107 years ago today, 16 Maltese soldiers of the Royal Malta Artillery went to work at the Malta Dockyard but never returned home…

The year was 1915, when Europe was at the height of World War I.

At the time, the Gallipoli campaign was taking place and Malta was playing a huge part by serving as a base for both the French and British navies. The islands were also taking in and caring for many wounded soldiers.

As you can imagine, the Maltese harbours were working tirelessly.

It just so happened that in July 1915, General Sir Ian Hamilton, Commander-in-Chief of the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, requested 10,000 hand grenades.

These weapons were produced at the Naval Ordnance Department in His Majesty’s Dockyard in Malta. After being transported to the Royal Malta Artillery to then be taken to the front, 120 of these 10,000 hand grenades misfired and exploded.

This resulted in one big explosion, followed by two smaller ones.

The tragic accident resulted in the death of 16 young Maltese soldiers, with many others getting wounded. The majority of the deceased were buried at Capuccini Naval Cemetery in Kalkara, where a monument was erected in their honour.

“They died in the service of their King and country doing their duty to the last,” the monument reads.

Rest in peace!

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