Captain Paolo Micallef

[Guest Hill 60]

Name: MICALLEF, PAOLO

Initials: P

Nationality: United Kingdom

Rank: Captain

Regiment: King's Own Malta Regt

Unit Text: 2nd Bn.

Age: 38

Date of Death: 11/12/1916

Additional information: Son of the late Notary Achille and Adelaide Micallef. Born in Malta. M.D.

Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead

Grave/Memorial Reference: W. X. C. 10.

Cemetery: ADDOLORATA CEMETERY

ADDOLORATA CEMETERY

Country: Malta

Locality: unspecified

Visiting Information: OPENING TIMES: Every day throughout the year: 07.00 to 17.00 hrs. NOTE: The earth is shallow on Malta and during both wars, many joint or collective burials were made as graves had to be cut into the underlying rock. During the Second World War, such work was particularly hazardous because of air raids. Most of these graves are marked by recumbent markers on which several inscriptions could be carved, and for the sake of uniformity, the same type of marker was used for single graves.

Location Information: This Cemetery lies south on the outskirts of the village of Paola and is about 5 kilometres away by road from Valletta. The Cemetery is easily located by following the road signs to the airport. Once in the vicinity of Paola the Cemetery is clearly visible. In the cemetery, the main plot is located by the top gate.

Historical Information: From the spring of 1915, the hospitals and convalescent depots established on the islands of Malta and Gozo dealt with over 135,000 sick and wounded, chiefly from the campaigns in Gallipoli and Salonika, although increased submarine activity in the Mediterranean meant that fewer hospital ships were sent to the island from May 1917. During the Second World War, Malta's position in the Mediterranean was of enormous Allied strategic importance. Heavily fortified, the island was never invaded, but was subjected to continual bombardment and blockade between Italy's entry into the war in June 1940 and the Axis defeat at El Alamein in November 1942. At the height of Axis attempts to break Malta's resistance in April 1942, the island and her people were awarded the George Cross by King George VI. Malta's defence relied upon a combined operation in which the contributions made by the three branches of the armed forces and Merchant Navy were equally crucial. Although heavily pressed in defence, offensive raids launched from the island by air and sea had a crippling effect on the Axis lines of communication with North Africa, and played a vital part in the eventual Allied success there. Addolorata Cemetery contains 250 Commonwealth burials of the First World War and 18 from the Second World War. Many of the graves will be found in two plots, one in Compartment A, Section EA, Division E and the other in Compartment D Section V Division E; the rest of the graves are scattered. The Commission also cares for 46 war graves of other nationalities within the cemetery.

No. of Identified Casualties: 313

[Guest Pete Wood]

Not much to say about this chap, unfortunately.

All we know is that he was born and raised in Valetta, and that he was a doctor. His father died sometime between 1910 and 1920, by which time the family home at Strada San Paolo 323, Valletta was being lived in by:

William Micallef

Carmello Micallef

Enrico Micallef

We know that Achille was a notary. This tradition appears to have been carried on by Enrico who is listed as having a Doctoral Degree in Law.

There is a strong chance that Paolo was treating the sick and wounded from the campaigns in the East. The hospital ships from Gallipoli and Egypt etc would call in here as this was the 'half-way' point.

It seems likely that our man died of illness or disease.

Few officers of the Malta Militia were killed in action. Of those who died, most were attached to the Munster Fusiliers.

The Malta Militia's job was to guard the island against an invasion. Their artillery skills were well regarded, I am led to believe.

Paolo Micallef is buried in a very scenic position of the cemetary, within the church boundary. Looking quickly through the lists, only natives of Malta were buried within the walls. The non-resident military burials are concentrated together outside the walls.

[Guest Pete Wood]

I've just had an email from the Maltese Family History Group.

"Dear Peter, we have no information on this man - or his family."

So, unless we have a forum member (or guest) who is a resident of Malta, or has an interest in the Malta Militia.....