Local links with the island of Malta

News that Sergeant Darlow of Tempsford had died of dysentry after serving at the Dardanelles was reported in the paper on 20th August. This small notice highlighted the number of troops who died from illness while fighting in Turkey and the use of the Island of Malta as a major treatment centre for sick troops.

Frank Ibbett, of St Neots, (third from right in the photo) was a professional soldier who had enlisted with the Royal Army Medical Corps., in February 1915, and was based in Malta during the Great War.

As the casualties mounted across the Eastern Front the island of Malta, held by the British since 1800, developed as a hospital centre for soldiers. Over twenty-five hospitals were eventually established on the island and treated over 136,000 men.

Tempsford’s second victim, St Neots Advertiser, 20th August 1915