Burials in Malta

[johnhuk]

Hello,
My Great-Great Grandfather served on the Royal Navy vessel HMS Astraea. On 25th January 1896 he died from organic heart disease.

The Admiralty Naval Deaths record shows he died in Malta. The ship was stationed, I believe, in Valetta.

Can anyone point me in the direction of where I might locate his grave. As he was not killed in wartime the War Graves Commission do not list him on their database.

Thanks

John

[suedent]

This website has MIs and some photos from the Military Cemeteries in Malta and also civil cemeteries with British Servicemen

http://www.maltafamilyhistory.com/

[johnhuk]

Thanks Sue I had already tried them but to no avail.

John

[suedent]

If he died in Valletta he's possibly in Ta'Braxia. The cemetery there was badly damaged during WW2.

I have a photo of my gggg-aunt's grave, or rather what survives of it. The little that remains has severe shrapnel damage.

[Jan1954]

An online resource of graves at Ta'Braxia cemetery:


http://website.lineone.net/~sbgraphics/Tabindex.htm

[johnhuk]

Thanks Jan but its part of the same site in the post by Sue above :-(

[suedent]

I was going to suggest the Malta Genealogy Forum but I see you've already tried that option.

I found them very helpful when searching for my gggg-aunt & in translating her death certificate. Fingers crossed that someone comes up trumps for you.

[Jan1954]

Sorry! :(

(Drat, double drat!)

[Rove]

John

Contact the Public Health Department

They handle all queries about Cemeteries and Burials

I've had very good service and help from them.

You said he died in Valletta. That means his death was registered in Valletta.


http://www.sahha.gov.mt/pages.aspx

[Peter Goodey]

The Royal Navy Hospital was at Bighi where I think there was also a naval cemetery (Bighi? Kalkara?).

[johnhuk]

6 Months later and here I am again!

I've tried everything suggested:-

contacted the Maltese Dept of Health in Valetta-no luck.

my dad visited (today) a number of military/naval cemeteries in Malta including one where a book of rememberance lies giving the names of those naval personnel buried in a mass grave- no luck.

I did get his death certificate which just lists place of death as on board ship even though the marine death index states Malta.

The CWGC regional officer has not responded to a number of emails I have sent so-no luck there either!


Does anyone else have any more suggestions? Is it worth checking the ships log as I thought they just gave a description of ship movements? I have searched the TNA website with the ship name and not got very many results...

Thanks in advance!

John

[bumblebee]

I know this is probably a daft suggestion but is it possible he was buried at sea if he actually died on board ship.

Bumblebee

[Rove]

Just don't give up John

My grandmother Carrie Poustie died at the Blue Sisters Hospital in Malta 19th June 1943.

I was over there many years ago and she was not listed in their records. I told them my mother took me with her to Hosp and saw her dead.
They finally found her listed under the name of Postill.

John, 40% of the Naval ships berthed at Marsamxett Bay which is at the Sliema side and by Manoel Island.

[johnhuk]

Hi Bumblebee.

That was my original thought. After examining the Marine Death Index for the vessel there are plenty of other deaths that are listed as "At Sea". my G-Grandfathers states Malta as does his service record. I consulted with someone at the Who Do You Think You Are Live show this year who told me that when a ship was in port and a death occured, the person was buried on land. They would have only been buried at sea if they were too far from a port.

Thanks for your suggestion anyway.

John

I know this is probably a daft suggestion but is it possible he was buried at sea if he actually died on board ship.

Bumblebee

[johnhuk]

Thanks Rove,

I'm going to call my dad now...he has two more days left this trip.

John

Just don't give up John

My grandmother Carrie Poustie died at the Blue Sisters Hospital in Malta 19th June 1943.

I was over there many years ago and she was not listed in their records. I told them my mother took me with her to Hosp and saw her dead.
They finally found her listed under the name of Postill.

John, 40% of the Naval ships berthed at Marsamxett Bay which is at the Sliema side and by Manoel Island.