind of you and I will most definitely use your recommendations :-D

 

[Connaught Ranger]

I was in Malta back in November and oddly enough was right around the corner from Imtarfa Cemetary to visit Malta's aviation museum. I didn't actually go into see the cemetary but it's easy enough to get to - it's a small island with an excellent bus service though will say, every single one I took was busy which maybe isn't ideal for your uncle. If you don't already have it then download an app called 'Bolt', it's similar to Uber and they'll pretty much come and pick you up from anywhere and take you anywhere on the Island. I did go into St Paul's Cathedral so it's highly likely I saw the plaque pictured above without realising.
I'd genuinely recommend you take your Uncle to Malta if you can, loads of history and the people are friendly - I spent the better part of a day at Fort St Elmo in Valetta which doubles as their war museum so I'm sure your uncle would find interesting stuff there - https://heritagemalta.mt/explore/fort-st-elmo-national-war-museum/

I was in Malta last July, the bus service can be hectic but as you say the "Bolt" service is great.

There is a very good Facebook group called "Malta," mainly for tourists but very helpful I have seen quite a few people who were born there while their father's were serving in the Garrison on the Island.

Log into Facebook

Log into Facebook to start sharing and connecting with your friends, family, and people you know.

www.facebook.com

 

[Martinmalta]

Hello Lorraine, it will take a while but you can search Malta cemeteries here - (two pages of them) https://web.archive.org/web/20170926231211/http://website.lineone.net/~stephaniebidmead/second.htm

 

[suirioch]

Thanks a million @Martinmalta